LocHal winner Audience Award Building of the Year 2019!

BNA Best Building of the Year is the Dutch architecture prize for architectural firms that offers clients and society added value. The LocHal is the winner of the audience award. Also in the category Liveability & Social Cohesion, the honour went to the historic building in Tilburg. 

This annual prize was awarded on Friday May 17th. It was thrilling until the very last moment. Nine projects were nominated. The jury chose the North-South Line in Amsterdam as the winner. The metro line was constructed using a new drilling technique, right under the foundation of the historic city centre. The jury called the project 'an ode to craftsmanship' and 'a victory over Amsterdam's 'metro trauma'.
 

The jury found the LocHal to be less complex but thought that the building should win in the category Liveability & Social Cohesion: "The LocHal shows how to use the power of the existing. A derelict area in the city has been transformed into a vibrant place where residents from all over Tilburg, and beyond, come together. The staircase stand with living and study areas and the movable walls in the shape of the six enormous curtains are all brilliant findings." 

Audience Award
The popularity of the Tilburg hall, home to the Midden-Brabant Library, Seats2Meet and Kunstloc Brabant, was convincingly demonstrated in the public competition. Half of the 10,000 votes went to the LocHal. 

Director Peter Kok of the library is 'incredibly proud' of the public award: "The fact that every visitor to Tilburg is able to find his or her place in the LocHal from day one is a great thing to see. And I really mean anybody: from students to homeless people, from young entrepreneurs to pensioners, from professors to grandparents with grandchildren."

The award ceremony was held in the LocHal's Glass Hall, which made the party complete. A confirmation for Octatube to continue its commitment to sustainability and circularity in the construction industry.