Archial Architects' eye-catching design for the £10.5 million pioneering Small Animal Hospital for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, has been highly commended at the 2010 Galvanizing Awards.

The building has previously won a RIBA Regional Award, the Supreme Award from the Glasgow Institute of Architects and the prestigious RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.

Russell Baxter of Archial Architects said: “We’re delighted with this latest recognition for the Small Animal Hospital, which features galvanized metal in various aspects of its design.”

Located at the entrance to the grounds of the Garscube Estate, Glasgow, the Small Animal Hospital provides state of the art services for animal owners and practitioners throughout Scotland and Northern England, including the most advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical techniques.

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The primary design principle for this facility was to create a large hospital building without ruining the beautiful green space for which the Garscube Estate is justly renowned. Essentially, the solution was to use the topography of the site and to insert the building within it.

At close quarters, the eye is immediately drawn to the galvanized weldmesh gabion basket cladding, filled with brown quartzite stone, using a rectangular section wire rather than the more typical round wire gauge. All external steelwork for the roof balustrade, for the roof overhang framing, for gabion lintels, for metal gates, for the external dog security screens and for the exposed steel column and beam supports has been galvanized.

Archial was presented with a galvanized watering can at an awards ceremony held in London last month. The Galvanizers Association has been recognising the innovative use of galvanized steel by architects, engineers and constructors for over 15 years with its Galvanizing Awards competition.

(GK/KMcA)