The restored former Old Library won both the Cultural and Leisure Project Award and Retrofit and Reuse Project Award at the 2026 British Construction and Infrastructure Awards.
Delivered for Oldham Council by Tilbury Douglas, the transformation of the Grade II-listed former library on Greaves Street has returned an important civic asset to active public use.
Now known as the J.R. Clynes Building, it provides new facilities for the council, Oldham Theatre Workshop and Oldham’s art gallery, bringing civic, cultural and educational activity together in the heart of the town.
It now features a Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, meeting rooms for civic and community use, an art gallery on the second floor, a studio for Oldham Theatre Workshop, and a community garden to host public events throughout the year.
Oldham Old Library won the Cultural and Leisure Project Award in recognition of its exemplary heritage regeneration, which sensitively restored the historic building while creating a vibrant and inclusive place for future generations.
The panel of expert judges were particularly impressed that 75 per cent of suppliers were based locally and that the project provided meaningful opportunities for young people through heritage trades, skills development and career progression.
The project also won the Retrofit and Reuse Project Award in recognition of the ambition and determination required to revive this cherished community asset.
The judges praised the project’s conservation-led approach, the retention and enhancement of significant heritage features, and its successful introduction of new civic and cultural uses to boost wider urban and economic regeneration.
The Cultural and Leisure Project Award recognises the value of exceptional buildings and facilities in enhancing communities and contributing to their health and wellbeing, including leisure centres, museums, galleries, libraries and religion-based developments.
The Retrofit and Reuse Project Award recognises exemplary retrofitting projects across all sectors that have given new or improved life to buildings and infrastructure, delivering economic, social and environmental benefits through retrofit rather than rebuild.
The historic building was reopened last August as a vibrant civic and cultural hub, bringing it back into public use for the first time since 2017.
Dating back to 1883, the 34,800 sq ft Old Library served as a cornerstone of community life for over 130 years before being replaced by the Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre in 2006.
Working with Oldham Council, Ellis Williams Architects, Curtins and the wider consultant and specialist supply chain team, Tilbury Douglas carefully restored and adapted the building. The works included extensive conservation activity, restoration of historic finishes and original parquet flooring, improved accessibility with a new glass lift, and the sensitive integration of modern facilities within the existing structure.
The inspirational winners of the 2026 British Construction and Infrastructure Awards, which is jointly organised by New Civil Engineer, the monthly magazine for members of the Institution of Civil Engineers in the UK, and the Institution of Civil Engineers, were crowned in front of the industry on Wednesday 14 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
The 39th British Construction and Infrastructure Awards brought together more than 1,000 of the UK’s leading clients, consultants and contractors for an evening of celebration, recognition and networking.
James Kington, Director of Growth at Oldham Council said: “Winning these two awards is a fantastic achievement and a proud moment for everyone involved in bringing this historic building back to life.
“The regeneration of this landmark has not only preserved an important part of our heritage, it has also created a modern civic and cultural space that will benefit residents, community groups and visitors for generations to come.
“Working closely with our partners Tilbury Douglas, we have transformed this building into a vibrant hub at the heart of the borough.
“These awards recognise the vision, collaboration and expertise that made such a complex restoration possible, and underline our commitment to investing in our historic assets and town centre.
“We are delighted to see this remarkable project receive the recognition it deserves.”
Kabir Salihi, Regional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are incredibly proud that the J.R. Clynes Building has been recognised in two categories at the BCIA Awards.
"This project demonstrates what can be achieved through a genuinely collaborative approach and a shared commitment to protecting heritage while creating meaningful, lasting value for the community.
“Oldham Old Library is a much-loved civic landmark, and it has been a privilege to work with Oldham Council and our project partners to give the building a new future. These awards are testament to the care, skill and dedication of everyone involved in restoring this remarkable asset.”
Gavin Pearson, editor of New Civil Engineer, said: These awards celebrate the best of the best across construction and infrastructure industries, not just in what they achieve in terms of the projects they deliver, but the incredible vital impact they have on the health, wellbeing and prosperity of communities and the country as a whole.
That is the context in which our judges debate and interrogate over 300 projects and initiatives that have a lasting impact on society and on the industry, reaching new heights that other professionals can aspire to and learn from.
The 39th British Construction & Infrastructure Awards winners have set new standards for those practices and outcomes and it is a source of great pride to celebrate them.”
This summer the building was also among the big winners at the Construction News Awards 2026, receiving Regeneration Project of the Year.
The full list of winners from the 2026 British Construction and Infrastructure Awards can be found here.