Two Buttress projects selected as regional finalists in the 2025 Civic Trust Awards

Two Buttress projects have been shortlisted as regional finalists in the prestigious 2025 Civic Trust Awards. This recognition celebrates our commitment to designing and restoring buildings that leave a lasting civic legacy while embracing sustainability and accessibility.

The selected projects are:

Carlisle Castle Keep - Selected as a 2025 AABC Conservation Awards: Regional Finalist

Carlisle Castle, a Grade I listed Scheduled Monument, embodies over nine centuries of military and royal history. Known for frequent sieges, it housed figures like King David I and Mary Queen of Scots. In 2022, a major conservation project focused on the 900-year-old keep addressing water ingress and damage and cleaned 15th-century prisoner carvings. The project included roof and wall repairs with traditional lime mortar and portal enhancements. The team’s comprehensive approach underscores a commitment to preserving the medieval and cultural legacy of this poignant site.

A large medieval type structure. It has no windows just a door at the ground level. It's a tall structure with five vertically running built elements.

A medieval window frame which shows the new stone inserts and the original stone.

The castle keep from a distance, surrounded by greenery.

Showtown - Selected as a 2025 Civic Trust Awards: Regional Finalist

Showtown, Blackpool’s first-ever museum, is a colourful and playful homage to the town’s rich entertainment history. Situated on the first floor of the newly transformed Sands Venue Resort Hotel, the museum is the result of a decade-long collaboration between Buttress, Blackpool Council, and experiential design agency Casson Mann. Showtown encapsulates the essence of Blackpool's show business legacy, providing an engaging, behind-the-scenes look at the various forms of entertainment that have made Blackpool a renowned tourist destination.

A scene inside the museum. An interior view of a brightly colored, modern space designed for children, featuring a bold pink staircase. Playful elements include a neon 'Ha Ha' sign, vibrant yellow and pink accents, and interactive zones with children actively using the space.

Front entrance to an entertainment venue or seaside shop featuring vibrant neon signage that reads 'It's Showtime!' The space is decorated with colorful murals, arcade-style designs, and a lively atmosphere, inviting visitors into the area

Interactive exhibit space featuring a small red theatre-style structure with a marquee that reads 'It's Showtime,' displaying puppet performances on a screen. Children are seated on the floor watching, with large, colorful graphics of seaside scenes and a traditional Punch and Judy puppet show on the walls in the background.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme was established in 1959 to recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment. The awards recognise all aspects of the architectural and design merits of the schemes. In addition, sustainability credentials, accessibility, and the civic contribution of each of these projects have been robustly debated and assessed at great length by the judging panel.

Both projects will now be considered for national awards, with the final results announced in January 2025. Being named regional finalists reflects the dedication of our teams and collaborators to delivering exceptional projects that balance innovation with respect for the past.

We are proud to see these projects receive recognition and wish all the regional finalists the best of luck in the next stage.

To learn more about the Civic Trust Awards and this year’s finalists, visit the Civic Trust Awards website.

Image credits

Showtown, Casson Mann, © Hufton and Crow

Carlisle Keep, Gavin Stewart

Talk to the team