THE North-East’s most outstanding building projects, which are acting as beacons for the region’s construction industry amid the most torrid conditions it has faced in the modern day, were commended last night.

Among the winners of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North- East Renaissance Awards were Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema, which won three awards, including the overall Project of the Year accolade.

Judges in the annual awards – which this year received record entries despite the massive downturn in the construction industry – described the venue, which was closed for 18 months during multi-million pound restoration works, as “an excellent example of a building conservation project” and a “jewel in the region’s cultural crown”.

And Memphis, at Lingfield Point in Darlington, scored its second success in a week by winning the commercial award – only days after judges in the British Council for Offices Northern Awards said it “knocked the socks off” the competition to win the best refurbished/ recycled workplace award.

The building is a former wool factory, which is now occupied by the Student Loans Company, and houses 500 workers. Over the past ten years, developer Marchday has invested more than £35m in the regeneration of Lingfield Point.

A total of 72 entries were received for the eight categories, and a shortlist of 51 was chosen by the independent judging panel. Last night, eight winners were revealed which were felt to lead the way in the sector. The eight will now be entered into the national RICS awards, which also accept entries from building projects around the world.

Jennifer Welch, operations director for RICS North, said: “As a sector we should all be very proud of the work that has continued in the region and the people behind it.

We’ve seen some truly worldclass projects come to fruition over the past year, all of who are playing a hugely positive role for those living, working and visiting the region.”

David Furness, chairman of the judging panel and head of Atisreal’s Newcastle office, said: “It’s great to see such high standards of design and construction right here in the North-East, there is some fantastic work being done which deserves to be championed and celebrated.

“Projects like Tyneside Cinema can hold their own against anything else in the world and the long-term benefits of such developments on growing our regional economy will be reaped for years to come.”

Last night’s winners:

● Building Conservation – Tyneside Cinema;

● Commercial (property) – Memphis at Lingfield Point, Darlington;

● Community Benefit – Sacriston Surgery, Durham;

● Tourism and Leisure – Tyneside Cinema;

● Design and Innovation – Freeman Quay Leisure Centre, Durham;

● Regeneration – Middlesbrough College;

● Residential (property) – River’s Gate, Walker, Newcastle;

● Sustainability – Lion House, Zebra Project, Alnwick;

● Project of the Year – Tyneside Cinema.