Seven buildings are on the shortlist to be named the South Coast’s best new buildings.
Museums, council offices, university buildings and schools are all in the running to win at the Solent Design Awards.
The biennial awards, organised by the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (Push) celebrate new buildings which have transformed their surroundings.
And this year’s awards, sponsored by French developers Bouygues, will also mark structures which are sustainable and compatible with their surroundings.
Among this year’s nominees are the new council offices at Eastleigh House, the St Alphege Learning and Teaching Building at the University of Winchester and the Burma Road Student Village at the same university.
The new public square and civic building at The Gateway in Ringwood, the housing development at St Valentine’s Close in Winchester, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth and the new building at Ryde School on the Isle of Wight complete the shortlist.
They will compete for three accolades – the Quality Places Awards, the new Urban Design Award and the People’s Choices Award, voted for by the public.
At the last awards, in 2012, the two winners were Southampton’s SeaCity Museum and Forest Park Primary School in Totton.
Push chairman, county councillor Sean Woodward said: “The public vote is just as important as our judges’ decision. After all, people live and work in these places and spaces and so their decision is vital in choosing the best design.”
Paul Grover, from the University of Portsmouth, said: “I know personally just how important it is for teaching and living areas to be as flexible, serene and open as possible, and I’m particularly impressed that we have three very different educational schemes on our shortlist.
“It’s another excellent example of how architects and planners are coming together to build for the future.
“In addition, the shortlist panel was impressed by three very different civic buildings.
“Our public sector is to be applauded, not only for helping our tourist industry but also for its desire to encourage community involvement and transparency.
“Similarly, the private mixed-use redevelopment at Winchester demonstrates how good, modern design can sit sympathetically with its surroundings and even enhance Victorian and Edwardian architecture.”
Voting for the People’s Choice Award opens today and closes on November 3.
Votes can be cast online at solentdesignawards.org.uk.
The winners will then be announced at a ceremony at the Mary Rose Museum on November 20.
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