Lleida’s theatre and congress centre La Llotja gets Chicago’s International Architecture Award

Lleida (ACN) .- La Llotja Theatre oand Conference Centre or 'The Box', as it is known in Lleida, has been awarded a prestigious international architectural prize: Chicago’s International Architecture Awards. They are granted by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and Metropolitan Arts Press, Ltd. These awards are considered among the most prestigious in the world in terms of recognising innovative architectural designs, in particular regarding landscape, urban planning and interior design. 90 international projects have received awards across 30 countries, one of them being La Llotja, in Lleida (Western Catalonia). In October, the Chicago Atheneum in Buenos Aires is organising a special exhibition, which will be displayed in Europe at a later date, where Lleida's theatre will be presented.

The mayor of Lleida, Àngel Ros, said that receiving the honour was gratifying, especially as the latest award is the second that La Llotja has gained since its inauguration last year; ‘the Box’ has also received the Dedalo Minosse 2010 prize. "The building has been adapted to this area and represents the architecture of this century. It also fulfils a social function, covering the fields of arts and tourism, conferences and conventions" Ros stressed. He said that "this new award is an honour to Lleida and the 75,000 people who have already attended, showing that the facility meets the needs of the city; it is well equipped and now internationally recognised."

The design of ‘the Box’ was carried out by the Dutch architecture firm, Mecanoo. The head architect was Francine Houben in cooperation with Labb Arquitectura, from Barcelona. It was then built by the construction companies Dragados, OBRUM and Eptisa. The building is covered in brown plaques that relate to the dry cereal fields, very common in Lleida. It also has an impressive wing, flying on one of the building’s entrance and forming a covered square.