ST George's Hall, which re-opened this year following a £9.5 million refurbishment, has won a Best Public Service Building award.

The historic venue won the prize at the West Yorkshire Local Authority Building Excellence Awards, where five awards out of 15 categories went to the district.

St George’s Hall underwent a major two-year refurbishment, with funding from Bradford Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund and re-opened in February. A Gala Weekend of events took place earlier this month to celebrate.

The refurbishment included a range of work on the exterior and interior. As well as major works to the roof, windows, electrics and stonework, front-of-house areas were increased and decorated and new seats were installed, improving sight lines and leg room.

The Grade 2* listed building is one of the oldest purpose-built concert halls in the country and the third oldest in Europe.

The LABC Building Excellence Awards celebrate buildings and design teams that have faced complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints, and reward the success of innovative, creative solutions.

Other winners from the district were: Best extension or alteration to an existing home won by Parish Ghyll Road, Ilkley. The project team was Dakin Developments Ltd, Halliday Clark Ltd, David Lishman, Michael Eyres Partnership, Paul Waite Associates Ltd, Bright Blue Robot Ltd; Best Local Builder or Traditional Craftsperson won by PA Whitehead Builders and Masons; Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conservation won by Victoria Riverside, Hunslet in Leeds, inspected by Bradford Council’s Building Control Team; and LABC Residential Construction Professional of the Year working in the Bradford area won by Kevin Halliday from JM Construction.

The project team for St George's Hall was Henry Boot Construction Limited, Alastair Coey Architects, Bradford Council, De Matos Ryan and Cragg Management Services.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “The work that has gone into the restoration of St George’s Hall is first rate so it's no surprise it won the award. The whole project team including our Building Control Team have worked really hard on this project and the results speak for themselves.”

Adam Renton General Manager Bradford Theatres, said: "It's wonderful that all the hard work and skill in restoring this beautiful hall has been recognised by such a prestigious award."

Tony Shaw, Operations Director, Henry Boot Construction Limited, said: “It was a great project to be involved in and the LABC award is richly deserved.

"The building has been sensitively restored by skilled tradesmen to allow the next generation of artists and performers to entertain the public of Bradford and West Yorkshire. We are proud to have played a major part in this iconic restoration project’.