Swing when you’re winning! Global recognition for local bridge

Hull’s Scale Lane swing bridge has beaten off worldwide competition to win its first major international award.

The footbridge which is located just a few meters from our office is the first of its kind in the UK, has won the “Completed” category of the World Architecture News Transport Award 2013.

In winning this category it was judged better than other transport projects all over the world including other shortlisted projects like Kings Cross Station and Malmo Station.

The bridge links Scale Lane with Tower Street, creating a pedestrian route between the city’s museums and aquarium as well as accommodating river traffic and is the only moving bridge in the UK where people can stay on it as it swings and so far more than 1,000 people have just done that.

It was designed by Architects McDowell Benedetti and officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Hull and Kingston upon Humber, Councillor Nadine Fudge and Jackie Boulton from Homes and Communities Agency on Friday 28 June 2013.

The award recognises not just the high quality of design vision behind the bridge but also the impact that the bridge has on the city. For a pedestrian footbridge to be internationally recognised in this way is tremendous news. It also puts the us on the international map once again after recently being awarded UK City of Culture 2017.

We are very proud to have such an iconic design on our doorstep and one that provides us with an immediate connection to the east side of the city.