NEW and renovated buildings in Oxford given top industry awards last night show off the city’s ‘superb’ standard of architecture, an expert said.

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College scooped the Royal Institute of British Architects’ South Building of the Year Award.

The New Library at the Queen’s College, meanwhile, was given the RIBA South Conservation Award and RIBA South Award.

The Big Data Institute in Old Road and the Hubert Perrodo Building at St Peter’s College were also recognised in this year's RIBA awards.

Adrian James, regional jury chair, said: “Oxford generally dominates the architecture of the region. The university and the colleges have an eye-popping track record as patrons and that tradition shows no sign of waning. The standard of the submitted buildings in Oxford this year was quite superb. Most should achieve national and even international recognition.

“One building type that was notably absent in the region was housing: whereas London has legions of housing developments each year, RIBA South apparently has none, so it is good to see that Oxfordshire is now taking meaningful steps to correct this. Let’s hope that the authorities and developers prioritise quality.”

Oxfordshire was given half of all awards handed out in the south region this year. Berkshire were given two, while Buckinghamshire and Hampshire were given one award each.

All winners will now go through as contenders as RIBA’s national awards in June.