This award was presented to John Thorp in recognition of the creation of award-winning places and spaces created by a lifetime of dedication to the city of Leeds.

John Thorp MBE, was born in Leeds, studied at the Liverpool School of Architecture and has worked for Leeds City Council for over 35 years. Examples of John’s work include the Henry Moore projects at Leeds City Gallery and more recently the £12 million creation of Millennium Square - which was the result of a Millennium Bid and remains the only Millennium Bid project still in existence today.

John has been instrumental in developing the current programme of city centre squares, buildings and spaces including City Square, Briggate and major civic building renovations, such as the Leeds Town Hall, the City Library and Art Gallery. His work also extends to the city’s green spaces including Victoria Gardens, Park Square and Merrion Gardens.

He is a member of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) Design Review Panel, the Yorkshire Forward Renaissance Programme, West Yorkshire Society of Architects, Leeds Architecture & Design Initiative, and ‘Concourse’ a group established to encourage an understanding of the interdependence of art, design and construction in the built environment.