One of Bradford's newest buildings has won a regional award for its state-of-the-art design.

Challenge College was commended by the judges of the Yorkshire White Rose Awards for Design Excellence from a record number of entries.

The awards are run by the Royal Institute of British Architects to celebrate regional architecture and encourage good design and delivery.

The £14 million building, which opened six months ago, is intended to be a showpiece of the Bradford schools' reorganisation. The building, in North Road, Frizinghall, provides a modern contrast to the Victorian Bradford Grammar School building next door.

The flagship school features a naturally-lit atrium that allows supervision and contact between students and staff.

It was praised by the chairman of the awards panel, Derek Cottrell, for its crisp simplicity and for providing functional spaces where learning can take place.

In a report on the school building Mr Cottrell said: "Challenge College combines a variety of learning experiences, a city learning centre and internet caf for the community. It is intended as an engine of physical, social and economic change.

"The clarity of the architecture helps to emphasise its physical impact on its setting. The site has been transformed to create a learning environment which should bolster the confidence of the local community and instil new attitudes in the young students benefiting from the excellent facilities it provides."

The idea for the building came from Bradford Council's Education department and was put into practise by Design Services.

Group Leading Architect Malcolm Gibson said: "We are pleased to have been associated with the project from the start in 1997 following the implementation of the Schools Reorganisation programme.

"The idea for the innovative design for this flagship school for the children of Manningham came from the education department.

"Their thoughts were taken on board by the architect who, with support from the in-house design team, has produced a highly creative design of which the city can be proud.

"We are pleased the scheme has received this commendation."

Bradford Council's Director of Education, Phil Green, said: "We are delighted that the work at Challenge College has been recognised in this way.

"We believe the new facilities will inspire the students and help the school to continue to raise standards beyond the highly commendable results which pupils have already achieved." Head Teacher of Challenge College, Gareth Dawkins, said the pupils at the school recognised the building was special: "We are really proud of it and that has been reflected in the way the children have used it.

"Not only is it a strikingly attractive building, but it is good for people to learn in.

"It has been open for six months and is still immaculate, with no graffiti or damage."

"I am delighted the building has received the commendation. It is another example of the importance this school has for the district.

He added: "It is very light inside, modern and open, and fit for its purpose, especially in terms of pupil management and visibility. The openness gives the school a community feel, yet the acoustics are also good and the noise is contained."

The awards were announced at the Earth Centre, Doncaster, sponsored by Yorkshire Forward.

Other winners included a visitors' centre, a bus shelter and a farm business complex.