PORTLAND-based Albion Stone won three awards, had two projects highly commended and one commended at the 2006 Natural Stone Awards in London.

Its first triumph was for the BBC's broadcasting headquarters - Egton House in Portland Place, London - for which it won the New Build (Modern Non-Load Bearing Stone) Award.

Albion Stone provided 85 cubic metres of stone for this project, consisting of Portland Bowers Roach and Portland New Independent Whitbed stone.

The redevelopment and extension to the Grade II listed BBC Broadcasting House was a major development in the heart of London's West End.

Planning problems were challenging as the site is surrounded by 14 listed buildings, including the Grade I listed All Souls Church.

One judge said: "While being sympathetic to an old friend - Broadcasting House - this extension to it stands in its own right and celebrates the contemporary use of carefully judged beds of Portland stone."

Albion's second success came for Temple Bar at Paternoster Square in London and won it the Repair and Restoration Award.

The company supplied Portland Whitbed and Basebed for the sympathetic conservation and repair of this last surviving gateway to the city built by Sir Christopher Wren.

Temple Bar was originally constructed in 1650 to define the boundary between the City of London and the City of Westminster.

In a delicate operation by CWO that took two weeks, the gateway was dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt at the newly-developed Pater-noster Square opposite St Paul's Cathedral.

The gateway was cleaned, restored and repaired.

A judge commented: "A glorious return to the city after a very long absence has been enhanced by the work being beautifully executed.

"The art of restoration has been exemplified with this project at a point where there is a boundary between new and old."

Its third recognition with the Interiors Award came for the National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square.

Albion supplied Portland Bowers Basebed for this project by Szerelmey, which incorporated the carving of more than 11,000 incised letters for donor plaques to the main entrance and to an existing Portland stone tablet which was above the east entrance door.

A judge said: "An appropriately sophisticated addition to one of our much-loved friends, the National Gallery."

Two Albion projects were also Highly Commended including Stowe House in Buckinghamshire for the Repair and Restoration Award where Portland Independent Whitbed stone was supplied and Temple bar, Paternoster in London for the Craftsmanship Award where Portland Independent Basebed stone was supplied.

Albion also received a commendation in Repair and Restoration for St Paul's Cathedral, the company supplying a variety of replacement Portland stones for the famous building.