Sheffield Civic Trust and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Yorkshire set up the competition and winners were chosen from a shortlist of six projects.

The Citizen's Award went to the Charles Street car park, which was designed by architects Allies and Morrison and has split public opinion over its "cheese grater" external appearance.

Two schemes took the Neighbourhood and Community Design Award as joint winners.

They were the council-designed Sharrow School, which has a green roof and faces onto Sharrow Park, and the Sterling Works, a listed building converted for the use of the Freeman College by architects Tatlow Stancer.

The Best Building Award went to Sheffield University Learning Centre, designed by RMJM.

Awards were presented by Sheffield councillor Sylvia Anginotti and Ken Shuttleworth, designer of the London Gherkin building.

Emma England, head of RIBA Yorkshire, said: "Sheffield has some of the best contemporary architecture in the region and these awards are a celebration of how the city has literally transformed itself over recent years."

Simon Gedye, Chair of Sheffield Civic Trust, said: "For me, the best part of these awards has to be that members of the pubic took the opportunity to vote for The Citizen's Award.

"Sheffield Civic Trust encourages the community to speak up about the design issues that impact on their city and their voice has been heard loud and clear."