Eight named RIBA award winners

RIBA North West last night announced the winners of the 2015 RIBA Regional Awards, in recognition of architectural excellence.

See gallery below

Having shortlisted 15 buildings, the judging panel visited all shortlisted projects over a week in March and reached a decision to award eight RIBA Regional Awards at a ceremony hosted by BBC 5Live's OJ Borg at Halle St Peters in Manchester, attended by members of the profession from across the North West.

The Whitworth, Manchester by MUMA, was named the North West Building of the Year Award; last year's winner was the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, which went on to win the RIBA Stirling Prize.

The full list of winners last night was as follows:

• House in Formby, Merseyside by shedkm
• Lancaster University Engineering Building, Lancaster by John McAslan + Partners
• Maggie's Merseyside at Clatterbridge, Merseyside by Carmody Groarke
• Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union, Manchester by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
• Mann Island, Liverpool by Broadway Malyan
• St John Bosco Arts College, Liverpool by BDP
• The Whitworth, Manchester by MUMA
• Westmorland, Liverpool by Snook Architects

In addition to the eight RIBA Regional Awards announced on the evening, projects were eligible to win one or more sponsored RIBA Regional Special Awards. The winners were:

• Building of the Year Award sponsored by Ibstock – The Whitworth
• Client of the Year Award – Liverpool City Council/Anne Pontifex for St John Bosco Arts College
• Small Project of the Year Award – Maggie's Merseyside at Clatterbridge
• Project Architect of the Year Award sponsored by Lafarge Tarmac – Paul Hughes, John McAslan + Partners for Lancaster University Engineering Building
• Emerging Architect of the Year Award sponsored by Search Recruitment – Neil Dawson, Snook Architects for Westmorland
• Conservation Award – The Whitworth
• Sustainability Award sponsored by Sika – Lancaster University Engineering Building

NW jury chairman, Dave King, also co-founder of shedkm architects, commented: "The 2015 North West Awards showcases a diverse range of buildings; from small to large, temporary to permanent, education to corporate, and large-scale housing to private residences of exceptional quality. However, perhaps the most widely accessible building represents the region's arts and cultural sector.

"The judges moved from a small-scale Maggie's Centre contrived partly from 'found' elements, to a massive addition to Liverpool's iconic Pier Head. Two suburban houses – both designed in-part to house artworks – contrast dramatically with an elegant and inclusive gallery extension overlooking a city-centre park. A lively and colourful school is complemented by a students' union and an engineering faculty, each having their own particular set of qualities.

"This year, Awards have gone to a variety of architectural 'names', some of which may surprise, others who have been here before. All architects and clients must be congratulated for submitting such a rich and diverse mix – architecture is alive and vibrant in the North West."

RIBA North West Award winners will also be considered for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced on Thursday 18 June.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year.

Click any image to launch gallery. Images all copyright protected. All rights reserved. Photographs by Andy Haslam, Alan Williams, David Barbour, Edmund Sumner, McCoy Wynne, Hufton + Crow, Luke Hayes, Nick Guttridge, Jack Hobhouse.

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