Five shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize
Five buildings in the North West were recognised for their architectural excellence at the regional Royal Institute of British Architects awards on Wednesday night.
Winners of the 2011 RIBA Awards for projects based in the North West were announced at a dinner held at the Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.
RIBA said winning projects ranged from large educational buildings to a small rural retreat.
From the 13 shortlisted, the five winners in the North West included:
- Heating Infrastructure Project, Liverpool – designed by Levitt Bernstein
- Lawson Park, Coniston – designed by Sutherland Hussey Architects
- Love Shack, Ambleside – designed by Sutherland Hussey Architects
- Charles Carter Building, Lancaster – designed by John McAslan & Partners
- Trafford College Learning Resource Centre, Altrincham – designed by Stephenson Bell Architects
The judges looked at the budget, size, complexity of brief, detail, invention/originality, contract type, client satisfaction, sustainability, social factors and capacity to engage and delight its occupants and visitors.
Judged on a regional basis and approved by a national awards jury, the North West buildings are amongst 89 buildings in the UK and eight in Europe which have received RIBA Awards. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize, for the building of the year, will be drawn from the 97 RIBA Award winners.
Ruth Reed, RIBA president, said: "For 46 years the RIBA Awards have reflected the health of British architecture. This year's winners show that in spite of a terrible worldwide recession, many exceptional buildings have been, and continue to be, built in the UK and overseas. Winning projects demonstrate that even in constrained times committed clients working with talented architects can achieve architectural excellence.
"These well-designed buildings will add huge value to the lives, prosperity, health and pride of their owners, users and communities and I am delighted with year's selection. We are promised an interesting RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist."
Simon Allford, director at AHMM, acted as chairman of the jury, with Jonathan Falkingham of Urban Splash the regional representative, and Clive Birch as lay assessor, who all visited each scheme before Wednesday's ceremony.
