North West buildings shortlisted for WAF Awards
Liverpool Arena and Conference Centre, the city's new-look Bluecoat, and the Manchester Civil Justice Centre are to compete with buildings such as Wembley Stadium and the O2 Arena at the inaugural World Architecture Festival Awards.
It is the second such honour for both Liverpool buildings this year – ACC Liverpool, designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects – won recognition from RIBA in the North West in May, while the Bluecoat – the £12.5m redevelopment of which was designed by Hans van der Heijden, of Dutch architects Biq, was also awarded a RIBA North West Award after reopening in March.
Denton Corker Marshall's Manchester Civil Justice Centre in Spinningfields has also been highly praised and is currently second favourite for the UK's most prestigious architectural award, the Stirling Prize, according to bookmaker William Hill.
Architects, clients, critics, and other industry professionals will sit on the international judging panels, which will be headed by Lord Norman Foster.
The World Architecture Festival will take place in Barcelona between October 22-24, 2008. The overall winner of the World Building of the Year Award will be announced on the final day of the event.
