RIBA announces shortlist for North West Awards
Projects from Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria are in the running for the Royal Institute of British Architects honours – with the winners being considered for the coveted Stirling Prize.
RIBA has revealed the 13 buildings that have earned a spot on its regional shortlist. Winners will be announced later this spring after being judged by a local jury headed up by Citizens Design Bureau founder Katy Marks.
“This year’s shortlist reflects growing ambition to build a Northern Powerhouse,” Marks said. “It’s also particularly heartening to see an investment in designing high-quality learning and healthcare environments, which deliver on social and economic benefits for future generations.
“From the reinvention of a 200-year-old cotton mill into a residential community, to the sensitive retrofit of an iconic music hall which laid abandoned for years, these projects are underpinned by a desire to restore and celebrate the industrial character of the North and deliver buildings which enhance people’s lives.”
You can see the full shortlist below. For those interested in the rest of the North, our sister publications Place North East and Place Yorkshire have also shared the shortlists for the North East RIBA Awards and the Yorkshire RIBA Awards.
The Copperas Hill Student Life and Sports building was designed by Sheppard Robson. Credit: Hufton + Crow via RIBA
Copperas Hill Student Life and Sports Building at Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool. Designed by Sheppard Robson. Built by Morgan Sindall Construction. Project team included WSP, Sandy Brown, Stantec, Gillespies, and Cundall.
Crusader Mill was designed by shedkm. Credit: via Font Comms
Crusader Works in Manchester. 126-home mill conversion designed by Shedkm. Delivered by Capital&Centric. Project team included Arup and Progressive Services Design.
Langdale was designed by Mary Arnold-Forster Architects. Credit: David Barbour via RIBA
Langdale in Brampton, Cumbria. Private home designed by Mary Arnold-Forster Architects.
The Leonardo Hotel was designed by Stephenson Hamilton Risley STUDIO. Credit: Daniel Hopkinson via RIBA
Leonardo Hotel in Manchester. 275-bedroom hotel designed by Stephenson Hamilton Risley STUDIO. Delivered by Capital&Centric. Built by Bowmer & Kirkland.
Mustard CoWork was designed by Kelsall Architects. Credit: Paul Karalius
Mustard CoWork at Little Underbank in Stockport. Designed by Kelsall Architects. Project team included Elliot Bond Consulting and BB Heritage.
New Century was designed by Sheppard Robson. Credit: Henry Woide via RIBA
New Century in Manchester. Refurbishment of grade two-listed building into a modern food, music, and events venue. Designed by Sheppard Robson. Developed by Federated Hermes. Built by Russell WBHO. Project team included Sheila Bird Studios, Clancy Consulting, AECOM, Crookes Walker, and Workman.
Shakespeare North Playhouse was designed by Helm Architecture and Austin-Smith Lord. Credit; Infinite 3D Photography via RIBA
Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Theatre complex with exhibition, coffee shop, and offices – as well as a 17th-century style theatre. Designed by Helm Architecture and Austin-Smith Lord. Built by Kier Construction. The project team included Mott MacDonald and Arup.
The Alder Centre was designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Credit Infinite 3D Photography
The Alder Centre in Liverpool. Child bereavement centre at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Built by Whitfield and Brown. Project team included Elliott Wood, PT Projects, David Stillman Associates, and BBUK.
The Lincoln was designed by Jon Matthews Architects. Credit: Daniel Hopkinson Photography via RIBA
The Lincoln in Manchester. 100,000 sq ft office block. Designed by Jon Matthews Architects. Developed by M&G and Marshall CDP. Built by Marshalls Construction. Project team included Ramboll, Arcadis, and Cundall.
City Campus was designed by Bond Bryan and SimpsonHaugh. Credit: Bond Bryan via RIBA
The Manchester College City Campus in Manchester. Four-storey educational facility. Designed by Bond Bryan and SimpsonHaugh. Built by Willmott Dixon. Project team included Pearson Fraser, AECOM, BDP, Robinson Low Francis, Hoare Lea, SK Transport Planning.
The Old School House was designed by Nick Moss Architects. Credit: James Andrews via RIBA
The Old School House Bradshaw in Bolton. Conversion of heritage building into 14 apartments. Designed by Nick Moss Architects. Developed for Panda Capital.
The SEE Building was designed by Sheppard Robson. Credit: Jack Hobhouse via RIBA
The School of Science, Engineering, and Environment at University of Salford. Designed by Sheppard Robson. Built by Morgan Sindall Construction. Project team included Faithful + Gould (now AtkinsRealis) and Arup.
BDP designed the WaterSHED. Credit: BDP via RIBA
WaterSHED at Wardle Academy in Rochdale. Conversion of former sports hall into classrooms and dining hall. Designed by BDP.
Idle observation. From memory 13 projects for the NorthWest is materially higher than I’ve seen in previous years. Maybe a function of the more you build, the more good stuff gets built (# not %).
By Rich X
@February 22, 2024 at 1:09 pm
By Rich X
It does seem like more projects in the region have be nominated this year.
And the median of good design is increasing. Shakespeare North for example is extremely decent – and cheaper and better than Aviva Studios. The Leonardo Hotel is also very striking and interesting – I don’t think something like this would have happened outside of London even ten years ago.
By Rye
I didn’t know that you could have the same project shortlisted for two years on the run!?
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous – what project are you referring to?
By Julia Hatmaker
Copperas Hill is a shocking waste of prime land in the heart of the city.
Low rise and sprawling.
It would be more appropriate in a suburban setting like a university campus.
By Anonymous
It is a bit bog standard that Copperas one. I’m sure it’s lovely inside.
By Anonymous