RIBA shortlists 10 regional projects

Rochdale Town Hall’s restoration and Liverpool’s Isle of Man ferry terminal are among those in the running for the Royal Institute of British Architects’ North West Awards 2026.

All projects shortlisted will be visited by a regional jury, with winners announced later this spring.

The winners will then be considered for several RIBA North West Special Awards, including the RIBA North West Sustainability Award and RIBA North West Building of the Year, before being considered for a RIBA National Award, to be announced in summer.

National winners will then be in contention for the RIBA Stirling Prize, recognising the UK’s best new building, with the shortlisted projects named in September and the winner named in October.

The shortlisted projects for the North West awards are:

The project is close to the Yorkshire Dales. Credit: Andrew Wall

Bank Barn reimagined by Gagarin Studio Architects

New life was breathed into a derelict, grade two-listed barn in green belt land, now transformed into a sustainable home designed by Halifax firm Gagarin, completing in October 2024.

Old meets new in Cumbria. Credit: Ben Pawle

Byre House by MawsonKerr Architects, with assistance from clients Ben Pawle and Rosie Dias

Newcastle firm Mawson Kerr describes the scheme as “tucked away in a beautiful corner of Cumbria, the new house is a carefully composed harmony between new and old”.

The old town hall has been reinvented. Credit: BDP

The Egyptian Room, Oldham by BDP, with HNA Architects

Perhaps the most eyecatching project in the ongoing regeneration of Oldham town centre, this scheme saw a foodhall created within the borough treasurer’s rates hall within the Old Town Hall.

Rackhams has been replaced. Credit: Paul Karalius

Foundation, Altrincham by BDP

The former Rackhams department store was transformed for Bruntwood and Trafford Council in a workspace and leisure-led redevelopment, adding further to central Altrincham’s rebirth.

The Isle of Man government funded the terminal. Credit: Hufton Crow

Isle of Man Ferry Terminal by The Manser Practice

Finally replacing the dated Pier Head terminal, the IoM terminal was opened in summer 2024, with zinc cladding providing a hard-wearing exterior fitting for a maritime environment.

Studio MUTT has reimagined the space. Credit: Jim Stephenson

Kempston Street by Studio MUTT

Liverpool-based Studio MUTT converted an underused part of the former Try & Lilly hat factory in the city’s Fabric District into its own 3,766 sq ft studio.

The old Dalton building was removed to make way for the new building. Credit: BDP

Manchester Metropolitan University – The Dalton Building (Faculty of Science and Engineering) by BDP

MMU has not been shy when it comes to advancing new-build projects across its campus in recent years, and the six-storey, £45m Dalton Building has been among its weightier newcomers, with a “super-lab” among the features within its 145,300 sq ft footprint.

This is Cheshire’s top contender. Credit: Jim Stephenson

Orchard House by Studio Bark

This larch-clad Cheshire building was delivered on a Green Belt Cheshire site for a client pursuing a self-build scheme. It is described as a low-energy building built from locally-sourced timber.

Rochdale’s pride and joy is reborn. Credit: James Newton

Rochdale Town Hall restoration by Donald Insall Associates

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Rochdale Development Agency led on the £20m restoration of the iconic town hall, which was closed for four years as painstaking cleaning and making good heritage features across the building took place.

A light touch has been applied. Credit: Studio MUTT

Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool by Studio MUTT

There are other projects afoot at Liverpool’s mammoth waterside complex, not least the redesign of Tate Liverpool, but Studio MUTT has delivered a rethink for internal workspaces and external areas, taking a light-touch approach that included working with local artist Corbin Wood.

RIBA North West jury chair, Pablo Iglesias – founder of Grated Apple – said: “This year’s shortlist reflects both the depth and breadth of architectural quality across the North West, spanning a wide range of scales, typologies and social contexts.

“From the sensitive reinvention of heritage assets and civic buildings, to the creation of progressive learning environments and contemporary public realm, the projects demonstrate architecture’s capacity to deliver lasting civic, social and cultural value.

“During visits, the jury will be looking closely at how these buildings and public spaces perform in use — how people inhabit them, interact with them, and how successfully they embed themselves within the life of their communities.”