Two Greater Manchester buildings, Salford University & Aviva Studios, are shortlisted for the RIBA North West Awards in 2025.
The Salford building, designed by Sheppard Robson, is shortlisted for the RIBA North West Awards. The awards will be presented in 2025. There are seven projects on the list in total.
Aviva Studios, located in Manchester city centre and designed by OMA, is also shortlisted. This arts center opened last year at a cost of £241 million. A clinic and a hotel are also among the shortlisted projects.
Dominic Wilkinson, who chairs the RIBA jury and teaches at Liverpool John Moores University, praised the shortlisted projects. He noted how the list demonstrates ambition and quality, and that public buildings demonstrate civic commitment.
The shortlisted projects minimize carbon footprints and reduce environmental impact. Architecture, he emphasizes the importance of, plays a positive role, benefiting both clients and the broader community.
A regional jury will visit all shortlisted projects before announcing the winners this spring. Marco Cappelletti took the Aviva Studios photo.
Winners could receive RIBA Special Awards, including those for sustainability and building of the year. The winners may also be eligible for a RIBA National Award, with the winners being announced this summer.
Salford is planning to demolish another building, one that actually won the Stirling Prize back in 1996. The Centenary Building also received a Civic Trust award.
The Centenary Building, which cost £4 million, was constructed in just twelve weeks. It housed design departments including spatial, graphic, and industrial design. The Stirling prize jury at the time was very impressed by it.
The building is dynamic and modern, featuring steel, glass, and concrete. The current plan involves constructing 900 new homes, necessitating the demolition of the Centenary Building.
The building has seen very little use since 2016. “The Circle” occupied it between 2019 and 2022. It has otherwise remained empty.
The university stated that the building is aging and no longer meets modern standards. It has been vacant for a third of its life.
The university partners with others and considered its history carefully before deciding on demolition. Salford Council and English Cities Fund are partners in the Adelphi Village project. They will demolish the building to make way for it.