Grosvenor East building shortlisted for prestigious regional architecture award

The University’s new Grosvenor East building has been shortlisted for a prestigious regional architecture award.

The Grosvenor East building, designed by architects Allies and Morrison, is one of ten competing for the 2022 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North West Award.

Situated in a prime location on the Oxford Road Corridor, the modern building is an inspirational venue for the University’s Arts and Humanities courses, helping to train the next generation of actors, writers, journalists and linguists.

The University’s Benzie building, Business School and the Students’ Union building have also been named as winners of the prize in previous years.

Judged and presented locally, RIBA Regional Awards celebrate great architecture across the UK and are given to a building for its regional importance as a piece of architecture.

The cutting-edge facilities in Grosvenor East are designed to open up the university and support external partnerships and, in doing so, enable our students and staff to make a positive impact within the university and beyond.

Shortlisted projects will be assessed by a regional jury and the winning projects will be announced on Thursday April 28.

Professor Martyn Evans, Interim Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said: “The cutting-edge facilities in Grosvenor East are designed to open up the university and support external partnerships and, in doing so, enable our students and staff to make a positive impact within the university and beyond.”

Andrew Fallon, Director of Estates, Facilities and Capital Development at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “This £72m capital investment delivers the expansion of the university's teaching, cultural and public spaces. It seamlessly unites the new building with the adjoining Grade II listed Grosvenor Building.

“This project, and this award nomination, validates our commitment to safeguarding our heritage estate, providing restoration and preservation of the historic portico and the civic origins of Manchester School of Art alongside a brand new seven-storey Grosvenor East building with flexible, environmentally sustainable learning spaces.”

The Grosvenor East building is home to the Manchester Poetry Library alongside the prestigious Manchester Writing School – led by Creative Director Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE - as well as a 180-seat auditorium for Manchester School of Theatre productions, the Multimedia Journalism programme with in-house TV and radio studios, and the Language Centre.

The six-storey structure is connected to the Grade-II listed Grosvenor building – home to The Holden Gallery – and provides space to exhibit items from the University’s vast Special Collections.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

The Royal British Institute of Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body driving excellence in architecture.

For 50 years the RIBA Awards and prizes for buildings have championed and celebrated the best architecture in the UK and around the world.

2022 RIBA Regional Awards winners are considered for several RIBA Special Awards including the RIBA Sustainability Award, sponsored by Michelmersh, and the RIBA Building of the Year, sponsored by Taylor Maxwell.

Regional Award winners are considered for the coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will then be drawn from the RIBA National-Award winning projects, with the Stirling Prize winner announced in October.