MSA Award Winners 2022

Judge’s Comments

01 Commercial unbuilt

Winner: Coal Chutes

Although set in the commercial category, the project explicitly puts the community first. It operates according to the architect’s 5 sustainable de-growth principles that align perfectly with the client’s aspiration to have a light, locally sourced, affordable workspace scheme. We commend the project for its successful efforts in thoroughly implementing local materials, reusing existing structures and providing ample space for the community to inhabit with their own activity.

 

02 Commercial built

Winner: First White Cloth Hall

The project incorporates a listed heritage building which is restored, repaired and extended. The new additions present a clear hierarchy between the old and the new. The contemporary does not override the existing but ensures equal dignity, highlighting the monumental and the original. In this way, the new provides knowledge of the past.

 

03 Multi-residential Unbuilt

Winner: Phoenix Works

The project has a compact, clean, simple internal scheme and elegant appearance. The unit floorplans are functionally well resolved. Particularly impressive are the collective spaces and amenities. The attention to their design results in a high-quality domestic environment that enhances a sense of community. Additionally, the quality materialisation of the interior and the façade with the bay windows exude exceptional dignity and appeal.

 

04 Multi residential Built

Winner: Campus East Gateway Student Residences, University of York

The building is well embedded in the campus and its landscape. The attention given to framing the views and enhancing the relationship with the surrounding pastoral landscape is a remarkable feat. The architectural expression is clear and rational, and the material detailing in brick and concrete gives it refined sophistication.

 

05 One off unbuilt

Winner: Moor House

The category was full of high-quality projects, but this project stood out with its soft and almost dreamy presentation that immediately communicates the house’s atmosphere. The project draws from the local vernacular architecture and does so in a sensible yet contemporary way, resulting in a rich mixture of materials, textures and light. Even in this design phase, it shows attention to detail expected from later execution stages. The functional distribution in the floor plan is well resolved.

 

06 One off unbuilt

Winner: Project 465 The Firs Bowdon

The family house extension presents itself well to the public through an elegant elevation from the street. The sleek gabled volume clad in dark brick on top of a concrete base is a simple yet powerful gesture, brilliantly attached to the old structure with a refined glass link.

 

07 Community unbuilt

Winner: The Iron

An appealing architectural folly that sits beautifully in the landscape. Its complexity is hidden in the execution, which we hope to encourage by giving this accolade. Achieving the wanted texture, sloping of the walls, as well as the sharpness of the edges is quite a feat in construction—an extremely promising project.

 

08 Community built

Winner: Yoko Ono Lennon Centre

The distribution of spaces is brilliant – stacking the auditoriums results in a compact footprint and allows for a good connection with the campus. The appearance of the Centre is fitting to its programme – it is immediately recognisable by the brick colour and intricate details but imposing in the simplicity of the overall volume.

 

09 Small project

Winner: Photographers studio

As an annexe to the main house, the studio assumes its character in the same material and volume. However, detailing and appearance communicate the presence of a contemporary aesthetic, both on the outside and inside. Extremely well executed.

 

10 Future Architect

Winner: Benjamin Carter

The selected project balances well between the ever-present economic and environmental demands for reinvention and retention. The design chooses to diversify the homogeneity of the existing camps by bringing in new functions complementary to the existing architectural typologies. New additions are placed where necessary and coherently connect to the existing complex. Seeing this level of mature thinking and presentation at a student level is impressive.

 


MSA Awards 2021 Highlights

After an unprecedented 18 months, it was great to see so many people come along to celebrate the achievements of Manchester’s Architects at the annual MSA Awards.

The sigh of relief felt across the Manchester Albert Hall was almost palpable on the night as the room started to fill to over 500 attendees.

This year’s awards was like no other, with two years worth of projects all vying for top spot – you certainly made it hard for this year’s judge. The last couple of years have been difficult, but as a society and a community, you’ve been resilient and adaptable. You’ve kept going and produced work of the highest calibre. The number and quality of entries this year was astonishing and testament to that strength of character.

That said, our achievements as architects are allied to a wider team of other professionals, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers. And, of course, every great building needs a great client so it was a pleasure to welcome wider members of the construction value chain to come along and take part in the celebration.

 

The awards were judged by immediate Past President of the RIBA President,  Professor Alan Jones.

For the last two years as President of the Royal institute of British Architects, he’s championed social mobility and led a reorientation of current and future architects and the RIBA itself. He has judged for the RIAS, RIBA, Civic Trust Awards and chaired the 2020 and 2021 Royal Gold Medal and the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize so we were honoured to have him judge our awards.

A huge thank you should go to all the entrants for their efforts, to the runners up who were all of the highest quality and of course, congratulations to the worthy winners.

Finally – a very special thank you to the Award sponsors, Wienerberger, AluK, Beplas, Concept Cubicle Systems, and George Barnsdale windows for their generous support. Without whom, we simply couldn’t put on the level of event that we did.

We intend to be back to our normal June slot for the awards in 2022. We can’t wait to see you all then and another selection of amazing projects.

View the highlights of the event here:


Norman Foster receives MSA Lifetime Achievement Award

2019 Judge and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Norman Foster

In 2019, we were honoured to have Lord Norman Foster judge our awards and accept the MSA Lifetime Achievement Award, probably the only award he’d yet to win! Here he is, accepting his award and explaining his personal connection to our great city:


MSA Annual Dinner

In 2019, we welcome’d the industry’s most prominent architects and construction professionals for an evening of gourmet food, cocktails and live entertainment. You can see the image gallery from the 2019 event and reminisce the good times!

MSA Annual Dinner 2019
Image Gallery

Browse the highlights


Architecture LGBT+ Manchester Pride Celebrations

Architecture LGBT+ Manchester Pride Celebrations

We are proudly supporting the LGBT+ community

Architect LGBT+ & LF Architecture are bringing their competition-winning float, designed by Raw Architecture Workshop, to celebrate Manchester PRIDE 2019.

 

PRIDE LAUNCH DRINKS 18.00
ON Bar (Sky Lounge), Gay Village, Canal Street

Join us for Friday Drinks with fellow LGBT+ members and allies from the built environment. Kick start your Manchester Pride the right way!

Date: Friday, August 23, 2019
Time: 18:00

Book Launch Tickets Here

 

PRIDE BREAKFAST 9.30 – 11.15
BDP Manchester office, 11 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JB

PARADE 12.00
Following the breakfast, we will leave the BDP Manchester office and join the parade behind the Architecture LGBT+ float.

You will need to book a ticket with a parade pass to walk in the parade.

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019
Time: 9:30 – 15:30

Book Breakfast Tickets Here


MSA Award Winners 2019

This quality of this year’s award entries surpassed every expectation and made the judging process an incredibly difficult task for Lord Norman Foster. The winning projects were of an awe-inspiring calibre – their undeniable excellence a testament to Manchester’s status as a true architectural city.


Architecture Jobs Fair

An opportunity for practices to meet Manchester School of Architecture’s current Part 1 (BA) and Part 2 (Master of Architecture) students, promote their business and discuss current opportunities.

Date and time
Thursday 6 June 2019
1.30pm – 4pm (1pm set-up)

Location
Geoffrey Manton Building,
Manchester Metropolitan University,
Rosamond Street West (Off Oxford Road),
Manchester M15 6LL

Industry Preview of Degree Show
Meet the current School of Architecture students alongside their work. An excellent opportunity for practices to see the best of this year’s work. Starts with a drinks reception and welcome from Professor Tom Jefferies on the Benzie ground floor at 4.30pm.

Date and time
Thursday 6 June 2019
4.30pm – 7.30pm

Location
Benzie Building and Chatham Tower,
Manchester School of Art,
Higher Ormond Street,
Manchester M15 6BR

How to register

Practices
If your practice or organisation would like to attend the Jobs Fair and/or the End of Year Show Industry Preview please complete our online registration form.


The Jobs Fair is capped to 50 exhibitors. Spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis. Practices are welcome to attend the Industry Preview even if they do not have a stand at the Jobs Fair.


RIBA North West Awards Party

Join RIBA North West and industry peers for an evening of celebration and find out who will be taking home the coveted RIBA North West Building of the Year.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception and canapes on arrival, followed by the presentation of the Regional Awards and networking opportunities.

The 2019 RIBA North West Awards event will take place on 8 May 2019 in the stunning surroundings of the Benzie Building, Manchester School of Art.

Dress code for the evening is business casual (not black tie).

Date / Time: Wed, 8 May 2019 – 19:00 – 22:00 BST

Venue: Manchester Metropolitan University – Manchester School of Art – Benzie Building, Boundary Street West, Manchester, M15 6BR


Building Nature into Architecture

Join us at ‘Building Nature into Architecture’, a thought-leading event accompanied by a free bar and BBQ at Albert’s Shed in Castlefield.

Thursday 9th May 2019 at 6pm

Find out How wood can help improve sustainability, lower carbon emissions, reduce waste and even decrease stress in modern buildings.

In partnership with the Wood Window Alliance, Manchester Society of Architects has invited Eleanor Brough from Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and Gerrit Jan Teunissen from International WELL Building Institute to talk about the well-being and sustainability benefits of using materials like timber in buildings.

Tickets are free of charge and include drinks and food.


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