Eleven buildings have been shortlisted for a 2016 RIBA Yorkshire Award by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). They include a monastery, two University libraries, an art gallery and two private houses.

The buildings that have been shortlisted are:

• AMRC Factory 2050, Sheffield by Bond Bryan Architects
• Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull by Sheppard Robson
• Contemporary Lean-To, Harrogate by Doma Architects
• The Diamond, Sheffield by Twelve Architects & Masterplanners
• The  Hiscox Building, York by Make Architects
• Humberston Park Special School, Grimsby by Hodson Architects
• Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds by ADP LLP
• Leeds College of Building, Hunslet Campus – Phase 1 , Leeds by Fuse Studios Ltd
• New House, Brigsley by Hodson Architects
• Stanbrook Abbey, Wass by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
• York Art Gallery, York by Ushida Findlay and Simpson & Brown Architects

Chair of the Yorkshire Judging Panel, Caroline Buckingham said “The judges were impressed by the variety and excellence of the shortlisted projects and are looking forward to visiting them in person to select the winners.“

The shortlisted buildings will be visited by the judging panel in March, with the winners of an RIBA Yorkshire Award announced at a ceremony on 21st April at Aspire in Leeds.

The jury will select one of the winners to receive the prestigious Building of the Year Award, sponsored by Marley Eternit, which last year was presented to Sheffield Cathedral. Other category awards include Project Architect of the Year, sponsored by Tarmac, The Sustainability Award, sponsored by SIKA, and The Small Project Award which is presented to the best building with a construction cost under £500,000.

Regional winners will also be considered for a highly-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 be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings. The 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced later in the year.

Notes to editors:

1. For further press information, including access to high res images of the shortlisted projects, contact: Rachel Hunnybun or Claire Young; 0113 3899870; rachel.hunnybun@riba.org or claire.young@riba.org

1. Special Category Awards include:

• Building of the Year Award, sponsored by Marley Eternit
• Client of the Year Award
• Project Architect of the Year Award, sponsored by Tarmac
• Sustainability Award, sponsored by SIKA
• Conservation Award
• Small Project Award

2. RIBA Yorkshire Awards Shortlist:

AMRC Factory 2050, Sheffield by Bond Bryan Architects

This is the UK’s first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research. A striking, steel-framed circular glass building, designed to act as an international showpiece for automated production facilities operating within the first half of the 21st Century. The circular form was selected to enable an almost infinite production sequence for rapid manufacturing techniques and to challenge the stereotypical, rectilinear architectural solution to industrial buildings, exposing the manufacturing activity within to the outside.

Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull by Sheppard Robson
This is an ambitious redevelopment to modernise and connect two contrasting buildings – one from the 1950s with an Art Deco influence, the other a brutalist 1960s design. The library has been re-orientated to position it at the heart of the University campus by creating a new podium for the tower, a new entrance and a new 3 storey atrium.

Contemporary Lean-To, Harrogate by Doma Architects
This delightful reworking of a Victorian house has opened up new living areas to a family with young children. Previously the garden was accessed down steep stone external steps. The basement rooms have been converted into light and spacious play area and large doors provide access to the garden. The steps have been integrated into the house in a quirky and contemporary version of the lean-to.

The Diamond, Sheffield by Twelve Architects & Masterplanners
The Diamond is a new building for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, promoting collaboration and cross-disciplinary working. The aluminium glass façade draws inspiration from the detailing of the surrounding historic buildings and references a ‘cellular automaton’, a discrete model studied in engineering. The design provides a public route at ground floor level enabling people to view the ‘showcase’ engineering activities being undertaken.

The Hiscox Building, York by Make Architects
Hiscox asked the architects to create a beautiful but functional building that reflects their brand values and integrates art. The building’s interior centrepiece – a ribbon-like concrete staircase – is inspired by the undulating city walls, as is the brick weave facade, which also draws on the former hay and wool market that existed on the site until the 1920s. Externally, the roof terrace provides outstanding views of the Minster, while a new pedestrian route links the River Foss to the city centre.

Humberston Park Special School, Grimsby by Hodson Architects
The school caters for pupils aged 2-19 who are in the main subject to severe learning difficulties, and often physical disabilities. The new space provides specially designed learning facilities in a pair of pavilions with intricate folded roofs and glazed lanterns. The building is designed with high levels of insulation, natural daylight and ventilation. The pupils were engaged throughout the construction period, with three ‘ambassadors’ nominated to visit site with the Main Contractor and report back to the rest of the school.

Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds by ADP LLP Laidlaw Library utilises contemporary materials and technology to respond to its historic context nestled between two Grade II listed churches and adjacent to the Grade I listed Parkinson Building. The elegant and precise structure houses 900 ‘reader seats’, training rooms, flexible meeting rooms, group study areas, a café, community classrooms and a staffroom

Leeds College of Building, Hunslet Campus – Phase 1 , Leeds by Fuse Studios Ltd

The college’s brief at the outset was to have a building that was a teaching tool with activities visible throughout the whole building and showcase the technologies. To help achieve a highly sustainable building, providing natural light was fundamental to the building’s orientation, form, massing and elevation treatment. The saw-tooth roof over the workshop spaces was generated as a direct response to the historic industrial heritage of the surrounding area: the north lights providing daylight into the heart of the deep plan and the resultant south facing slopes carry PV panels to deliver renewable energy.

New House, Brigsley by Hodson Architects

This white house contrasts with the coarseness of the surrounding landscape and is locked into it by the careful positioning of windows and axial views. The accommodation within the house is split into two parts along a strong east-west axis which links a significant tree on the western boundary through the double height circulation space to a raised seat/pergola on the eastern boundary. The axis is further accentuated by glazing to each end of the hall, which enables the black limestone path that defines the axis to be visible through the house and garden.

Stanbrook Abbey, Wass by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios  

The design aimed to foster contemplation through its simplicity, beauty, sense of space and tranquillity, taking full advantage of natural light and views. The monastery relates closely to the surrounding undulating landscape. The Nuns’ brief requested a monastery designed for the twenty-first century, economic to run and sensitive to ecological and environmental concerns. 

York Art Gallery, York by Ushida Findlay and Simpson & Brown Architects

In 2010 Simpson & Brown formed a joint venture partnership with Ushida Findlay Architects and together won a design competition for the remodelling of the entire gallery to provide accommodation for the proposed new Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA). This ambitious proposal created a new ‘Secret Gallery’ in the roof space, a ceramic clad roof top gallery over the south range, and a new garden entrance and balcony to the west. 

3. RIBA Awards have been running continuously since 1966 and are judged and presented locally.  No matter the      shape, size, budget or location, RIBA award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows.
4. The RIBA Yorkshire Awards were established 28 years ago to celebrate and highlight the finest new architecture in the Yorkshire and Humber region. They were previously known as the RIBA Yorkshire White Rose Awards.
5. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com

Posted on Tuesday 1st March 2016