More Lowry Accolades
Today, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced that The Lowry has received a RIBA Award for Architecture. This news comes during Architecture Week and just one week after the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust awarded The Lowry Building of the Year and Felicity Goodey, The Lowry’s Chairman, was honored with a CBE.
The key criterion for a RIBA Award is that the project should be exemplary. RIBA Award Juries are asked to assess design excellence, particularly in respect of the building’s architectural ambition, ideas and the extent of the innovation. Wider concerns like accessibility and sustainability are also considered, along with the spatial experience the building offers and its capacity to stimulate and engage its occupants and visitors.
The RIBA Award means that The Lowry is automatically short-listed for the RIBA Stirling Prize, Britain’s most prestigious architectural prize. This is awarded annually in October to the architects of the building that has made the greatest impact upon British architecture in the past year.
Last week, The Lowry won the Building of the Year award on its architectural merits, but also because of its profound social significance. Lord St. John of Fawsley, Chairman of the RFACT described The Lowry as a “joy to see and fun to go into as well as user-friendly, welcoming and bright”.
Property and Construction Director, Steve Thorncroft, comments: “We are thrilled to win these high profile awards. It is a testimony to the success of The Lowry Project and an honour for all those involved especially the architects, Michael Wilford & Partners, the rest of the design and construction team, and the staff and Trustees of The Lowry. These awards recognise the architectural significance of the building as well as its impact on the social, economic and physical regeneration of Salford Quays. Over one million visitors and enormous investment have already been attracted to the area as a result of The Lowry which is set for a terrific future”. -more-
In the year since opening, The Lowry’s reputation has grown extensively as visitors flock to the building to enjoy its magnificent architecture, its dramatic setting, wide-ranging theatre programme, exhibitions, conference facilities, bars, shops and restaurant. The stimulating environment of The Lowry encourages the curatorial and education team to develop the building as a context for the promotion of interest in design and architecture.
Steve Thorncroft continues: “We encourage widespread interest in the building itself making us not just a venue for the visual and performing arts – but a destination as a visitor attraction. The Lowry is a much talked about building as much for its architecture as for what goes on in the building. This ‘talked about’ factor is key to growing our audiences further and building regular theatre-goers and repeat visits which in turn are the key to the long term success of the project”. -ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: The Lowry has already won a diverse range of prestigious awards;
Celebrating Construction Achievement Award Regional & National Winer
Silver Unicorn Award 2000 Highly commended - British Guild of Travel Writers
Best New Building City Life magazine
Best New Arrival City Life magazine
Best Newcomer Hi-Life Diners Club Restaurant of the Year awards
Best Visiting Production Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Best Actress in a VP Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Best Dance Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Best Opera Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Outstanding Services to Theatre Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Merit Awards Institution of Civil Engineers, NW Association
Honor Award United States Institute for Theatre Technology
Structural Steel Design Award Commendation
Building of the Year Royal Fine Art Commission Trust
RIBA Award Royal Institute of British Architects Posted on Saturday, 23 June 2001 under Press General Press