Four shortlisted for Chamber’s Building of the Year

PEEL Group’s Mediacity:UK scheme, Ask Developments’ new GMP North Manchester Divisional HQ, MMU Business School’s Student Hub and the restored Ordsall Hall have been shortlisted for Greater Manchester Chamber’s Building of the Year prize.

The winner is set to be announced by city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein at the Chamber’s annual property and construction dinner due to take place on October 13 at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester.

The Chamber said that MediaCityUK was chosen as it is the country’s first purpose-built ‘city’ for creative and digital businesses which represents an “outstanding contribution” to the area.

The GMP Headquarters was described as “an exceptional example of a sustainable building”, the MMUBS and Student Hub building as being “at the forefront of green building development” and Ordsall Hall as a conservation project which has brought the building up to date to meet the needs of all visitors, while retaining the characteristics of the house.

Phil Cusack, chair of the chamber’s property and construction committee, said: “I am delighted by the quality and variety of entries in this year’s competition and impressed with the four finalists.

“Even in a construction industry recession, Greater Manchester has proven once again that it is capable of producing some of the most interesting, sustainable and impressive buildings in the UK.

“Our four finalists are all worthy contenders for different reasons and I am looking forward to Sir Howard announcing the winner in October.”