MediaCityUK shortlisted for Chamber design award

MEDIACITYUK – which has faced criticism for its design – is one of four
finalists in a competition to reward Greater Manchester’s most exceptional buildings.

The complex at Salford Quays, which is home to the BBC, Salford University and a host of smaller media companies, is in the running for Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s Building of the Year Award 2011.

It is shortlisted along with Greater Manchester Police North Manchester Divisional Headquarters in Newton Heath, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (MMUBS) and Student Hub building, and the newly restored Ordsall Hall in Salford.

The winner will be announced by Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein at the Chamber’s property and construction sector annual dinner, on October 13 at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester

 Phil Cusack, property and construction committee chair and regional director of AECOM, said: “”Our annual dinner is a great opportunity for people within the industry to network with other professionals and celebrate their successes over the past year.

“We also have the pleasure of announcing the winner of the Chamber’s Building of the Year Award and celebrating some of the many unique and inspirational buildings we have in our region.”

Last year’s Building of the Year Award was given to the People’s History Museum following its landmark refurbishment. The winner of the 2011 Award will join a long list of prestigious winners, which include Ashton Market Hall and John Rylands Library.

In July MediaCityUK was shortlisted for the Carbuncle Cup – which recognises the worst architecture in the country.

The citation for MediaCity says: “The buildings have been arranged to give the impression of a corporate cityscape which could be anywhere in the world. For an organization with high cultural aspirations it is hard to see how the BBC could have sunk much lower.”