City architecture wins praise

Shortlist announced for RIBA West Midlands Awards. 

Five buildings in Birmingham, including the controversial new library, are in line for a prestigious architectural prize. In total 11 buildings have been shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA West Midlands (Royal Institute of British Architects) 2014 Awards. Culminating in the Stirling Prize, the RIBA West Midlands Awards are given to the best buildings completed in the West Midlands region in the last 2 years.

The buildings that have been shortlisted include the Library of Birmingham, North Birmingham Academy, Parkside at Birmingham City University, The Lighthouse in Aston and Waverley School, Bordesley Green.

Gavin Orton, Chairman of RIBA West Midlands and a member of the judging panel, welcomed the news: “It was great to be involved in the short listing of the RIBA West Midlands Regional Awards 2014. It demonstrated the broad range of exciting and high quality projects recently completed across the Region – from extensions to private homes through to large public buildings – many of them being the work of local architects”.

All shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winners of an RIBA West Midlands Award announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 12th April 2014. Regional winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced in June.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year.