Manchester’s landmark cultural space Aviva Studios, designed by OMA, has scooped a prestigious award as one of only four buildings in the region to be recognised with a 2025 RIBA North West Award.
The award means the multi-purpose arts venue, also voted last year by TIME as one of the top 50 places to visit in the world – the only UK entry on the list – will now be considered by RIBA for a National Award later in the year.
Designed by international architects OMA, the building’s development was led by the city council with further backing from HM Government and Arts Council England.
The RIBA jury praised the success of the building’s architects in navigating the various constraints of the site, alongside the river Irwell and with a road bisecting the site.
They said: “Sandwiched between listed railway arches, the River Irwell, the Science and Industry Museum and a rash of new apartment blocks that form the regeneration of the former Granada TV Studios, this was not the most obvious of locations for a major arts building.”
Jury members were also particularly impressed with the ‘technical virtuosity’ demonstrated by the architects in resolving the conflicting requirements of the building that might at any one time see an orchestra performing in one space, alongside a nightclub in another, while ensuring total acoustic separation between the two events.
The RIBA award is not the first time Aviva Studios has been recognised for the uniqueness of the building and what it offers. Last year it was recognised by TIME as one of the world’s 50 greatest places to visit – the only UK entry on the list, sitting alongside places in Hawaii, Australia, Morocco, China, Chile, India and far beyond.
The building is operated by Manchester-based Factory International who are responsible both for year-round programming at Aviva Studios and the biennial Manchester International Festival.
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, said: “Aviva Studios has already made a big impact on the cultural scene in Manchester. Being recognised by RIBA with a regional award is brilliant news and testament to the building’s unique design. Architects OMA have helped us create a landmark new building for culture and the arts in the UK right here in the heart of Manchester – a building that is winning plaudits across the world and attracting thousands of new visitors to the city.”
Each of the RIBA regional award winners were selected by an expert jury who visited all shortlisted projects.
RIBA North West Jury Chair Dominic Wilkinson, Principal Lecturer Liverpool John Moores University, said: “The award winning projects from the North West region present a diverse example of the positive impact architecture can have on the lives of its users, with everything from medical buildings with highly challenging client requirements to single family houses enriching the lives of its owners. Public and private sectors are represented with schemes of all sizes and complexities.
“The winners ranging from large cultural venues delivering world class innovative creative programmes to state of the art education facilities training future engineers, illustrate the value for clients and the public in commissioning quality architecture. These projects taken together along with the larger selection of shortlisted schemes demonstrate a positive future for architecture in the region.”
Speaking on all the UK Award winners, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said: “This year’s winners exemplify architecture’s power to transform—turning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care. Spanning the length of the UK and diverse in form and function, our 2025 winners show a deep sensitivity to place and a strong coherence of thought between all teams involved. Individually these projects inspire and uplift, but collectively, they remind us that architects do far more than design buildings, they shape the way we live, work and connect.”
RIBA North West Award winners will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced on 10 July. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.
Read the full citation by RIBA on Aviva Studios here
