RIBA West Midlands 2021 Building of the Year

We are delighted that the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building, housing the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), has won a 2021 RIBA West Midlands Regional Award and two special awards; Client of the Year and Building of the Year.

The NAIC - a partnership between WMG at the University of Warwick, Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors Group - co-locates industry and academia at the heart of a university campus, challenging traditional models for undertaking research and development.

The RIBA Regional Awards are given to UK buildings for their regional importance as a piece of architecture, with winning projects eligible for the RIBA National Awards and the Stirling Prize.

The Regional Client of the Year Award rewards the client’s demonstrable commitment to procuring and achieving quality architecture. We are delighted that the late chairman of WMG, Prof. Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, has been remembered with this well-deserved award. He pressed for a confident design that would communicate the activities inside and defended the project through changing economic up and downturns over seven years. The NAIC is the embodiment of his vision to rekindle manufacturing in the Midlands, a blueprint for the Science Park of the Future, an open collaboration between university and industry.

Executive Chair of WMG, Margot James said:

“I’m thrilled that the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building has been recognised in this way, it is a great tribute to the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s vision. Having a building that inspires designers, engineers and academics to develop the next generation of transport is excellent news for our partners and the region. The Midlands is the beating heart of automotive in the UK, and the National Automotive Innovation Centre, will be the driving force behind future innovation in transport mobility.”

James Breckon, Director of Estates at the University of Warwick comments:

“It is great to see this new building being recognised and is testament to the wealth of architectural and engineering talent that was brought together to deliver this exemplary sustainable building. It brilliantly draws Industry and Academia together providing an inspirational environment to innovate within. As a landmark building it has transformed the campus at the University of Warwick and is a fitting legacy to the late Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya.”

The Regional Building of the Year award is given to the project that best demonstrates architectural excellence while contributing positively to its economic, social and environmental and cultural context and makes a significant contribution to the practice of architecture. The award judges said:

“Despite its large scale this building displays an elegance and lightness of touch, with rigorous detailing at both a micro and macro scale… It is a pioneering and innovative building, but above all, it is beautifully crafted.”

These RIBA Regional Awards add to a growing list of accolades for the NAIC, including the 2020 Building Awards Project of the Year, the 2020 BCO National Award for Innovation, the 2020 AIA UK Design Award for Sustainability and winner of the Structural Award at the 2020 Wood Awards.