VENUE

ACC Liverpool wins major architectural award
ACC Liverpool has won a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award, it was announced last night.
Judges described the building, which opened in January, as a ‘significant contribution to the historic river frontage of the Mersey’ and part of an ‘elegant and sophisticated composition’.
ACC Liverpool, which comprises the 10,600 seat Echo Arena and the state of the art BT Convention Centre, was designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre.
Oliver Tyler, Director of Wilkinson Eyre, said: ‘We are all extremely pleased to have won a RIBA award. It is always a great pleasure when the quality of a building’s design is recognised by one’s peers. We truly believe that this building further enriches Liverpool’s world famous architectural legacy.’
ACC Liverpool was one of eleven winning schemes from across the North West which were announced at a ceremony in Liverpool last night (May 28). Others included the Bluecoat in Liverpool and the Hilton Tower in Manchester.
Bob Prattey, ACC Liverpool Chief Executive: ‘The design of this magnificent building has played a key part in our success – visitors and clients are invariably bowled over by the architecture and its location. We’re delighted that this has been recognised by such a prestigious organisation.’
The RIBA judges said of ACC Liverpool: “The site forms part of Liverpool's Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site and the new arena and convention centre makes a significant contribution to the historic river frontage of the Mersey…(it) lies between Liverpool's famous Roman Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals on the skyline beyond, completing an elegant and sophisticated composition.’
They went on to say that the building has ‘provided Liverpool with another landmark on the Mersey and has been adopted by the Liverpool public with pride.”
Roger Stephenson, Chair of RIBA North West, added: “The eleven winners once again demonstrate the remarkably high standard of architecture in the North West. We were delighted with the standard of the entries and firmly believe that the region can proudly boast of having some of the most exciting architecture in the UK today.”
RIBA Awards are awarded annually across the UK and are held to celebrate buildings considered to be of high architectural merit. The judges take into account the following factors when considering entries: budget, size, complexity of brief, detail, invention/originality, contract type, client satisfactory, sustainability, social factors and delight.
ACC Liverpool’s partners are Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, national regeneration agency English Partnerships, the European Objective One programme and the North West Regional Development Agency.