Magdalene College’s New Library at the University of Cambridge has been named the UK's best new building
(Picture: PA Wire)Magdalene College’s New Library at the University of Cambridge has been named the UK’s best new building, winning the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture.
From Níall McLaughlin Architects, the “exquisitely detailed” building is open 24 hours a day, as part of the 700-year-old University of Cambridge college.
The prize’s judges described it as a “solid and confident, yet deferential, new kid on the college block”.
Here’s what you need to know about the RIBA Stirling Prize and how it’s judged.
What is the RIBA Stirling Prize?
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awards the prestigious Stirling Prize to buildings that have already won the RIBA awards, the most rigorously judged prizes for architectural excellence in the UK. Running since 1996 when it took over the Building of the Year Award, the RIBA Stirling Prize is presented to RIBA Chartered Architects and International Fellows for buildings in the UK which have made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture over the past year. The award gets its name from James Stirling, who won the Royal Gold Medal in 1980 “in recognition of past achievements which exist in their own right, as well as the potential of unbuilt projects, both past and future, which are an inseparable part of the Stirling vocabulary”.
How is the RIBA Stirling Prize judged?
The RIBA Stirling Prize is judged against a number of different criteria, such as design vision, innovation and originality, engagement of occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction.
The RIBA Stirling Prize is judged by a jury of experts: RIBA president and panel chairman Simon Allford, founder of Glenn Howells Architects Glenn Howells, managing partner at Grimshaw Kirsten Lees and Turner Prize-winning artist Chris Ofili. They have been advised by Smith Mordak, director of sustainability and physics at Buro Happold.
Speaking on behalf of the 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize jury, Mr Allford described the New Library as “a unique setting with a clear purpose”.
“The New Library at Magdalene College is sophisticated, generous, architecture that has been built to last,” he said. “Creating a new building that will last at least 400 years is a significant challenge, but one that Níall McLaughlin Architects has risen to with the utmost skill, care and responsibility.
“The result — a solid and confident, yet deferential, new kid on the college block.”
The other five shortlisted buildings were:
- 100 Liverpool Street, City of London by Hopkins Architects
- Forth Valley College — Falkirk Campus, Falkirk by Reiach and Hall Architects
- Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road by Henley Halebrown Architects
- Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park by Panter Hudspith Architects
- Sands End Arts & Community Centre, Fulham by Mæ Architects
