MUMA to design £12m extension for Manchester’s Whitworth gallery

6 November, 2009

The practice beat four others – Amanda Levete Architects, Edward Cullinan Architects, Haworth Tompkins and Stanton Williams – to land the prized deal for Manchester University.

Partner Stuart McKnight said: “We’re very, very pleased to have won. It was a great shortlist and it’s great timing for us.”

The nine-strong practice is coming to the end of its work at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London where it has been working on the £30 million overhaul of the Renaissance and Medieval galleries, which are due to open in December.

“We’ve been busy there for seven years, but that’s finishing up so the Whitworth is great news for us,” said McKnight.

The university’s chancellor and chair of the judging panel, Tom Bloxham, said: “MUMA’s design shone in its thoughtful and sensitive response to a complex brief. Amongst many delightful touches, the prospect of visiting a café in the tree canopy was particularly enjoyed.”

Plans for the Whitworth will be worked up next year ahead of the final stage of bidding for money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The RIBA-run competition saw nearly 140 expressions of interest for the scheme when it was first advertised. Among those who failed to make the final cut were Zaha Hadid, Eric Parry and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

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