The Manchester architects of a state-of-the-art biotechnology research and development centre have won a top UK Aluminium Industry Award.

The Manchester Bioscience Building, owned by the University of Manchester Incubator Company, has won the award for ‘Most Innovative Surface Finish’ in ‘The Power of Aluminium’ Awards.

The Award was presented to the project’s architects, James & Taylor Limited, on Thursday 17 April 2008 by fashion and design expert, Wayne Hemingway, at a Gala Dinner held at Warwick University.

The £5000 Award was sponsored by the Aluminium Finishing Association, a Member Association of the Aluminium Federation.  The cheque was presented by the AFA’s Chairman, Carl Tomlinson, Operations Director of Birmingham Powder Coatings & LBL Finishers.

In presenting the award for AFA, Carl stated ‘’our sponsorship of this prize reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation in the finishing of aluminium and the technological advances which allow us to enhance aluminium’s natural properties. Examples of these include low smoke and flame powders, anti bacterial finishes and low maintenance finishes’’.

The judge described Manchester Bioscience as “a 21st Century University building that displays fine architecture, and is one of the most preferred destinations for students, teachers, researchers and scholars in the world.”

The specific features that impressed the judges included good extruded aluminium cladding with colour anodising, the use of natural elements, recyclability, innovative use of aluminium and good use of the natural environment – light.

The Manchester Incubator Building combines the latest in laboratory facilities with an excellent support infrastructure.  The 16 laboratory suites are ideal for high-level biomedical and biological research.

Runners-up and ‘Highly Commended’ were the architects Penoyre & Prasad for the £11 million ‘Rich Mix’ cultural centre in Tower Hamlets, London.  The judges praised the project’s dynamic design, good use of gold/silver anodised extrusions and its over cladding.

The Centre aims to celebrate the contribution of immigrants to the economic and social life of London.

The original concrete-framed building has been refurbished.  Three cinemas have been constructed at the side of the building, clad in sky-reflecting aluminium anodised in gold/silver colours.

The project has been commissioned by the Borough of Tower Hamlets and Cityside Regeneration Limited.