HPA Design Up for ‘Building of the Decade’ Award

A building designed by HPA is in the running to be named People’s Choice North West Building of the Decade. The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC) at Furness College, Barrow, is on the shortlist for the coveted award which is voted for by BBC North West viewers and judged by North West Business Insider magazine.

The AMTC is one of 25 “unique and eye-catching” buildings from right across the North West involved in the vote. It is vying alongside four other buildings from Cumbria and Isle of Man to make it through to the final shortlist.

Zoe Hooton, director at HPA and project architect for the AMTC, said: “The AMTC project was a delight to work on and is helping the region provide the engineers and innovators of the future. We’re absolutely thrilled that our design has been recognised alongside some other great buildings from across the North West as a potential Building of the Decade.”

The state-of-the art £3.38M AMTC provides students with the skills and training required by some of the area’s biggest employers, such as BAE Systems, Siemens, GSK, Kimberly Clark, and Centrica.

Officially opened in September 2016, the 14,000 square ft centre hosts engineering and advanced manufacturing research, as well as rapid prototyping and high-voltage test laboratories. It allows the college to recruit up to 1,150 apprentices in engineering and advanced manufacturing at any one time.

Voting in the Cumbria and Isle of Man category will be open from 18:30 on Friday April 20 until 12:00 on Saturday April 21 with the winner going through to the grand final which will be voted on Saturday April 27. The overall winner will be announced at the North West Property Awards, organised by Insider, on May 17.

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