It's a prize-winning building only built 30 years ago... now it could be demolished

Salford has seen many of its historic buildings bulldozed in recent decades triggering ill-fated campaigns by locals to save them. The Black Horse Hotel on The Crescent, the art-deco landmark, The Ambassador Cinema in Langworthy Road and most recently the greenhouse in Buile Hill Park have all been swept away.

But there has been widespread criticism over plans to demolish another city building - less than 30 years after it was built and garnered with a prestigious architecture prize.

The Centenary Building was constructed for Salford University and in 1996 was the inaugural winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, which names the country's best new building. It also won a Civic Trust award in 1998.

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But is now set to be demolished as part of a plan for 900 new homes. Built at a cost of £4m in 12 weeks to house the Departments of Spatial, Graphic and Industrial Design.

The Stirling prize jury concluded: "Despite being built quickly and cheaply....the building is a dynamic, modern and sophisticated exercise in steel, glass, and concrete."

But it has not been used for its intended purpose since 2016. Between 2019 and 2022 the building was used by production crew for Channel 4's ‘The Circle’, but other than that has been empty.

In a statement the University said: “While the Centenary Building has been part of our university estate for a number of decades, unfortunately its ageing infrastructure means it no longer meets modern standards and requirements.

“It has now been vacant for a third of its built life. Careful consideration has been given to the history of the building, and the partnership, which includes Salford City Council, ECF (English Cities Fund) and the University of Salford, intends to demolish the building as part of the comprehensive development of Adelphi Village.”

The Adelphi Village development involves the £2.5 billion investment from the English Cities Fund into the Crescent Masterplan. In the plans it aims to build 900 homes and estimates to be completed by 2040.

Architect of the building, Stephen Hodder said the decision had filled him with “great dismay.” He added in a statement: “This is not borne out of nostalgia, it being the inaugural RIBA Stirling Prize winner, or indeed the importance of the building to the development of our practice.

“I simply cannot support the demolition of a building that is only thirty years old. Consideration really needs to be given to the carbon emissions from its demolition and replacement,” he added.

“‘Ageing infrastructure’ is not a justification for demolition and can be upgraded or replaced. For a university that promotes its sustainability credentials, the intention to demolish surely undermines the credibility of its policy. We urge it to re-consider.”

In October, the Twentieth Century Society, a campaign group that works to protect 20th century buildings in the UK, submitted a listing application to Historic England to protect the building. Historic England is a public body that works to care for the country’s public environment.

“Of concrete cross-wall construction, the building is planned around an internal ‘street’, with teaching and administration spaces arranged to either side, connected by galleries and bridges,” reads a statement announcing the bid published October 31.

“The Society’s proactive listing application has been prompted by fears that rapidly encroaching re-development of the surrounding area could ultimately threaten the building,” it said.

In a statement the Society said that it was “hugely disappointing” that plans to turn the building into a school or community center had failed and it was now earmarked for demolition.

RIBA board chair Jack Pringle said that, although the organization could not comment on the Centenary Building specifically, “the inventive re-use of buildings is critical to our net zero future. Secondly, there must be a case for all Stirling Prize winning buildings to be considered for listing

The decision to not install air conditioning in the building was praised when it won awards. The natural ventilation system and underfloor heating were seen as groundbreaking in environmental terms.

But staff complained it was too hot in summer and too cold in winter. The lack of sound insulation was also a regular complaint. The building has been empty and virtually unused for more than eight years. A plan in 2018 for it to be converted into a primary school was shelved.

Mr Hodder says, 30 years on, lessons had been learned about the technology of the building and suggested issues "can be addressed with environmental controls".

He added: "I guess we have to ask the question as to whether they are sufficiently grave as to warrant demolition? I would venture not."