The Dalton Building wins prestigious RIBA award

The Dalton Building, home to Manchester Metropolitan Museum’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, has been named Building of the Year at the prestigious 2026 RIBA North West Awards.

It is now up for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced in July, and from there could be shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize towards the end of 2026.

Designed as a state-of-the-art environment for students and staff, it is also now a landmark on Manchester’s urban street scene. The building exemplifies the principles of sustainability, durability and aesthetic beauty.

At the centre of that is its striking façade. Featuring our Regency Gold anodised aluminium finish, the Dalton Building is an exquisite building which fully deserves its award-winning status.

Read more about how our façade defined this award-winning project here.

A modern, world-class education facility

The building opened in 2024 and was designed by BDP with 5plus Architects to be part of the university’s wider effort to transform its campus and deliver excellent education and world-leading research.   

It features cutting-edge laboratories, research hubs, and active learning environments, which provides a vital space for the University’s work across key areas including health, sport, sustainability, advanced materials and manufacturing, and AI, digital, and cyber-physical systems.   

Sue Emms, Principal at architects BDP, said: “To see the Dalton Building recognised by RIBA is a brilliant result for the team behind this project. The building shows how architecture can bring new energy, purpose and opportunity to the places around them.”

Professor Mark Sterling, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Met, said: “This award is a fantastic recognition of our modern Dalton Building, which is already delivering impactful research, enhancing STEM education, and fostering partnerships for positive change. 

“The building has positioned our university as a leader in science and technology education and we look forward to continuing to see its impact on our students and wider community for years to come.” 

Learn more about our anodised aluminium façades

Want to discover more about our anodised aluminium façades and see how they might be a good fit on your next project? Contact our team today for more information and to request a free sample.

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