The Centenary Building, UK’s 1996 Best, Faces Demolition

The Centenary Building in Salford, lauded in the 1990s as “dynamic, modern” and “sophisticated” and the recipient of Britain’s most prestigious architectural award, is now slated for demolition less than 30 years after its construction. This raises questions about why a structure once considered the country’s “best” has fallen out of favor. Opened in 1996 at the University of Salford, where it housed the Faculty of Art and Design, the building has been vacant for eight years. The university attributes the decision to its “ageing infrastructure,” stating it no longer “meets modern standards,” and plans to flatten it to make way for a housing development. However, some in the architectural field advocate for the building’s repurposing. Eddy Rhead, director at the Manchester-based Modernist Society, reports “a lot of discontent” within the architectural community regarding the demolition. Conversely, the building’s appearance and its prolonged vacancy have drawn criticism from the public. On social media, some individuals described the structure as “ugly” and asserted “it should never have been built,” while others expressed dismay at its relatively young age. Mr. Rhead commented, “The public don’t cherish 20th Century buildings,” adding, “It was in an unsexy part of Salford, which didn’t get much love.” He further stated, “In this day and age, we can’t keep demolishing and rebuilding – it can be reused. “It’s lazy and unimaginative and, without sounding too dramatic, morally wrong for such a young building.”” Designed by Manchester-based architect Stephen Hodder with a quick turnaround and a £4m budget, the building was praised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) at the time for a “dynamic, modern and sophisticated exercise in steel, glass and concrete.” The judges were so impressed that they awarded it their inaugural Stirling Prize in 1996 for the UK’s best new building. Mr. Rhead remarked, “From an architectural and sustainability point of view, [demolishing the building] is a terrible message to send out. “It was clearly valued once.” However, the university reiterates that the building’s “ageing infrastructure means it no longer meets modern standards and requirements.” In the mid-1990s, the decision to incorporate underfloor heating and forgo air conditioning was considered groundbreaking in environmental terms. Nevertheless, staff complained that the building was excessively hot in summer and too cold in winter. Additionally, a lack of sound insulation meant the noise of feet on the metal staircases reverberated throughout the building. Mr. Rhead contends that these problems are “all surmountable,” adding, “If it was a Victorian building, which are riddled with problems, you’d deal with it.” Stephen McCusker, an architect who teaches at Manchester School of Architecture, also expresses skepticism regarding the university’s justification for demolition. He stated, “There’s always an option – that’s their view – they have to weigh up priorities.” McCusker further suggested that requirements “change all the time” and building owners should “think about repurposing first before demolition.” The university asserts it gave “careful consideration” to the building’s history, noting it “has now been vacant for a third of its built life.” A 2018 proposal to convert it into a primary school proved fruitless. In collaboration with Salford City Council, the university now plans to demolish the structure to facilitate the new Adelphi Village neighbourhood, which will accommodate approximately 900 homes to address significant housing demand. Amidst a skyscraper boom in Manchester city centre and nearby Salford, Mr. Rhead observes that the Centenary Building occupies “prime real estate.” He adds that the prestige of a Riba Stirling Prize “doesn’t give any protection from cold-hearted commercialism.” Jack Pringle, Riba board chairman, believes “there must be a case for all Stirling Prize winning buildings to be considered for listing,” a legal protection for structures. He clarified, “We don’t have the detail to comment definitively on this specific case,” but emphasized that “the inventive re-use of buildings is critical to our net zero future, and would always advocate for a whole-life carbon assessment to understand whether re-use is truly feasible.” Mr. Hodder expressed disappointment regarding the decision to demolish the building he designed. He stated, “I think that with concerns about climate change and carbon, we should be going to great lengths to see how we can adapt existing buildings.” He also informed the Architect’s Journal, which initially reported the decision, “I simply cannot support the demolition of a building that is only 30 years old.”