Scots cancer centre shortlisted for building award

Maggie's Lanarkshire has been praised for its 'sense of dignity and calm'. Picture: Contributed

Maggie’s Lanarkshire, situated at the Elizabeth Montgomerie Building in Monklands Hospital, is the only Scottish building going up against five English entries for the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize.

Built for £1.8 million and designed by Reiach and Hall Architects, it has been described as “a truly memorable addition to a noble tradition of specialist health buildings” by the judges.

It is going up against Manchester’s revamped Whitworth gallery, along with four buildings from London, including Burntwood School in Wandsworth and an affordable housing apartment block in Whitechapel.

Stephen Hodder, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) president, said: “Every one of the six shortlisted buildings illustrates why great architecture is so valuable. It has the power to delight, inspire and comfort us at all stages of our lives; to improve a student’s potential to learn, to provide a family with a decent home, and to create a sensitive and uplifting healthcare environment.

“In the shortlist we have six model buildings that will immeasurably improve the lives and well-being of all those who encounter them.

“The shortlisted projects are each surprising new additions to urban locations - hemmed in to a hospital car park, in-filling an east London square, completing a school campus - but their stand-out common quality is their exceptionally-executed crafted detail.

“From the simple palette of materials used on the Maggie’s Centre, to the huge repeating facades of NEO Bankside, every detail on every building, both internally and externally, is well-executed.

“Not only are these the best new housing projects, school, university, cultural and health buildings in the country today, they are game-changers that other architects, clients and local authorities should aspire to. The RIBA Stirling Prize judges have an unenviable task.”

Going in the Scots building’s favour is that a similar building constructed by the charity won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2009.

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