The School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE) Building, University of Salford, Manchester

2025 RIBA North West Award
2025 RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year Matthew Taylor

Education
Sheppard Robson for University of Salford
Contract value: £35,749,062
GIA: 15,288m²
Cost per m²: £2,327

At over 15,000 square metres, this is a large education building with a complex set of technical requirements, specialist workshops and laboratories. It sits towards the northern end of the central pedestrian route through the University of Salford campus, forming the edge of a green square and social space to the south. 

The building’s distinctive pattern of regular windows set into splayed red reveals gives it an immediate impact and strong identity. Contrasting with the regular facade of punched windows is the double-height glazed corner to the square, which defines the entrance and provides a ‘shop window’ for the exciting engineering activities within. Sheppard Robson’s simple palette of bold industrial materials, painted in bright colours, continues with a yellow-painted steel frame structure.

Internally, the building is organised into four parallel strips. On the south edge facing the square are the teaching spaces, alongside a four-storey-high toplit atrium which runs end to end. This is the primary circulation and focus of the breakout and social spaces. 

Adjacent to this is a thin band of ancillary accommodation, toilets and some very large spaces for ductwork. This building is flexible, with the ability for the facilities management team to change and update the operational technology – an important aspect of the brief. 

The final, wider strip of accommodation houses the larger engineering, acoustic, recording and other specialist spaces. It is the simplicity of this layout that provides clarity when moving around such a large and functionally complex building.

The main circulation areas meander around the atrium strip in its blue-and-red-coloured stairs, taking users on a journey that offers diverse views, interest and opportunities for chance encounters. The informal seminar and breakout spaces follow this circulation and are full of students. 

The jury was impressed by the project architect’s command of the complex brief and detailed knowledge of all aspects of the design, which helped to maintain a clarity of vision through the entire process from design to implementation. The simple, bold rectangular form and distinctive elevation treatment ensure that this building will be a prominent contribution to the University of Salford’s campus, among its many other structures.

View all of our North West winners here, and all our RIBA UK Award winners here.

View the full RIBA UK Awards 2025 process.

RIBA UK Awards 2025 sponsored by Autodesk, EH Smith, Equitone and VELUX