The Whitworth, Manchester, MUMA

Awards: RIBA National Award, Art Fund Museum of the Year, AJ Retrofit Award for Cultural & Public Buildings and for Heritage/Listed Buildings and more

A long window in the Study Centre looks south across the courtyard to the cafe and the Learning Studio below it. Image credit: Paul Raftery

To list the ream of accolades assigned to The Whitworth's name would be seemingly endless, but I will attempt to cover most of it. The Whitworth Art Gallery received a major £15m extension completed in February 2015 by MUMA (McInnes Usher McKnight Architects).

Glazing on the cafe and new brickwork pay tribute to the original 1908 building. Image credit: Paul Raftery

With the goal in mind to open up the space to the beautiful tress and parkland that surrounds the gallery, the architects have achieved just that with glass-walled promenades, sculpture terrace, steps curving out before the building and more.

The Gallery Promenade is comprised of Purbeck stone flooring, old brick, oak, glass, steel and light. Image credit: Paul Raftery

It is tribute to MUMA that won the redevelopment competition in late 2009 for the amount of awards that it has received since completion.

Gallery Promenade. Image credit: Paul Raftery

These include: RIBA National Award; Art Fund Museum of the Year; Architects Journal Retrofit Awards - Cultural & Public Buildings and Heritage Listed Buildings; commended in the Blueprint Awards for Best Public Use Project with Public Funding; Manchester Building of the Year (Chamber of Commerce Awards) and RIBA North West Building of the Year.

These are just several of the awards won by the Whitworth, in addition to being shortlisted for the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize.

A skylight emerges on the north side, diffusing light into the Sculpture Gallery. Image credit: Paul Raftery