The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council as 2024 RIBA Client of the Year winners for their ambitious community regeneration project Shakespeare North in Prescot.
Aimed at inspiring a community, transforming opportunity, raising educational aspiration and attainment, and playing a part in regenerating the local area, Shakespeare North is the product of an ambitious vision and extraordinary brief from an exceptional client team.
Built on a former council-owned car park, the new theatre building is promoting learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s works. Offering an exhibition space, outdoor performance area, seminar rooms, and the only known purpose-built indoor Elizabethan theatre, the architects and clients have created a cultural and social space that has inspired and invigorated an historic Merseyside town.
The client’s dedication to social purpose and local investment throughout the project was praised by judges, with an emphasis on creating partnerships with local merchants and collaborations with independent businesses.
Stephanie Macdonald, Founding Director, 6a Architects, said:
“Pursuing cultural excellence and local needs with equal ambition, Shakespeare North has successfully revitalized the community, transforming one of England’s most deprived boroughs and making Prescot a new cultural destination in the UK. By inviting the local youth theatre group as the main resident at the outset, and appointing 30 community coordinators, they fostered genuine engagement and addressed the needs of the wider region. 3000 people attended the opening parade with floats from each community group.”
This year’s jury comprised: Founding Director of Henley Halebrown, Simon Henley (chair); Founding Director of 6a, Stephanie Macdonald; and Business Development Manager for Ibstock, Darren Johnson.
RIBA Client of the Year is sponsored by Ibstock.
Notes to editors:
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- Previous winners of RIBA Client of the Year include Onion Collective (2023), Thornsett Group Plc (2022), Cambridge Mosque Trust (2021), Network Rail (2019), Argent LLP (2018), Bedales School (2017), Westmorland Ltd (2016), National Theatre (2015), Manchester Metropolitan University (2014) and the National Trust (2013).
- The RIBA Client of the Year Award is sponsored by Ibstock plc. Ibstock plc is a leading manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete building products, with a proud history of nearly 200 years of manufacturing excellence. Its products and solutions are a vital and indispensable part of the built environment, the cornerstone of every building project. Operating from 38 sites across the UK, with over 150 million tonnes of clay reserves across 23 active quarries, Ibstock plc is a business at the heart of building, continuously developing solutions that take the construction industry forward. Not only delivering products that set the standard for aesthetic appeal and performance, the company also leads the way into a truly sustainable future. Its people provide the passion and inspiration that can make a real and tangible difference, constantly striving to innovate and working together with its customers, partners and suppliers. www.ibstockplc.co.uk
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows. Entries are to be submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on X for regular updates.
