Cov building crowned best in West Midlands

A BUILDING in Coventry has been crowned the best in the West Midlands by architects.

The University of Warwick’s new Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB) has been awarded the West Midlands Building of the Year award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The £54.3m is at the heart of the university’s world-leading research in neuroscience, microbiology and infection, cell biology and disease models.

Having won the West Midlands title, the building will now be in the running for the national title.

Professor Gavin Perkins, Dean of Warwick Medical School said: “We are delighted with the recognition of our new home in IBRB in the RIBA regional awards.

The building is a great research hub and brings staff and students together in one collaborative space.”

The building boasts five-storeys of laboratories, each floor representing a different theme: neuroscience, infection, cell biology/development, plus a 400-seat lecture theatre and collaborative learning and social spaces.

Professor Miriam Gifford, Head of School of Life Sciences added: “We are extremely excited to hear that the IBRB has won a RIBA regional award.

The environment that was created when the building was opened has provided an inspiring space for research and teaching.

“The building has enabled collaboration with colleagues across Life Sciences and Warwick Medical School and more broadly it has enabled a community of scientists across many disciplines to be formed.”

The IBRB is soon set to play home to a large-scale art installation by artist Rana Begum.