Architectural showcase to reveal design award winners

The Manchester Society of Architecture Design Awards, held annually since 1995, represent a celebration of the work of the architectural profession.

The MSA Design Awards 2013, a showcase for the profession in the Greater Manchester area, will be held at the Castlefield Gallery in Manchester from today until May 16 with the winners announced on the final day at an awards evening.

As well as individual category presentations, there will be an award for Building of the Year presented for the entry selected from the Category Award winners and judged to be the outstanding project in the exhibition.

The Weinerberger design award will also be presented to the project that best demonstrates innovative use of building materials, as chosen by the MSA award's sponsor. Weinerberger is a leading provider of wall, roof and landscaping innovations.

Following the presentation ceremony, an exhibition of the winning entries will be held at the RIBA Hub in Manchester from May 17-31.

The MSA Design Awards exhibition is a showcase for buildings that have made a particularly positive contribution to the local environment and are judged, from the exhibited projects, by a jury consisting of architects and non-architects.

The aims of the competition are to promote the value of architectural design, raise the profile of architects and demonstrate the benefits of good design and highlight the skills and expertise of the architectural profession.

Categories for the awards include: large scale residential; private home; sports, leisure and cultural; commercial (retail, offices, industrial); community (education, religious, health and community); un-built projects; conservation; interior design and fit out; international; and student projects.

There will be a Sustainability Award for the project which represents the best example of sustainable design. All entries will be eligible for the People’s Prize, the winner of which will be determined by a ballot of visitors to the exhibition until May 16.