The renowned Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat has received a RIBA Award for the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) in England's North East region. The building is now being considered for the National Awards, and ultimately, the Stirling Prize. The Royal Institute of British Architects will announce the national winners on 22 June 2007.
According to the jury report MIMA is "a very elegant and enjoyable building which reconciles the urban aspirations of Middlesbrough with the need for a quality carefully crafted gallery."
Middlesbrough councillor Dave Budd told the Evening Gazette that the "building and its setting have set a new standard for the quality of architecture we hope to be able to attract to the town."
Besides the RIBA Award, MIMA has also won a Renaissance Award. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors awarded the prize in the tourism and leisure category. The jury concludes that, "As a project it seeks to provide an aspirational facility for the city, both as a cultural asset as well as a community space, and puts Middlesbrough on the map for cultural tourism. Mima wins the award in the tourism and leisure category because it seeks to make this step change for the arts, culture and tourism scene in this part of our region."
The project has been completed in January 2007 by (EEA) Erick van Egeraat associated architects. The new gallery houses Middlesbrough's collection of modern arts and crafts as well as temporary exhibitions on approximately 4.000 m² of gallery space, furthermore a café, restaurant, shop and education spaces. The public square has been designed in conjunction with Dutch landscape architects West 8.
Source: (EEA) Erick van Egeraat associated architects
