Farrell Centre

by Space Architects and Elliott Architects

Client Newcastle University

Award RIBA North East Award 2025

The award winner tells us: "Space Architects and Elliott Architects collaborated to transform the Grade II listed building in the heart of Newcastle, creating the Farrell Centre – an ‘urban room’ for the city, which opened to the public in 2023. Instigated by Sir Terry Farrell, and forming part of Newcastle University’s School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, the centre’s mission is to widen the debate around the built environment, exploring the crucial role architecture plays in contemporary society in innovative, challenging and engaging ways.

Central to the design is the new entrance area. Open on both sides, it creates an informal, welcoming atmosphere, with a new feature stair drawing visitors towards the gallery and activity spaces on the upper levels.

The design demonstrates how historic buildings can be creatively repurposed with a balance of contemporary intervention and sympathetic restoration, and has already proved to be successful in its ambition, creating a vibrant and inclusive ‘urban room’."

The jury says: "This centre is the first purpose-designed ‘urban room’, and has carved out its home in a Grade II listed former department store on the edge of the Newcastle University campus. The project is a collaboration between two architectural practices – an important vision of Sir Terry Farrell’s to ensure that both established and emerging practices were able to bring diverse views to the creation of the centre.

The building is a tale of two halves. The front part had a wealth of beautiful period details which have been preserved and enhanced. The rear of the building had been largely stripped of features in its previous life as a doctors’ surgery, which has allowed a series of more significant interventions to be made."

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal

Contractor Robertson Construction

Structural engineer Cundall

Environmental/M&E engineer Cundall

Landscape architect Southern Green

Quantity surveyor/cost consultant Currie and Brown

Approved building inspector Bluekeep

Gross internal area 1,023m²