Tower of Light and Wall of Energy

by Tonkin Liu 

Client Manchester City Council 

Award RIBA North West Award 2023

The new Civic Quarter Heat Network and Energy Centre provides seven of central Manchester’s key civic buildings with energy through a 2 km network of pipework. For this new low-carbon centre, Tonkin Liu designed the 40-metre-tall Tower of Light to support and enclose its flues, and the 63-metre-long Wall of Energy street façade, which encloses the centre while showcasing its inner workings.  

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

Contractor Vital Energi 

Lighting Design SEAM Design 

Steelwork Fabricator Shawton Engineering Ltd 

Structural Engineer Arup 

Facade Contractor Axis Envelope Solutions 

Ceramic Tile Manufacturer Darwen Terracotta 

Planning Consultant Turley 

Lighting Supplier Tryka UK 

Gross internal area in m2 39.2