The B.15 Workshop (Part of the School of Environment Education and Development or SEED at UoM) caters for students from the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) – a shared school across the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

We offer facilities and advice for the production of scale development and presentation models for use in student projects. The workshop offers state of the art digital fabrication technology alongside core traditional manufacturing techniques.

Our aim is to continually develop our workshop to remain in line with industry standards whilst equipping our students with a good understanding of contemporary and traditional approaches to modelmaking.

As well as our main function toward MSA we offer consultancy work and are regularly involved in Architecture related projects across campus and externally.

Short History of B.15

The workshop in its current location has been providing modelmaking advice and facilities to Architecture, Planning and Landscape students since its completion in 1970. Whilst technology has evolved since then, the workshop has always played a key role in the study of Architecture at Manchester. Originally part of the University of Manchester, the school merged with Manchester Metropolitan University Architecture Course in 1996 to form MSA. Find out more in this documentary short produced for the workshops 45th Anniversary.

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) workshop is located in the basement room B.15 of the Humanities building off Bridgeford Street on the University of Manchester Oxford Road campus.

Contact

Address:

B.15 Modelmaking Workshop

Humanities Bridgeford Street

University of Manchester

Oxford Road

Manchester

M139PL

Telephone: Office: 0161 275 6876 or Workshop: 0161 275 6853

Please note that due to the nature of our role we are often away from the desk to answer phone calls so leave a message and we will try to get back to you. Urgent contact can be made through the university switchboard directly to our workshop but we recommend either of the following e-mail addresses.

Staff Email addresses: Scott.Miller@manchester.ac.uk / lara.gerrard@manchester.ac.uk / teagan.dorche@manchester.ac.uk / sarah.carroll@manchester.ac.uk / paulina.voang@manchester.ac.uk

Please note that CAD related bookings can only be made in person although you are welcome to get in touch about machine availability or with and other questions.

Opening Times

Refer to the up to date opening times page for this years calendar.

For any further information about the workshop rules and regulations refer to the General Users Guide .

MAKING SCALE Project – Expression of interest

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Workshop

Project Summary Launched at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, The Making Scale project addresses the decline in perceived value of physical modelmaking in architectural design by students and practitioners. It will survey and share the excellence and diversity of approaches … Continue reading →

Announcing B.15 Modelmaking Awards 2024 – Celebrating 10 Years!

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Workshop

2024 marks the tenth year of the B.15 Modelmaking Awards which we’re very happy to announce will be sponsored by two architectural practices with which we continue to share a common appreciation of the use of modelmaking in architectural education and practice. Stanton Williams who worked with us last year will be joined by HENN who have collaborated on past award sponsorships and through promoting modelmaking in practice with us.

The criteria for this years awards will remain unchanged and we at B.15 and our collaborators encourage anybody who has used modelmaking in their work to submit to the scheme. We would like to stress that projects are judged for their strengths as creative tools and creativity just as much as in their finish and materials choices. To put this another way, all physical models are valuable and can be considered for the awards schemes. If you have made models in your project work, take a look at the submission criteria and please submit your work to have it published and gain extra exposure to your fellow students and practicing architects and prospective employers.

A decade of recognising the use of modelmaking at

Manchester School of Architecture

Over the past ten years we have had hundreds of project submissions from all year groups and courses. It’s been our pleasure to provide a platform celebrating the culture of modelmaking at MSA and we hope to continue to do so.

The body of work over these years provides a fantastic source of inspiration that we can continue to learn from.

The past submission documents can be found here

Who can submit?

If you’re a student at MSA that has made physical models then you are eligible to submit. Any study programme, Any year group, Any projects.

What is the criteria?

We’ll explain this in more detail in a follow up post but put simply, If you’re an MSA student on any programme who has made any physical model(s) of any kind then you can and should submit. Keep a look out for the full criteria and submissions opening after the Easter break. In the meantime keep making – any models count as we’re looking at overall use of modelmaking not necessarily just one model!

When do you need to submit?

Submission instructions will be posted here and on moodle following the Easter break so look out for an update of how to submit your work during April. From the point of announcement you will have until the end of Monday June 10th to submit your projects.

How are the awards judged?

The submissions will be sent as a combined document to the joint sponsors who will select a shortlist to be viewed in person at the end of year show. The chosen projects will be marked against the submission criteria by representatives of B.15, Stanton Williams and HENN.

When will we know the outcome?

The outcome of the judging process will be announced at the End of Year show awards presentation on the evening of Friday June 14th.

The submissions instructions will be posted in April. In the meantime if you have any questions about the scheme please get in touch via scott.miller@manchester.ac.uk

On behalf of the B.15 Staff and our collaborators at HENN and Stanton Williams, get making and we look forward to seeing your modelmaking work!

B.15 MODELMAKING WORKSHOP

Architectural Modelmaking, Design Development, Bespoke Design & Construction. Part of The University of Manchester (SEED School of Environment, Education and Development) Part of the Manchester School of Architecture

About the B.15 Modelmaking Workshop