Maurice Wohl Institute wins RIBA London Award
The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at King’s College London has been honoured in this year’s prestigious RIBA London Awards for architectural excellence.
The Institute is among 36 award-winning buildings, selected from 181 original entries and a shortlist of 68 projects. The RIBA London Award-winners will now be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award to be announced on Wednesday 6 July 2016.
Christopher Shaw, Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics at King’s and Director of the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute said: ‘The Wohl is an absolute joy to work in and this award is a fitting acknowledgement of all the hard work that has gone in to making this complex project happen.
‘We were up against some really spectacular buildings, so it’s fantastic that the Institute has won a prize for its architecture, as well as its science!’
The RIBA website states: ‘The building is an inspiring precedent for scientific research where fluidity and adaptability is needed to cater for the ever-changing requirements and technologies in the field. Combining the different sub-disciplines under one roof is a bold move and the building lives up to the ambition.
‘Whilst the internal plan facilitates cross-disciplinary working, the corner cafe and the creation of high-quality public realm are key to imparting a sense of openness and transparency; bringing together researchers, clinicians and public. The building therefore reflects and enables the most exciting and human aspects of science: care, knowledge-sharing, conviviality and the joy of discovery.’
The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in June last year and is one of the leading centres for neuroscience research in the world. Bringing together more than 250 researchers and clinicians from 14 different sites across three campuses, the Institute aims to accelerate efforts to understand and develop treatments for patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy and stroke.