Renold Building Receives Grade II Listed Status
Pioneering 1960s Lecture Theatre Block Recognised for Architectural and Educational Innovation
The Renold Building at the former University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) has been awarded Grade II listed status, recognising its groundbreaking contribution to post-war educational architecture and its enduring significance in British higher education history.
The recognition of the Renold Building as a Grade II listed structure by Historic England and the Twentieth Century Society, will hopefully strengthen the case against the proposed partial destruction of the nearby Hollaway Wall, plans for which are currently under consideration by Manchester City Council.
The recent listing assessment by Historic England relies heavily on research by Elain Hardwood as well as our regular collaborator, Dr. Richard Brook.
Originally designed in 1958 by W A Gibbon, a partner in the prestigious Manchester firm Cruickshank & Seward, working alongside his assistant Gordon Hodkinson, the building represented a revolutionary approach to university design when it was completed between 1960 and 1962. The project also involved renowned structural engineer S S Heighway of Ove Arup & Partners and acoustic consultant Hope Bagenal, bringing together some of the finest technical minds of the era.
A First of Its Kind
The Renold Building holds the distinction of being the first purpose-built lecture block in an English institution of higher education—a pioneering concept that would go on to influence educational architecture across the country. Its innovative design proved particularly influential at post-war technical universities, including Brunel University and Leeds, establishing a new template for efficient, modern educational spaces.
The building's striking slab-and-podium design was among the earliest examples of its kind in England and represented a pioneering use of this architectural approach in an educational setting. This bold Modernist structure features nine lecture theatres stacked vertically to maximise space efficiency—an innovative planning solution that enabled large numbers of students to move more easily between classes while benefiting from better-equipped teaching facilities.
Architectural Excellence
The building's sculptural qualities are immediately apparent in its dramatically varied exterior features. The zig-zag profile of the east wall creates a dynamic visual rhythm, while the transparent stair tower offers a striking counterpoint to the building's solid mass. Perhaps most memorable is the bold concave curve of the rooftop plant, which gives the structure its distinctive silhouette against Manchester's skyline.
The architects' material palette of crisp white concrete contrasts with the brick and terracotta of the the city's Victorian industrial buildings and asserts a thoroughly contemporary identity.
Remarkably, much of the building's original interior layout survives intact, including the lecture theatres themselves and many original fixtures and fittings. This preservation allows visitors to experience the space much as students would have in the 1960s, providing valuable insight into the educational ideals and architectural ambitions of the post-war period.
Artistic Heritage
Adding to its architectural significance, the Renold Building houses a large abstract mural created by Victor Pasmore, one of Britain's most important post-war artists. Designed in 1958 alongside the building itself but not executed until 1968, this rare and significant work represents an important example of abstract art integrated into educational architecture—a practice that was revolutionary for its time.
Historical Context
The building was originally designed for the Manchester College of Technology, which was renamed the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1966. This institution held particular strategic importance during the Cold War era, with UMIST being recognised as one of the most prestigious technical colleges of the post-war period. Its eventual university status reflected its crucial role in national development, particularly in cutting-edge technology that would prove vital to Britain's position in the global arena.
The Renold Building served as the UMIST's statement building, working in consultation with the university's principal, Dr Bowden, to create a structure that epitomised the distinctive technical character of the campus. Cruickshank & Seward, as an important local practice, understood the need to create something that would signal the institution's ambitions and modern approach to technical education.
Recognition and Legacy
The Grade II listing by Historic England, recognises not only the building's individual merits but also its group value alongside other significant structures on the UMIST campus, including Antony Hollaway's listed Sculptural Wall. Together, these elements form an integral part of UMIST's post-war architectural legacy.
The designation acknowledges the Renold Building's multiple layers of significance: as an architectural innovation that influenced a generation of educational buildings, as a sophisticated example of Modernist design principles applied to functional requirements, and as a testament to the optimistic vision of post-war technical education in Britain.
In its current deliberations about the future of the Holloway Wall, Manchester City Council must surely take note of the Renold Building's recent Grade II listing and the broader importance of UMIST campus's twentieth-century architectural heritage.
