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 / paulina.voang@manchester.ac.uk / ken.chan@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 .

Welcome to B.15 25/26 !

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Workshop

Hello and welcome to 25/26 at B.15!

Over the next few weeks we’ll be inducting new starters which will mean some irregular opening times. If you have any projects to discuss please get in touch and we’ll advise when is best to drop in.

Inductions

Tuesday 23rd September – Full Day

BA Architecture Year 1

Friday 26th September – Full Day

MA Architecture + Urbanism
MA Architecture + Adaptive Reuse

Monday 29th September – Full Day

MArch Year 5

Wednesday 1st October – Afternoon

MA Landscape

Thursday 2nd October – Afternoon

Foundation Architecture

Additional Catch-Up Sessions TBC

There will be some catch-up sessions scheduled which will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

B.15 General User Guide 25/26

An important reference guide for all new an returning B.15 users, please familiarise yourself with the various rules and regulations for safe workshop use.

The updated user guide can be found here for reference.

New Staff

Please welcome our newest team members, Jasmine Theobald and Zane Zeivate! Jasmine started with us in the last week before the summer degree show opening so some of you will have already met her. Zane has just started and will be working with us this year to cover Paulina who will be going on maternity leave. You can read more about their work here.

Inspiring things to look at!

The AiM project

Earlier this year we launched the Architects Index of Modelmaking. The AiM is an online source of practice inspiration for modelmaking and provides a growing list of practices who use models in the design work. Find out more at www.the-aim.co.uk and follow the AiM on Instagram @aimodelmaking

In support of the project we have an ongoing exhibition at the European Cultural Centre as part of this years Venice Biennale which runs until November 23rd. Back in June a panel of speakers discussed some of the themes around the project which provided insight and inspiration. You can watch the full event here.

NWSPF Scale Exhibition

The North West Small Practice Forum is a new initiative to bring together and celebrate the work of small architecture practices from the North west. The first event, SCALE, is an exhibition of works which include a great range of models and is well worth a visit. You can see the exhibition at SEESAW, 86 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6NG until October 15th.

New Aprons and Tote Bags

Finally, no new year would be complete without a fresh tote bag for our new starters. This time taking inspiration from the Nolli map style covering the oxford road corridor between B.15 and MTC. Free while stocks last!

And in a change to our extremely fashionable workshop aprons we have gone full red this year.

See you all soon!

B.15 Team

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