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 .

Announcing ‘AiM: ‘MAKING MATTERS’ Exhibition

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Workshop

Following our successful launch exhibition at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale, we’re excited to announce a follow-up exhibition in our home city of Manchester:

AiM : Making Matters

Communicating Architectural Ideas Through Models

Sponsored by: Material Source Studio

In partnership with:

Manchester Society of Architects and

European Cultural Centre Italy

The exhibition will run for five weeks, from Monday 2 March to Thursday 2 April 2026, at Material Source Studio in central Manchester.

Private View Launch Event: Thursday 5 March, from 17:00

Public Programme: Practitioner lectures (details TBC)

Practitioners, WE NEED YOU!

Your work is the exhibition. We are seeking contributions of up to three models per practice, ideally at different scales and/or showing the development of a single project. Alongside chosen models, we will request short supporting text.

We also welcome any video material showing the making or use of models in your practice.

We will curate the final selection based on proposals and spatial considerations.

As AiM index members, you are receiving this invitation before the public call for contributions. If you’d like to take part, please complete the expression of interest form below:

➡️ Expression of Interest Form

We will review submissions and confirm selected participants shortly after 9 January 2026.

Participation is free; we only ask that you arrange delivery and collection of your models to either the venue or our workshop.

If needed, we can recommend couriers depending on your location.

Key Dates

Confirm participation & proposed models: by 9 January 2026

Model delivery deadline: Friday 20 February 2026

Exhibition opens: Monday 2 March 2026

Private View: Thursday 5 March 2026, from 17:00

Exhibition closes: Thursday 2 April 2026

A Reminder: What is AiM?

The Architects Index of Modelmaking (AiM) is an online directory for architecture students and professionals. Our aim is to build a network of local, national and international practitioners who champion the value of physical modelmaking in architectural design.

www.the-aim.co.uk

We continue to grow the network through social media, exhibitions and future publications. As some of you will know, the project launched earlier this year with an exhibition at the European Cultural Centre during the Venice Architecture Biennale, attracting more than 88,000 visitors across six months.

Thank you for your support, and we hope you’ll be able to join us for this next stage of the project at Material Source Studio, Manchester.

Scott Miller — on behalf of AiM, B.15 Modelmaking Workshop

Simina Ionescu — on behalf of Manchester Society of Architects

Lucia Pedrana — on behalf of the European Cultural Centre Italy

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