B.15 Summer Access July 2026
Dear students,
Unfortunately due to an unexpected staff shortage we’ll be unable to open B.15 on the following days in July:
Monday 6th Full Day / Wednesday 8th Full Day
Monday 13th Afternoon / Wednesday 15th Full Day
Monday 20th Afternoon / Wednesday 22nd Full Day / Thursday 23rd Morning
Monday 27th Afternoon / Wednesday 29th Full Day
Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
As always, any students wanting to use the space should speak with us at the earliest time to ensure the best possible outcomes for your project. Drop in to the workshop to discuss your ideas when you can.
-B.15 team
B.15 Modelmaking Awards 2026 – Winners!
On Friday June 5th we were joined by Omar Gandhi Architects to judge this years B.15 Modelmaking Awards. The shortlisted projects were whittled down from a longlist of 70 to 20. These projecgts were viewed and graded in person before a round table discussion to decide the winners. In addition to the 4 equal prizes, 4 ‘wildcard’ awards were given to projects based on in-person assesment alone.
All the work submitted was of a great quality and both Omar Gandi and Patrick Handrigan were very complimentary of everyone. Congratulations to all who took part and thank you for your great work throughout this academic year. Good luck and keep making!
Winners
Luke Ferguson
Maream Merza
Tianyu Zheng
Finley Hartless
Wildcard selections
Marwa Al-Saqqar
Neel Naregal
Natasha Webb
Tong Li
Check out the full longlist of submissions here
- 2026
AiM: MAKING MATTERS – GRADUATE STORIES exhibition
As part of our continuing Architects Index of Modelmaking project we are please to present ‘MAKING MATTERS – GRADUATE STORIES’.
This display brings together 16 profiles of MSA alumni presenting a mix of their student work alongside stories and examples of how the lessons learned through modelmaking have continued into their careers post graduation.
- Graduate Stories exhibition
- Profiles on Display
- Profile display from Natasha K. He
The exhibition is free to visit and will run alongside the MSA degree show which opens to the public 6th – 19th June, 10.00 -18.00 Monday – Friday and 10.00 – 16.00 Saturday / Sunday.
Thank you to all who have contributed to the display and to our product partner sixteen3 for generously providing the calvert shelving system for our display.
Featured alumni:
Wei Feng, Richard Owst, Daniel Vella, Natasha K. HE, Simina Ionescu, Aayu Malhotra, Camila Alvarado, Valeria Szegal, George Williams, Laura Sanderson, Niamh Murphy, Daryl Law, Anita Luburic, Laura Minca, Pete Lee, David Euinton
B.15 Modelmaking Awards 2026 Shortlist Announcement and Longlist!
After 70 entires for this years awards we’re pleased to announce a shortlist of 20 students selected by Omar Gandhi Architects for in person judging this Friday June 5th. Thank you for everyone who took the time to include their work. Your projects will be retained as examples for current and future students.
View this years fantastic submissions document here.
Good luck to everyone who was selected, please be around on Friday evening for the awards presentation 18.00 at MMU Lowry Building!
Shortlisted students in are as follows:
William Himawan (BA2)
Prajesa Urip (BA3) Infrastructure Space
Hector Mellor (BA3) Non-Standard Habitats
Parth Jain (BA3) Non-Standard Habitats
Aylin Rzayeva (BA3) Non-Standard Habitats
Marie Mamin (BA3), Some Kind of Nature
Anna Thomas (BA3) Continuity
Juliette Ruelland-Kennedy (BA3) Continuity
Joshua Parsons (BA3) FLUX
Zena Abu Shuqair (MA1), Research methods
Macie Jackson (MA1), Research methods
Pauline Joyce Mendoza Alviz (MA1) &rchitecture
Maream Merza (MA1) FLUX
Taras Mandziuk (MA2) &rchitecture
Finley Hartless (MA2) Continuity
Luke Ferguson (MA2) Continuity
Tianyu Zheng (MA2) Continuity
Angela Lai Ying Li (MA2) Non-Standard Habitats
Yiyue Dong MLA2
Kavya Baburaj Nair MLA2
B.15 Modelmaking Awards 2026 – Sponosred by Omar Gandhi Architects
We’re pleased to once again be running the B.15 Modelmaking Awards scheme for 2026. This year in collaboration with Canadian based practice Omar Gandhi Architects.
The criteria for this, our twelfth annual scheme, will remain unchanged and we encourage any MSA students who have used modelmaking in their work to submit their work for inclusion.
Projects are judged for their strengths as creative tools and creativity just as much as in their finish and materials choices.
Announcement fromn Omar Gandhi:
We can’t stress enough that all physical models are valuable and can be considered for the awards scheme. 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, practicing architects and prospective employers.
Have a look at the fantastic past submissions here to see the wide range of models featured from all courses and year groups.
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?
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. Details of how what and how to submit can be found in the submissions pack. 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 are available to downloan in the submissions pack. From the point of announcement you will have until the Monday 1st June at 12.00PM to submit your projects.
How are the awards judged?
The submissions will be sent as a combined document to the 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 and Omar Gandhi Architects.
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 5th.
>>>>>>> SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN <<<<<<<
Please download the submissions pack here.
After preparing your submission as per the guidelines you can submit via this form link.
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 team and our sponsors at Omar Gandhi Architects, good luck, get making and we look forward to seeing your modelmaking work in the next few weeks!
B.15 Late Opening Sessions and Bank Holidays April/May 2026
We will be running a period of late workshop opening sessions for students starting next week to help facilitate additional modelmaking activity.
B.15 will remain open until 19.30 on the following days:
Capacity is limited to 20 students at workshop staff discretion.
Students wishing to attend must sign up via the link posted by Scott on Moodle announcments page.
****Please also note that the workshop is closed on Bank Holidays and therefore won’t be open for access on May 4th and 25th.
We look forward to seeing some great projects coming tyo life over the next few weeks
– B.15 Team
MAKING MATTERS Review in the Architects Journal
‘Lots and lots of glue’: Manchester’s Making Matters exhibition
Making Matters, an exhibition at Material Source Studios in Manchester, reminds visitors of the power of tactile objects to teach, seduce and clarify16 March 2026 ·By Luke Neve.
Photography by Oliver Webley
Our latest exhibition as part of the AiM project; MAKING MATTERS at Material Source Studio has been reviewed for the Architects Journal by Luke Neve and can be found here:
B.15 Easter opening hours 2026
Hi All,
Just a quick update that B.15 will be open as normal until the end of Thursday April 2nd before closing until Monday 13th April for the break.
Also a reminder that our practice models exhibition, MAKING MATTERS is also open Monday to Friday 9-5 at Material Source Studio until the end of the 2nd. Please try to visit and take inspiration from the 32 practices and over 70 models we have on display there.
See you soon, B.15 Team
Model-Photography Master classes – Free Workshops for MSA students
Starting next week we’ll host 3 model photography masterclasses with photographer David Penny. Open to all MSA students, the sessions will cover use of DSLR cameras, Lenses and Lighting to help you make the most of your models in your presentations and portfolios.
Sessions are free to attend but space is limited so please sign up via moodle here now to join.
Taking place at B.15 (B.12 Studio)
Each session is the same so no need to repeat.
Workshop 1 – Wednesday 11th March,14.00-17.00
Workshop 2 – Tuesday 24th March,14.00-17.00
Workshop 3 – Tuesday 21st April,14.00-17.00
Any questions please get in touch!


















