National Automotive Innovation Centre News
Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya building shortlisted for RIBA Client of the Year 2021
The Professor Lord Bhattacharyya building, home to NAIC (National Automotive Innovation Centre) at WMG, University of 糖心TV, has been shortlisted for a award, by The Royal Institute of British Architects.
Following it鈥檚 2021 RIBA regional and national award wins, the Centre has now been shortlisted for RIBA Client of the Year.
The NAIC is a partnership between WMG, University of 糖心TV, Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Motors, and is the largest of its kind in Europe and is well timed, arriving when a global mobility revolution is underway, with a new age for transport mobility.
A beacon for automotive research it brings together the brightest minds from industry and academia, to develop future vehicles and mobility solutions. It is home to up to 1,000 staff working across design, engineering and research, as well as future engineers on degree programmes.
Designed by Cullinan Studios the brief for the Centre was for simplicity and strength of purpose, turning a complex assembly of spaces into an immediately legible building.
The NAIC is a 拢150m investment between WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Motors with 拢29.5m funding from the UK government鈥檚 UK Research Partnership Investment Fund through Research England, which includes the development of an Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory.
Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya building named one of the UK鈥檚 best new buildings in RIBA 2021 National Awards
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (Thursday 9 September) announced the 54 winners of the
for architecture, which includes the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya building, home to NAIC (National Automotive Innovation Centre) at WMG, University of 糖心TV.
The awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the UK鈥檚 best new buildings and provide an insight into the UK鈥檚 design and economic trends. This year鈥檚 projects showcase the extraordinary breadth and brilliance of UK architecture today.
The Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya building, home to NAIC, has scooped up the National Royal Institute of British Architects award.
The NAIC is a partnership between WMG, University of 糖心TV, Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Motors, and is the largest of its kind in Europe and is well timed, arriving when a global mobility revolution is underway, with a new age for transport mobility.
A beacon for automotive research it brings together the brightest minds from industry and academia, to develop future vehicles and mobility solutions. It is
home to up to 1,000 staff working across design, engineering and research, as well as future engineers on degree programmes.
Designed by Cullinan Studios the brief for the Centre was for simplicity and strength of purpose, turning a complex assembly of spaces into an immediately legible building.
The NAIC is a 拢150m investment between WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Motors with 拢29.5m funding from the UK government鈥檚 UK Research Partnership Investment Fund through Research England, which includes the development of an Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory.
Margot James, Executive Chair of WMG, University of 糖心TV comments:
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building has been recognised in this way, to win a National RIBA award is a great tribute to the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya鈥檚 vision. My warmest congratulations to Cullinan Studios who worked with our team to design a building that will inspire designers, engineers and academics to develop the next generation of transport. The Midlands is the centre of automotive in the UK, and the National Automotive Innovation Centre will be the driving force behind future innovation in mobility here in the Midlands.鈥
James Breckon, Director of Estates, at the University of 糖心TV, comments:
鈥淚t is great to see this new building being recognised and is testament to the wealth of architectural and engineering talent that was brought together to deliver this exemplary sustainable building. It brilliantly draws Industry and Academia together providing an inspirational environment to innovative within. As a landmark building it has transformed the campus at the University of 糖心TV and is a fitting legacy to the late Prof Lord Bhattacharyya.鈥
Speaking today, RIBA President Simon Allford said:
鈥淩anging from radical, cutting-edge new designs to clever, creative restorations that breathe new life into historic buildings, these projects illustrate the enduring importance and impact of British architecture.
鈥淭here are a good number of well-designed school and university buildings that are powerful investments in the future, and I am sure they will inspire young people, their teachers and communities. I am also thrilled to see many of these make creative use of existing structures. Well-designed education facilities should be the rule rather than the exception – every child deserves an effective learning environment, and these projects provide rich inspiration.
鈥淟ooking ahead, as we design the low carbon future, we must start by exploring the retention and reuse of existing buildings. And when a new building is essential, we need to make sure it will last and serve the future well – so it needs to be flexible and reusable. Long life; loose fit; low energy architecture is the present and the future. It is therefore very encouraging to see restoration and sensitive adaptation feature so prominently this year; with many buildings acknowledging their history, the needs of the present and the potential of their dynamic future.鈥
ENDS
9 SEPTEMBER 2021
NOTES TO EDITORS:
High-res images available at:
/services/communications/medialibrary/images/october_2020/national_automotive_innovation_centre_university_of_warwick_-_photo_credit_nick_dimbleby_3.jpg
Caption: Exterior Shot of the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Building at WMG, University of 糖心TV
Credit: Nick Dimbleby/WMG, University of 糖心TV
/services/communications/medialibrary/images/junes_2021/inside_naic.jpg
Caption: Interior shot of the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Building at WMG, University of 糖心TV
Credit: WMG, University of 糖心TV
/services/communications/medialibrary/images/july_2021/professor_lord_bhattacharyya_sitting_outside_the_prof._lord_bhattcharyya_building.jpg
Caption: The Late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya with his building at WMG, University of 糖心TV
Credit: WMG, University of 糖心TV
For further information please contact:
Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of 糖心TV
Tel: +44 (0) 7920 531 221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk
NAIC shortlisted for AJ Architecture Awards

The National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), situated in the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building at the University of 糖心TV, has been shortlisted in the 鈥榃orkplace鈥 category of the 2021 .
Recognising excellence in UK architecture, these highly coveted awards are unique to the market, with the winners published in a special edition of the . The Workplace category is defined as 鈥榥ew-build refurbished architectural projects for workplaces completed between January 2019 and July 2021.鈥
To qualify for the category, the workplace in question must exceed 10,000m虏, an entry requirement the Centre comfortably eclipses with its 33,000m虏 of space for engineers, designers and academics to enjoy.
The Centre was officially opened in February 2020 by HRH The Prince of Wales. A partnership between WMG, University of 糖心TV, Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors, the Centre is the largest of its kind in Europe. Its unveiling was well-timed too, arriving during a global mobility revolution, a new age for transport mobility.
The Centre is driving the future of the automotive industry from the heart of the United Kingdom. A beacon for automotive research, it brings together the brightest minds from industry and academia, to develop future vehicles and mobility solutions.
Designed by , the brief for the Centre was for simplicity and strength of purpose, turning a complex assembly of spaces into an immediately legible building.
The AJ Architecture Awards winners will be revealed during a celebratory event on 17 November 2021 at the Grosvenor House, London.