First prize uni building faces threat of bulldozers

PLANS TO KNOCK IT DOWN LESS LE THAN 30 YEARS AFTER IT WENT UP

- NEAL KEELING

SALFORD has had many of its historic buildings bulldozed in recent decades, triggering ultimatelt fruitless campaigns by locals to save them.

The Black Horse Hotel on The Crescent, the art-deco landmark the Ambassador Cinema in Langworthy Road and most recently the greenhouse in Buile Hill Park have all been swept away.

But there has been widespread criticism over plans to demolish another city building less than 30 years after it was built and garnered with a prestigious architecture prize.

The Centenary Building was constructed for Salford University and in 1996 was the inaugural winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, which names the country's best new building. It also won a Civic Trust award in 1998.