Burnley landmark sculpture in running for award (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Burnley landmark sculpture in running for award

3:42pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Burnley

NOMINATION The Rain Bow Gate

A LANDMARK sculpture has been shortlisted for a top architectural prize.

Judges from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have been particularly impressed by the Rain Bow Gate, by Anna Liu, on Princess Way in Burnley.

But the landmark sculpture, outside the Burnley College and UCLan campus, will be facing some stiff competition at the June 12 RIBA finals.

Shortlisted alongside the artwork is the sweeping new home of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, the impressive Florence Institute in Liverpool and Highfield Pavilion in Stalybridge.

And closer to home Darwen Vale High, Blackburn’s new St Silas CE Primary and Squire House in Preston will be providing some Lancashire opposition.

An RIBA spokesman said: “The shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winners announced on June 12.”

The north-west victor will then qualify for the architectural body’s national finals, to be held in London this September.

Plaudits are nothing new for Rain Bow Gate though. The £142,000 metallic creation from the Tonkin Liu studio was attracting rave reviews before it was even installed.

It incorporates 130 prisms to capture the light and is intended as a welcoming sight for tenants of the new Knowledge Quarter, set to be constructed behind the campus.

The same studio was behind the Singing Ringing Tree at Crown Point.