Renold Building, Manchester - Concrete Brutalism, Brutalist Architecture Model: Mini 042

Model 042_Renold Building – Miniature Concrete Model
Hand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.

Some buildings embody the confidence of a new era of education. The Renold Building, completed in 1962 on the UMIST campus in Manchester, was one of the first teaching blocks in the UK designed without traditional lecture theatres. Instead, it offered flexible teaching spaces, bold concrete framing, and a modernist profile that made it both functional and iconic. It remains a landmark in the history of higher education design.

This model focuses on its clarity of form. The sharp verticals, recessed windows, and sense of rhythm had to feel balanced at a smaller scale. I worked carefully to preserve the character of its outline and the strength of its architectural presence.

A small cast of one of Manchester’s academic icons.

Features
• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured
• 6cm high, 6.5cm wide, 5.5cm deep (approx)
• Laser-etched cork base with building name
• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift
• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK

Made for those who studied there, taught there, or admired its confident modernist style.
This model is a keepsake of a building that represented new ideas about learning and left a lasting mark on Manchester’s cityscape.

*****15% off when you order two or more models*****

Building Information

Location: Former UMIST campus, Manchester, UK
Architect: W. Arthur Gibbon (Cruickshank & Seward)
Completed: 1962
Status: Grade II listed, part of the University of Manchester estate
Brief Overview:
The Renold Building was an early and innovative teaching block for UMIST, designed around the concept of flexible learning rather than traditional lecture halls. Its exposed concrete structure, crisp geometry, and functional clarity made it one of the most significant educational buildings of its era. Today it remains a key part of Manchester’s post-war architectural legacy.



Please note:
My concrete sculptures are individually hand cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and minor blemishes due to air bubbles in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.

Shipping:
I aim to make and ship your artwork within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.