New York-based architect Rafael Viñoly leads a high-profile shortlist to design the centrepiece of Leicester's £60m cultural regeneration project.
Viñoly, Michael Wilford, Bain & Bevington, RHWL and Levitt Bernstein will find out which practice has won the commission for the £26m theatre and performing arts complex by the end of this month.

It is the first time Wilford and Bain & Bevington have crossed swords in architectural competition since their combined practice, Michael Wilford & Partners, split at the end of last year.

Foster and Partners was originally on a six-strong shortlist, but withdrew. Foster disagreed with the decision to procure the scheme using design and build rather than construction management.

The original invitation to tender for the project was placed in the European Union's Official Journal in February.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2004. Mace is project managing the selection of architects and consultants.