Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and Eric Parry Architects have been selected on a six-strong shortlist for the RIBA-run Bird College competition.

Carmody Groarke, Gareth Hoskins Architects, Mecanoo Architecten and Harry Gugger Studio with Friend & Company also made the cut, chosen from 95 submissions.

The college in Sidcup, Kent, specialises in dance, music and theatre performance. A number of options for its future have been put forward, including refurbishment or new build

Greg Penoyre, RIBA architectural adviser for the competition, said:  “Arriving at a shortlist… has been no easy task – the jury panel spent many hours going through the submissions and applied a rigorous assessment process against the published criteria to reach the final list.”

The second phase of the competition will see the six teams work on ideas around the college’s requirements, and all will attend an interview in the new year, before the jury chooses a winner.

Jurors include Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s Centres and Anthony Bowne, principal and chief executive of Trinity Laban.

Shirley Coen, principal and chief executive of Bird College said:  “This will be an exciting process for the college both in terms of what it means for our future and also the creative collaboration that we will have with our eventual winner as we move forward with a renovation of our existing buildings or a brand new facility.”