The centre opened in 1977 and houses the art collection of Lord and Lady Sainsbury.
The minister’s decision to give the building protected status follows advice from English Heritage, which cited the centre’s ‘architectural innovation, design, historic association, flexibility and group value’ as reasons for the II* grading.
Calling the building ‘a modern classic’, Vaizey said: ‘As well as standing comparison with any late 20th-century building anywhere in the world, it is also superbly fit for purpose, thanks to innovative engineering coming together with very fine design.’
