Finalists 2026

High above Knightsbridge, between Harrods' iconic dome and chimney, the Helideck Pavilion has transformed a previously underutilised rooftop into a flexible venue for luxury brand activations, private events and curated experiences. The contemporary architectural intervention was delivered within the structural, logistical and heritage constraints of a Grade II listed building, establishing a new commercial destination while respecting its historic context. 

Architectural technology was fundamental to the project's development and delivery. A detailed Building Information Modelling (BIM) process integrated architectural, structural and MEP information within a federated model, enabling clashes, services and construction details to be coordinated before works commenced. The pavilion's defining innovation is its fully demountable modular structure, comprising aluminium columns, glulam beams and a pneumatic roof enclosure, all digitally modelled as a precision-engineered kit of parts.

Delivered within an ambitious five-month programme above a live retail environment, the project presented significant logistical challenges. With no crane access, all materials were sized to travel through existing goods lifts and service routes. Detailed logistics planning, out-of-hours working and strict access management enabled construction to proceed without disrupting Harrods' operations.

Digital tools supported layout testing, event configurations, construction sequencing and stakeholder decision-making. Developed with AirClad, the innovative inflatable roof system provides thermal efficiency, weather protection and structural performance while minimising dead loads.

Sustainability was central to the design. Glulam timber, off-site fabrication and a modular kit-of-parts approach reduce embodied carbon and construction waste. Designed for future disassembly and relocation, the pavilion embraces circular economy principles while demonstrating a replicable model for adaptable, low-impact architecure in dense urban environments.

Marshall Walk is a twelve-home social housing development at Inns Court in south Bristol, delivered by ZED PODS, a CIAT Chartered Practice, for Bristol City Council. Completed in July 2025, the £2.70m development provides twelve self-contained 1B1P homes of 37m² each for single-person households, with around half intended for residents moving on from homelessness.

The project recovered a previously stalled modular scheme following the insolvency of the original MMC contractor. Appointed in early 2024, ZED PODS reassessed the approved design and resolved the technical and delivery risks while preserving the planning principles, footprint and community intent. The scheme was rebuilt around Category 1 volumetric DfMA principles and revised through a Non-Material Amendment.

The steeply, sloping, constrained brownfield site required the integration of level changes, module transportability, privacy and daylight. The modular layout was stepped in 225mm increments to follow the natural gradient, reducing earthworks and perceived building height. Lowering the mono-pitch roof from 22° to 15° reduced overall building height by 330m, allowing complete volumetric modules to be transported safely while retaining 2.5-2.6m ceiling heights and full NDSS compliance.

BIM-led coordination, working to ISO 19650, enabled architectural elements, structural logic, servicing, manufacturing constraints and tolerances to be tested simultaneously. The modules were manufactured to around 80-85% completion in a BOPAS-certified facility and all twelve were installed in three days with zero reportable accidents.

The zero operational carbon, gas-free homes achieved EPC A and SAP 100A+. A fabric-first envelope, solar-assisted air-source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation support high performance, while 84 PV panels provide up to 3,000kWh of clean electricity per home per year. The development also achieved 24% Biodiveristy net gain and independently validated social value of £105,284, demonstrating how architectural technology can recover failed schemes and unlock constrained urban land.

Set on the shorefront of a small conservation fishing village in South Aberdeenshire, is the Grade C listed, 1830’s townhouse ‘Sea Haven’.

Annie Kenyon Architects (ak|a) has designed a sensitive refurbishment of the existing layout with the addition of a sympathetic, contemporary two storey extension comprised of expansive glazing, timber cladding and reclaimed stone.

ak|a centred its approach on a balanced scheme between old and new, whilst aiming to improve the home’s connection with the generous garden space and the views out to sea. By blending functional rooms within the existing stone shell with the spacious open plan Living and Kitchen areas within the new extension, this allowed the clients to fully enjoy uninterrupted panoramic views, alongside achieving a more balanced, intimate family home.

A notable design feature are the long individual rafters extending out past the envelope to both ends of the building. This creates a striking recurring timber ‘fin’ feature with diminishing overhang to the rear shorefront elevation. The external wall of glass and timber below softly angles away from the existing stone building.

On this project, ak|a provided thermal and energy-efficient specifications, focusing on sustainability and low-carbon measures. All building elements achieved low thermal resistance u-values, beyond building regulation requirements which included triple-glazed windows, doors, and rooflights. The local contractor built the sustainable timber structures nearby, whilst re-claiming matching stone from a near-by dilapidated steading to re-build and form the new areas of stonework.

The success of this commission, which completed within 12 months, was the result of an aligned collaborative effort and equally passionate vision shared by both the Architect and client, further aided by the dedicated craftsmanship of the local contractor.

Cheadle College is a 4,300m² new-build facility designed by Arcadis for Trafford and Stockport College Group. The £26.9 million scheme replaces an ageing estate with a contemporary, flexible and inclusive learning environment, completed in September 2025 following a fast-track programme. It integrates a substantial Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) facility within the mainstream college, providing a purpose-built, neurodiversity-affirming environment for students following the 'Choice and Progression' curriculum.

The development provides two teaching wings centred around a community "heart" space, alongside retained and remodelled sports facilities and a new horticulture studio. Specialist spaces include a clinical therapy ward, nursery environment, science laboratories, sensory lab and general-purpose classrooms, supported by an upgraded learning resource centre and dedicated social spaces. The design follows Salford University's Clever Classrooms principles of naturalness, individualisation and stimulation, using daylight, acoustic treatments, flexible layouts and a calm, biophilic material palette to support comfort and communication.

Collaboration and digital technology were integral to delivery. Arcadis consulted with eleven college departments and used Excel and Revit to develop detailed schedules, while a federated Dalux model linked issyesm RFIs, photos and checklists directly to model elements, improving communication and resolution of design and construction queries.

Sustainability was driven by ambitious LETI targets and a fabric first strategy, contributing to a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating. Enhanced U values, localised mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), extensive PV arrays and design for disassembly support long-term performance, circular economy principles and reduced environmental impact. The design also prioritises safety, adaptability and long-term resilience, with secure outdoor learning spaces, flexible demountable partitions, accessible services and provision for future vertical expansion.

Crofts House is a five-home social rent development in the Mid Devon village of Sandford, designed and delivered by ZED PODS for Mid Devon District Council. Completed in August 2025, the £1.40m scheme is the district's first rural zero-operational-carbon housing development, transforming a contaminated, underused 412m² council-owned garage court into four single-storey 1B2P homes and one two-storey 1B2P home. All homes are NDSS-compliant.

Architectural technology was central to unlocking the constrained rural micro-site. Village lanes between 3.7m and 4.9m wide, telegraph poles, overhead lines, neighbouring properties and mature trees required Design for Manufacture and Assembly parameters to be established during Stage 3. Module widths, structural grid, MEP integration, façade build-up and transportability were coordinated digitally before planning submission, ensuring the consented scheme was also a manufacturable scheme.

An ISO 19650-aligned workflow used Autodesk Construction Cloud as the Common Data Environment, providing a single source of truth for version control, change management and asset information. BIM-led coordination, quantity take-offs and QR-linked module records supported material optimisation and created a Golden Thread through to handover.

The ten volumetric modules were manufactured to over 80% Pre-Manufactured Value in a BOPAS-certified factory, achieving ±3mm tolerance. Factory production ran in parallel with groundworks, allowing all modules to be delivered and installed in two days.

A fabric-first envelope, air-source heat pu,ps, MVHR and 36 photovoltaic panels support verified high performance. All five homes achieved EPC A and SAP 100A+, while a Whole Life Carbon Asssessment confirmed embodied carbon of 425kgCO_²e/m², 47% below RIBA 2025 targets. IoT-linked sensors continue to monitor humidity and indoor air quality after handover. Crofts House has since underpinned a pipeline of 143 further homes across 11 rural micro-sites in Mid Devon, demonstrating a repeatable approach to unlocking sites previously considered unviable.

The Elizabeth Building at Salisbury District Hospital is a modern, two-storey inpatient facility replacing two outdated pre-1948 ward buildings. Completed in 2024, with first-floor fit out finalised in 2025, the £12m project increases clinical capacity while supporting the NHS' long-term ambitions for resilience, patient wellbeing and carbon reduction. Located within the central core of the hospital estate, it connects directly with the existing "hospital street", enabling efficient movement of patients, staff and services across the wider campus.

The compact two-storey form maximises clinical accommodation while optimising roof space for photovoltaic installations and mechanical plant. Advanced coordination was required to integrate the reinforced concrete frame with mechanical and electrical services, rainwater drainage, soil vent pipework and strucutral elements, while maintaining future flexibility for changing clinical requirements.

Construction took place within a fully operational hospital environment, requiring construction zones, vehicle routes and pedestrian access to be carefully segregated. New connections to the existing hospital street network involved detailing sequencing and close coordination with hospital management to maintain patient safety and uninterrupted services.

Digital technology supported a BIM-led approach using a live BIM 360 environment, with interoperable workflows using Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) formats. Three-dimensional modelling, RFIs and virtual coordination meetings supported collaboration, reduced design clashes and resolved potential construction challenges early.

The building incorporates modern four-bed bays, en-suite facilities and specialist bariatric accommodation, designed in accordance with Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) and Health Building Notes (HBN). A fabric-first approach, air source heat pumps, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and thermal, BRUKL, Operational Energy and Carbon (OE&C), and Whole Life Carbon (WLC) assessments support its delivery as a Net Zero Carbon Enabled Operational Energy building.

The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds is a purpose-built facility bringing together specialist MND care, research, therapy and support services. Designed by Corstorphine & Wright for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and delivered by I&G, the £7 million centre was completed to provide a healthcare environment responding to the physical, emotional and practical needs of people living with MND.

The two-storey building is arranged as East and West Wings around a central atrium. Clinical spaces occupy the wings, while the atrium provides a shared, non-clinical heart incorporating gathering, dining, reading and quiet reflection spaces. Staff accommodation and a dedicated wellbeing space are located on the first floor.

Architectural technology was central to achieving the required clinical performance alongside a calm and welcoming environment. A fabric-first, energy-efficient approach supports the building's target of BREEAM Excellent, with the technical strategy also considering long-term performance, comfort and adaptability.

A prefabricated structural system comprising a long-span glulam frame and structural insulated panels (SIPs) was selected for its low embodied carbon, material efficiency, speed of erection and buildability. The long spans provide a flexible internal framework capable of supporting future reconfiguration and reuse.

The façade incorporates TECHNAL TENTAL 50 curtain walling, SOLEAL Next 75 high-performance aluminium windows and TECHNAL commercial doors. Triple glazing improves thermal and acoustic performance, while the fully aluminium system provides structural consistency, durability and ease of maintenance.

Building services were coordinated to provide appropriate ventilation and air-quality control while maintaining a non-institutional environment. Technical challenges on the live hospital site included diverting an existing combined drainage run using new 1200mm-diameter PCC pipework outside the building footprint. Sustainable drainage measures include permeable paving and geocellular attenuation tanks.

The project demonstrates how coordinated Architectural Technology can combine low-carbon construction, technical performance, adaptability and inclusive healthcare design to create an environment centred on dignity and wellbeing.

Canopy is a regenerative conversion project that has transformed Pilot House, a cluster of five historic buildings in the heart of Leicester, into a 60,000 sqft creative workspace. Dating back to 1900, the buildings have been brought together as a cohesive, accessible and adaptable workplace while retaining their industrial character and significant historic features.

Sensitive heritage conservation was central to the scheme. Exposed brickwork, historic timber beams and parquet flooring were retained, while contemporary interventions, including a light-filled glazed atrium and new internal link bridges, were designed to complement the original fabric. The project also responds to the scale, grain and character of the surrounding streetscape, bringing previously neglected assets back into active use and supporting wider regeneration around Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk.

Transforming five fragmented, 125-year-old buildings presented significant technical challenges. The Architectural Technologist played a central role in resolving complex level changes to establish step-free connectivity and integrate vertical circulation. Restricted city-centre access, unmapped historic basements and legacy infrastructure required evidence-based technical solutions throughout design and construction.

Sustainability was embedded through the retention of the existing structural envelopes, conserving substantial embodied carbon. Targeted upgrades included secondary glazing, smart ventilation systems, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels, electrical and plumbing overhauls, precision masonry and stone restoration, and plug-and-play digital infrastructure to support future commercial needs.

Developed by Leicester City Council and supported by £9.9m from the government's Levelling Up Fund, Canopy provides a permanent base for 25 businesses and over 300 professionals. Shared facilities include meeting rooms, breakout areas, exhibition space, outdoor workspaces, an on-site bakery and café.

Appointed in 2022, rg+p led the architectural design and technical coordination from concept through to construction completion. Together with MDA and Henry Brothers Construction, the team delivered a technically ambitious regeneration scheme with a fixed £14.6 million funding envelope, combining heritage conservation with contemporary workspace requirements.

Stockroom is a 51,000 sq ft civic and cultural destination created through the conversion of three long-vacant retail units within Merseyway Shopping Centre in the heart of Stockport. Completed in May 2025, the project has transformed underperforming retail space into a public library, children's creative learning zone, sensory room, multi-faith quiet room, local heritage archive, flexible studios and event spaces, exhibition areas, public services and a café.

Rather than demolishing and replacing the existing buildings, the project demonstrates how architecural technology can enable complex existing structures to be understood, adapted and given a new lease of life. Extensive 3D surveys, high-resolution surveys and point-cloud scanning created an accurate digital understanding of the three separate retail units, allowing the team to test the existing fabric throughout design development and construction. The information was integrated into the Revit model to coordinate architectural, structural and MEP interventions against actual site conditions.

A Common Data Environment supported the sharing of survey information, model updates, RFIs and construction information, while clash detection and a HoloBuilder live-camera system aided coordination and live monitoring during construction.

Significant level changes and fragmented circulation were resolved through ramps, a new feature staircase and lift assembly, creating a continuous accessible route across the building. Existing floor voids were infilled using TLA pourable insulation void-former, while the completed building includes a Changing Places facility, sensory room, quiet room/multi-faith space and improved lift and stair access.

A reuse-first approach retained the existing primary structure and most of the façade, reducing the embodied carbon associated with demolition and new construction. Durable materials, recycled-content acoustic panelling, thermal improvements, soft landscaping and cycle storage further support the project's sustainability objectives. The completed building achieved an EPC B rating.

Stockroom demonstrates how 3D surveying, point-cloud scanning, Revit modelling, clash detection and digital construction monitoring can transform fragmented town-centre assets into a unified, accessible and adaptable public building.

Victoria House is a Grade II listed Art Deco building in Bloomsbury transformed through adaptive reuse into a major life sciences hub. Designed by Corstorphine & Wright for Oxford Properties and Pioneer Group, the £60 million project converts 220,000 sq ft of the building's 300,000 sq ft internal area into Grade A wet-lab-enabled accommodation, alongside offices, collaboration spaces, incubator laboratories, grow-on facilities and shared amenities.

Originally constructed between 1926 and 1932, the steel-framed, eight-storey building retains its Portland stone façades, windows, primary structure and significant heritage interiors, including marble entrance spaces, decorative staircases, the ballroom and original directors' rooms. The project demonstrates how complex laboratory infrastructure can be integrated into a listed building while retaining its architectural character and embodied carbon.

Architectural technology was central to the transformation. Existing atria were repurposed as service distribution spines, providing a framework for the sophisticated mechanical and electrical infrastructure required by wet laboratories. This reduced the need for intrusive interventions into heritage spaces while allowing ventilation and engineering systems to support the new use.

The building's large floor plates and existing infrastructure enabled a range of laboratory configurations, providing flexibility for different occupiers and supporting organisations through different stages of the research and development cycle. Wet-lab-enabled accommodation, incubator spaces, offices, meeting areas and shared amenities create an integrated environment for science and technology businesses.

Sustainability was driven by retaining the existing façade, steel structure and interiors, avoiding the embodied carbon associated with demolition and replacement. Air source heat pumps, heat-recovery ventilation and energy-efficient systems contribute to operational performance, with the building targeting an EPC A energy rating and achieving BREEAM Excellent.

The project required close multidisciplinary coordination across architectural, structural, MEP, laboratory planning, acoustics and construction teams. Wates Group delivered the project as main contractor, supported by specialist laboratory suppliers.

Victoria House demonstrates how adaptive reuse and architectural technology can reposition an existing listed building for a technically demanding new use while retaining its architectural and environmental value.

Wayside Cottage is a three-bedroom home in Iken, Suffolk, with origins in the 18th century and a substantial 1980s extension. Completed in August 2025, the comprehensive renovation by Plaice Design Company Ltd addressed deep-seated technical problems including poor insulation, cramped first-floor spaces, no first-floor bathroom, no central heating and significant issues with the existing roof and building fabric.

The project adopted a fabric-first approach, beginning with the removal of cementitious render and non-breathable plasters and paints that were trapping moisture within the historic masonry and timber frame. These were replaced with breathable woodfibre insulation and lime plasters and renders, allowing the building fabric to manage moisture vapour more effectively. New thermally efficient windows and doors, including triple-glazed ali-composite units, further improved thermal performance and airtightness.

A new warm roof over the 18th century portion transformed the usability of the first floor, creating vaulted ceilings and improved spatial quality. Integrating the new roof construction with the retained historic roof structure required detailed collaboration between the design team and structural engineer. The internal layout was also completely reconfigured, using carefully managed temporary propping sequences, bespoke joist hangers and new steelwork to resolve structural and circulation challenges. A first-floor bathroom and repositioned doorways improved accessibility and day-to-day functionality.

The upgraded fabric supports a low-carbon services strategy incorporating an Air Source Heat Pump, underfloor heating, radiators and decentralised MVHR units. Fourteen photovoltaic panels on a new cart lodge feed a 15kW battery array, while an EDDI energy diverter directs surplus electricity to EV charging, the hot water cylinder or grid export. 

Together with a comprehensive landscape scheme, the project demonstrates how a carefully integrated, fabric-first approach to architectural technology can improve the safety, health, liveability and energy performance of a historic building while retaining its distinctive character.

The Wythenshawe Mansards project involved the retrofit of 215 occupied properties in Greater Manchester as part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1 programme. Delivered between December 2024 and November 2025, the £8.75 million programme aimed to improve homes with EPC ratings of D or below to EPC C or above through a fabric-first strategy, while improving long-term performance, resilience and durability.

The existing mansard typology presented complex technical challenges, with historic alterations, limited original information and varying construction conditions requiring each property to be understood individually. Measured surveys, intrusive investigations, LiDAR scanning, photographic records and coordinated 3D modelling were used to develop an accurate understanding of the existing buildings before key decisions were made.

A new externally insulated mansard roof system created space for continuous insulation and ventilated cavities without reducing internal living space. Three-dimensional modelling supported the testing of alternative roof configurations and coordination of critical junctions, establishing a methodology that could be repeated across the programme. Investigations also identified opportunities to improve existing fire and acoustic separation, with enhanced junction details developed with reference to Approved Documents B and E.

Collaboration between Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, Domna's Retrofit Designer, Retrofit Coordinator and Retrofit Assessors, Sustainable Building Services (UK), manufacturers, suppliers and installation teams was integral to the technical design process. Pilot properties enabled construction sequencing, detailing, installation tolerances and quality standards to be tested and refined before wider implementation.

A1 non-combustible mineral fibre insulation, continuous mechanical extract ventilation and a revised rainwater strategy supported thermal performance, fire resistance, moisture resilience and long-term durability. The completed project demonstrates how architectural technology can develop a robust, repeatable methodology for large-scale retrofit while responding to the individual conditions of 215 homes.

YY London, formerly 30 South Colonnade, is a comprehensive retrofit and reimagination of an existing office building in Canary Wharf. Completed in June 2023 for Quadrant and Oaktree Capital, the £135m project delivers 416,000 square feet (NIA) of Grade A office space alongside retail, food and beverage, and new external terraces.

A key project decision was to retain and extend the existing concrete and steel frame rather than demolish it. This avoided 10,260 tonnes of CO2e in embodied carbon while providing the basis for a comprehensive transformation of the building's performance and identity. 

The existing cladding was replaced with a high-performance facade incorporating solar control coatings and significantly reduced air permeability. The facade design works with the existing structural grid through verticality and rhythm, with the project's 'Twist' connecting the grids at key transitions. Combined with highly efficient building services, the new envelope reduced overall energy demand by 62 per cent. The building achieved a 5-Star rating under the NABERS Design for Performance methodology, with a calculated energy use intensity of 57.47 kWh per square metre (NIA) for landlord-rated areas.

YY London is fully all-electric, incorporating rooftop photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Demand-controlled ventilation further optimises energy use, while the building was designed to BCO 2019 guidelines.

Digital delivery was supported by a BIM Execution Plan and Vectorworks modelling, with BIMTech federating models and identifying clashes. During construction, the Stage 5 model was coordinatedd with Skanska to maintain design intent.

The building also incorporates extensive digital infrastructure, achieving SmartScore Platinum, WiredScore Platinum and a Digital Twin supporting energy and facilities management. Its YY London App integrates access control, lighting, blinds, climate settings, lift control, desk booking, parking and indoor air quality monitoring.

The completed project achieved BREEAM Outstanding, EPC A, NABERS 5-Star, WELL Platinum ready, WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Platinum, demonstrating how architectural technology can combine retrofit, sustainability, digital innovation and commercial value.