Max Fordham projects win 16 RIBA Regional Awards!

Images shows people dancing in the renovated Brighton Dome

It's been an incredible year for Max Fordham projects at the RIBA regional awards. From a woodland nursery to an arts venue to a converted barn, from new builds to retrofits, these projects are commended for their innovative approach to design and sustainability, delivering projects that serve as exemplars for the built environment. 

Working with design teams across the UK, projects were awarded in the RIBA regions of West Midlands, South East, Yorkshire and South. All projects will progress to the RIBA National Awards. 

RIBA West Midlands

A view of the nursery from the nearby woodlands.

Winner of the RIBA West Midlands Award, RIBA West Midlands Client of the Year and the RIBA West Midlands Sustainability Award

A building for the next generation, this net zero carbon nursery set at the edge of woodlands provides spaces for children to explore, play, and connect with nature.

The single-storey learning centre has been designed to be engaging at child height, with low windows, recessed seating, and external benches. It also contains spaces for trainee teachers and social workers, a forest school, and an outreach service. Max Fordham provided environmental and M&E engineering. 

Read more about this project

RIBA South East

Image shows people dancing in a renovated building with wooden walls, ceiling and large, high windows.

Winner of the RIBA South East Award and the RIBA South East Client of the Year

Brighton’s Grade I-listed Corn Exchange and Grade II-listed Studio Theatre have been refurbished for a 21st-century audience, to provide a dynamic cultural venue for the city and the region. The project makes major technical and operational improvements to the venues, restoring and upgrading four existing buildings: the Corn Exchange, Studio Theatre, 29 New Road and the Church Street entrance, while a new link building captures a former courtyard space, providing a foyer and public and support facilities. Max Fordham provided environmental and M&E engineering. 

Read more about this project

RIBA East

Two people standing in a daylit open-plan office space

Winner of the RIBA East Award, RIBA East Project Architect of the Year and the RIBA East Sustainability Award 2025

This world-first for a deep retrofitted sustainable office building sets new standards for low energy use, carbon emissions and impact on natural resources as well as user experience and wellbeing measured against multiple benchmarks.

The Entopia Building has achieved multiple sustainable building certifications, including BREEAM “Outstanding”, the Passivhaus ‘Enerphit’ standard and is on track to achieve Well “Gold” certification, alongside the application of ‘circular economy’ principles. Max Fordham provided services engineering and Passivhaus design. 

Read more about this project

Additional winners

Spencer Building – South East

Winner of the RIBA South East Award

This new sixth form centre sits in the landscaped grounds of the historic Worth School, a co-educational Catholic school of around 650 pupils in West Sussex. The new scheme contains a library and multi-purpose hall, social space, study spaces and a new landscaped quad, providing a central focus for the surrounding buildings. Max Fordham provided environmental and M&E engineering.

The Spencer Building, Worth School, by Tim Ronalds Architects | RIBAJ

Wonderlab – Yorkshire

Winner of the RIBA Yorkshire Award, the RIBA Yorkshire Project Architect of the Year, and the RIBA Yorkshire Building of the Year

The transformation of the National Railway Museum and sister museum Locomotion over the next five years will coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and the 50th birthday of the National Railway Museum, and exists to celebrate the past, present and future of the railways. Max Fordham provided acoustic and lighting consultancy.

Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, York, by De Matos Ryan | RIBAJ

Housestead – East

Winner of the RIBA East Award 2025

A coming together of various of architectural elements to create a playful and unique family home full of inovative renovations and interventions. Max Fordham provided sustainability and M&E engineering.

Housestead, by Sanei Hopkins Architects | RIBAJ

Jankes Barn – East

Winner of the RIBA East Award and the RIBA Conservation Award

A historic barn lovingly and carefully preserved and transformed into a residence focusing on application of interventions sympathetic to the original structure. Max Fordham provided environmental and M&E engineering.

Jankes Barn, by Lynch Architects | RIBAJ

Eton School Hall – South

Winner of the RIBA South Award

The conservation and restoration of the Grade II-listed Memorial Hall at Eton College to create a state-of-the-art performance space. Max Fordham provided services engineering. 

Eton School Hall, by Hopkins Architects | RIBAJ