Our RIBA National Award 2024 winners revealed

Homerton is Cambridge University’s youngest college, but is now the largest by student numbers. Working alongside Feilden Fowles Architects, we were appointed to drive the environmental strategies and integrated MEP design for its newest addition to the campus, a scheme comprising the design of the college's kitchen, dining, social and welfare spaces. The all-electric dining hall features sustainability standards that far exceed best practice, with high-efficiency electric catering equipment and a ground source heat pump that reduces CO₂ emissions from heating and hot water by approximately 40%.

Judges comments 

"Beyond its distinctive exterior featuring a dramatic roof clad in 3,200 green ceramic tiles, the building delivers numerous considerable improvements for Cambridge’s largest college community: the new dining hall was designed to host much bigger events, all main social spaces feature large integrated openings that deliver natural ventilation for comfort and fresh air during most of the year, and the plant space has been carefully positioned alongside the large catering kitchen to simplify integration of ventilation equipment and facilitate maintenance. " - RIBA Judges

The Grade I-listed National Portrait Gallery, London, houses the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Our goal was to improve the internal conditions of the gallery in the most sustainable, energy-efficient, and sensitive way possible.

Through a collaborative effort, the National Portrait Gallery transformation celebrates its rich heritage while embracing a concept for the future that is inclusive, engaging and inspiring for generations to come.

Judges comments 

"Through a collaborative effort, the National Portrait Gallery transformation celebrates its rich heritage while embracing a concept for the future that is inclusive, engaging and inspiring for generations to come. This revitalisation project reaffirms the gallery’s position as a cultural landmark in the heart of London, poised to continue its legacy of storytelling and connection with the public." - RIBA Judges

The Fruitmarket Gallery was formerly a light industrial building next to Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, built in 1938. The building has been used for displaying art since 1974 but was completely remodelled in the 1990s in order to provide exhibition space for some of the world’s most important contemporary artists. Its success meant that it needed a complete refurbishment and extension. We were appointed to provide mechanical and electrical and environmental design for this key building on a sensitive site within Edinburgh’s conservation area.

Judges comments

"The jury was impressed by the clarity of the narrative behind the project, the rigour with which each gallery was considered and implemented and how well the architect had worked with an inspirational client team to develop a clear agenda for two very different spaces for exhibiting and experiencing art." - RIBA Judges 

The 77m² stone-built rehearsal and recital space sits in the centre of Avery Court at the college’s central campus Trinity Hall, one of Cambridge University’s oldest colleges. It is named after the project’s primary funders, the family of the late college fellow Dennis Avery.

Working alongside Niall McLaughlin Architects, we provided MEP Engineering and Building Physics for this all-electric building, after initially helping to conduct a feasibility study. 

Judges comments 

"The mechanical systems required to maintain environmental conditions for the musical instruments, both for conservation and to maintain tuning, have been efficiently designed and carefully integrated to ensure they do not impose on either the intimate character of the space or its historic context.

"The jury left the pavilion having absorbed a sense of calm unusual in any building. This is an admirable project in the way it has set out exceptional architectural ambitions and succeeded in seeing them through both design and construction with outstanding rigour and attention to detail." - RIBA Judges