Architecture Today Awards 2022

The finalists have been announced for the Architecture Today Awards, a new awards programme designed specifically to recognise buildings that have stood the test of time.

Culture shift – learning from buildings that have stood the test of time

We (and doubtless you) questioned the need for another awards programme, but we also felt that awards culture has to change. The growing awareness of the importance of retrofit and an increased emphasis on long-term performance simply isn’t reflected in the industry’s myriad awards. We believe there is huge value in celebrating, and learning from, buildings that have stood the test of time.

In stark contrast to most awards programmes, the Architecture Today Awards will only consider projects that have been in use for at least three years – and we hope to attract projects that have been in use for much longer.

We are looking for buildings that can demonstrate a strong track record for delivering on their environmental, functional, community and cultural ambitions.

The aim is to engender a focus on building performance evaluation (BPE) and shared learning that is essential if we are to bring about the step change in performance the industry so desperately needs.

We see this both as a valuable exercise in the journey towards a net-zero construction industry and a reflection of Architecture Today’s commitment to continuous learning, inter-disciplinary collaboration and peer-to-peer review.

Award categories

Awards will be given across nine categories, all of which are open to both new-build and retrofit projects:

Education
Healthcare
Hospitality, Sport & Leisure
International
Landscape, Public Realm, Transport & Infrastructure
Mixed Use & Retail
Religion & Culture
Residential
Workplace

Live presentations

Finalists will present their project to the jury on Monday 7 November as part of a day-long event at 15 Hatfields on London’s South Bank – home of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and one of London’s most sustainable venues. These live crits will be watched by an audience of industry professionals and clients, and recorded as part of a publicly accessible archive of shared intelligence on buildings in use. Book your tickets here.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in February 2023. A detailed building in use study on each of the winning projects will be published in a special issue of Architecture Today.

Architecture Today Awards 2022 judges. Top: Simon Allford; David Partridge; Hanif Kara; Despina Katsikakis; Juliette Morgan; Roger Harrabin. Middle: Heather Topel; Ben Derbyshire; Amin Taha; Matt Kennedy; Asif Din; Marion Baeli. Bottom: Deyan Sudjic; Nana Biamah-Ofosu; Sarah Allan; Peter Bishop; Farshid Moussavi; Isabel Allen.

The judges

A high-profile judging panel has been selected from across architecture, engineering, environmental services, development, media and government to bring a wide range of experience and knowledge to bear.

The panel will consider key areas of performance including construction approach, environmental performance, user comfort and well-being, accessibility, inclusivity and legibility, adaptability and flexibility, facilitation of sustainable lifestyles, robustness and resilience, biodiversity and natural capital, social impact, civic pride and sense of place, and contribution to shared learning.

Chaired by Architecture Today editor Isabel Allen, the jury comprises:

Sarah Allan, Head of Architecture at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Simon Allford, RIBA President and Executive Director AHMM
Marion Baeli, Partner, PDP
Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Co-founder, Studio NYALI
Peter Bishop, former Director Design for London
Ben Derbyshire, Chair, HTA and RIBA Past President
Asif Din, Sustainability Director, Perkins&Will
Roger Harrabin, Environmental Analyst, BBC
Hanif Kara, Co-founder and Design Director, ATKII
Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner, Global Head of Total Workplace, Cushman & Wakefield
Matt Kennedy, Associate Director, Carbon and Climate Lead, Arup
Juliette Morgan, ESG Consultancy Director, Gensler
Farshid Moussavi, Founder, Farshid Moussavi Architecture
David Partridge, Chairman, Argent Related
Deyan Sudjic, curator, editor and writer and Director Emeritus of the Design Museum
Amin Taha, Chairman, GROUPWORK
Heather Topel, Director of Development, Grosvenor