With no less than five National Awards and three High Commendations plus a special award, 2026 was a bumper year for university design.  

The Winners were: 

University of Edinburgh (Founder Member) – *Edinburgh Futures Institute by Bennetts Architects (Founder Member)

*Also, the recipient of the Special Award for Reuse and Adaptation. 

University of the Arts (Founder Member) – London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison (Member) 

University College London (Founder Member)-  One Pool Street by Lifshulz Davidson Sandiland

Oxford University (Founder Member) – Rhodes House transformation by Stanton Williams (Founder Member)

Cambridge University (Founder Member) – Pembroke College Mill Lane by Haworth Tompkins (Member)

High Commendations were awarded to:

Royal College of Music (Member) – East Courtyard by John Simpson Architects

University of Virginia – Contemplative Commons by Aidlin Darling Design

Cambridge University (Founder Member) – Emmanuel College, Youngs Court by Stanton Williams (Founder Members)

Julian Robinson Civic Trust National Awards Panel judge and University Design Forum Trustee commented “It’s a real credit to the HE sector that innovative and inspiring designs are still being commissioned and delivered. For so many to be awarded demonstrates universities are still achieving for high quality design outcomes.” 

Images: Edinburgh Futures Institute (c) Hufton+Crow