AYA 2025 shortlists: Public Building Architect of the Year

Earlier this year BD announced all the architects who made it on to the shortlists for our prestigious annual Architect of the Year Awards.

Now we are shining the spotlight on each category in turn and publishing a selection of the images that impressed the judges.

This year’s judges include: Yẹmí Aládérun, head of development, Meridian Water (Enfield Council); Amr Assaad, director, Buckley Gray Yeoman; Lee Bennet, partner, Sheppard Robson; Sarah Cary, chief development officer, White City at Imperial; Ben Derbyshire, chair, HTA Design LLP; Martyn Evans, creative director, U+I; Dicle Guntas, managing director, HGG London; Gavin Hale-Brown, director, Henley Halebrown; Tanvir Hasan, director emeritus, Donald Insall Associates; Lee Higson, board director, Eric Parry Architects; David Kohn, founder and director, David Kohn Architects; Oliver Lowrie, director and founder, Ackroyd Lowrie; Anna Mansfield, director, Publica; Jo McCafferty, director, Levitt Bernstein; Ian McKnight, director, Hall McKnight; John McRae, director, Orms; Andrew Mellor, partner, PRP; Sadie Morgan, director, dRMM; Setareh Neshati, director of regeneration and development – delivery and operations, Westminster City Council; David Partridge, co-founder, Senze; Manisha Patel, director, kpk Studios; Sarah Robinson, associate director, The King’s Foundation; Simon Saint, principal, Woods Bagot; Philippa Simpson, director for buildings and renewal, Barbican Centre; David Stansfield, senior partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; Amin Taha, director, Groupwork; Magali Thomson, project lead for placemaking, Great Ormond Street Hospital; Ola Uduku, head of school, Liverpool School of Architecture; Tatiana von Preussen, co-founder, vPPR; Richard Wardle, director, Stanton Williams.

Today’s shortlist is for Public Building Architect of the Year, sponsored by Suttons.

Keith Williams Architects

Two arts projects comprise the entry from Keith Williams Architects. De Valera Library & Súil Art Gallery, completed last year in Ennis, Ireland, forms a single cultural complex with the adjacent Glór theatre, linked by a new double-height colonnaded portico and entrance. In Canterbury, the practice is returning to Marlowe Theatre, which it completed in 2011, to mastermind its expansion. Due to complete in 2028, this involves expanded rehearsal spaces, stage area and backstage support facilities.

Roberts Limbrick

Four leisure centres comprise the entry from Roberts Limbrick. Completed projects include the £92.4 million Sandwell Aquatics Centre, initially designed for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and now both a community resource and events venue. Two in-progress schemes are also included in the entry: Kingston Leisure Centre and Trowbridge Leisure Centre. Due to complete in 2027 and 2026 respectively, both are part of wider town centre regeneration strategies.