RIBA reveals four-strong Client of the Year shortlist two weeks ahead of awards night

Mæ Architects has consolidated its position as favourite to win this year’s Stirling Prize, according to the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill.

The practice’s Sands End Arts and Community Centre in Fulham was yesterday listed at 7:4 to win the UK’s most prestigious architecture accolade. A fortnight ago the first-time shortlister was also favourite, but with odds of 3:1.

But with just two weeks to go until 13 October’s winner announcement, there have been changes in the fortunes of the five other Stirling runners and riders.

Niall McLaughlin Architects’ New Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, is now second-favourite with odds of 2:1, up from joint third two weeks ago when the project was 4:1.

Henley Halebrown’s Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland development is third at 9:2. The education and housing project was one of the three schemes that were joint third earlier in the month.

The New Library, Magdalene College Li_4622_Nick Kane_ORIGINAL_2

Source: Nick Kane

The New Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, by Niall McLaughlin Architects

Panter Hudspith’s Orchard Gardens housing development at Elephant Park in south London drops back from second place to joint fourth with Hopkins Architects’ 100 Liverpool Street – both have odds of 7:1.

Fourth-time Stirling shortlister Reiach and Hall Architects remains the outlier with its Forth Valley College – Falkirk Campus. William Hill has the building at 9:1, down from 5:1 earlier in the month.

RIBA reveals four-strong Client of the Year shortlist

Yesterday, RIBA announced the four contenders for this year’s Client of the Year award, the winner of which will also be revealed at 13 October’s Stirling Prize party at 66 Portland Place.

The shortlist is: British Land for 100 Liverpool Street by Hopkins Architects; Thornsett Group and The Benyon Estate for Hackney New Primary School and 33 Kingsland Road by Henley Halebrown; Balliol College for the Masters Field Development by Niall McLaughlin Architects; and the London Borough of Sutton for Harris Academy, Sutton, by Architype.

Harris Academy Sutton _190916_Architype_Sutton_021

Source: Architype

Harris Academy at Sutton, by Architype

Client of the Year jury chair Denise Bennetts said the four projects – all of them RIBA National Award winners – were a credit to those who commissioned them.

“From a south London council to one of Oxford University’s oldest colleges, each of these clients must be commended and upheld for their commitment to considered, quality design,” she said.

“Through commissioning and working alongside exceptionally skilled architects, they have set new benchmarks for housing, workplaces, schools and higher-education facilities.”

RIBA 2022 Stirling Prize shortlist

100 Liverpool Street by Hopkins Architects (London)

“A net zero development encompassing a dramatic renovation and extension of a 1980s office block to create a suite of offices and commercial and public spaces in the heart of London’s financial district”

Forth Valley College – Falkirk Campus by Reiach and Hall Architects (Scotland)

“A set of three cutting-edge higher-education facilities connected by courtyards and open learning spaces”

Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road by Henley Halebrown (London)

“A striking red-brick complex that uniquely combines affordable housing with a new primary school for the growing east London community”

Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park by Panter Hudspith Architects (London)

“A playful cluster of buildings forming a new city block of 228 new homes and retail spaces wrapped around a communal garden – a major element of Elephant and Castle’s regeneration programme”

Sands End Arts and Community Centre by Mæ Architects (London)

”A welcoming, fully accessible single-storey building arranged around a disused lodge comprising flexible activity spaces and a community café”

The New Library, Magdalene College by Niall McLaughlin Architects (Cambridge)

“An exquisitely detailed timber-framed library and study space, designed to replace that previously gifted by Samuel Pepys and projected to survive for another 400 years”