British Construction and Infrastructure Awards 2025 09.10.25

2 Ruskin Square and Urbanest Battersea have both received British Construction and Infrastructure Awards.

2 Ruskin Square, winner of the Commercial Property Project Award, is a ten-storey office development in East Croydon, part of the Stanhope and Schroders masterplan which connects East Croydon station to the town centre. As the new HQ for the Home Office, the building brings together three offices currently spread across Croydon to one location. The project has achieved ambitious environmental and social goals which are being collaboratively addressed with the tenants. It has been designed for adaptability and re-use and sought to minimise embodied carbon and resource use both in construction and operational energy as a Design for Performance (NABERS UK) pioneer project.

The judges were impressed that in the face of unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, this team demonstrated extraordinary agility and commitment by delivering planning in record time. They also noted the team’s ability to foster real synergy across disciplines and stakeholders, setting a new benchmark for government buildings of the future.

Urbanest Battersea, winner of the Housing and Residential Project Award, comprises three student buildings and a dedicated commercial building. Led by private student accommodation provider urbanest, it is the first major PassivHaus student housing development in London. The buildings range in height from 11 to 19 storeys, step in height, and twist to open to key views with a unifying base around courtyard gardens; bold colours and glazed terracotta facades draw on the industrial heritage of the site and provide a strong marker within the neighbourhood. Significant improvements to the surrounding public realm and improved accessibility to Battersea Park will draw people into the site, becoming a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area.

The judges were impressed by this landmark project on a constrained site which demonstrated high-quality sustainable design, strong collaborative delivery, and measurable social and carbon benefits. Operational and embodied carbon savings, and vibrant mixed-use regeneration were standout features. They also noted the passionate delivery and the commitment to take lessons learned to the wider built environment, especially around comfort cooling.

76 Southbank was also highly commended for the John Armitt Prize. Designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and completed in 1983 as the office and client marketing building for IBM, AHMM, has carefully refurbished and extended the building to deliver an additional 11,000 square metres of flexible and highly sustainable office space. Delivered with developer Stanhope, the scheme has preserved this important building for the long-term future while greatly improving and enhancing its setting within the South Bank conservation area.