RIBA: Sterling Prize 2015

The latest and most prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for 2015 has been announced: the Sterling Award for the best new building in the UK. The coveted award now in its 20th year was won by Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London, the work of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).

The transformation of Burntwood School as envisioned by AHMM led to the re-imagining of the campus of a 1950s girls' secondary school with a large capacity - 2,000 pupils, 200 staff. The architects created new departmental buildings and two large cultural buildings that amplify the modernist school designed by renowned 1950s-'60s architect Sir Leslie Martin (known for London's Royal Festival Hall). Each of the buildings is airy and light-filled, with double-height spaces at the ends of each corridor, which enhances natural light and creates wide openings to the view outside. The design provides a range of technical spaces, from conventional classrooms to interactive open plan spaces. As the existing building is very sculptural, AHMM worked closely with an artist who utilized large, highly colorful walls arranged throughout the buildings, combining signage with modern art.

The Sterling Prize judges justified the Burntwood School as the most accomplished of the six buildings nominated as finalists because it "demonstrates a broad palette of skills that architects can offer society. The work demonstrates high caliber contemporary design and clever reuse of existing buildings, as well as a splendid integration of art, landscape and engineering. It is a truly collaborative project. There has been a wonderful working relationship between the head of the school and the architect: a true partnership of equals".

At the award ceremony, RIBA President Jane Duncan said:

"Burntwood School shows us how a superb school design can be the engine for increasing the enjoyment and educational achievement of our children. AHMM, being a practice with experienced school design architects, has created a stunning campus. It has produced delightful, energy efficient and resourceful spaces for the whole community for the long term."

On receiving the award, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris office director Paul Monaghan said, "Schools can be more than just practical and functional buildings; they must raise the aspirations of children, teachers and the whole community. Good school designs can make students evaluate their education and themselves. The fact that a school has won the Sterling Award in 2015 hopefully means it is worth the investment."

The other five entries nominated as finalists were:

Darbishire Place, Peabody Housing, London (social housing) author: Niall McLaughlin Architects

Maggie's Lanarkshire, Airdrie, Scotland (low-rise housing for a cancer care center) by Reiach and Hall Architects

Neo Bankside, South Bank, London (luxury apartment towers) by Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners with John Robertson Architects

University of Greenwich, Stockwell Street Building, London (building for the university library and the faculties of architecture, landscape architecture and arts) by heneghan peng architects

The Withworth, University of Manchester (extension to 19th century university gallery) by: MUMA