Elizabeth Line wins 2024 Stirling Prize
RIBA has awarded the Stirling Prize to the Elizabeth Line, praising it as an “extraordinarily complex architectural feat masked by an elegant simplicity.” The £19bn project, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2022, spans 118 km with 10 new stations, connecting Heathrow and Reading in the west to Essex and southeast London in the east via 42 km of tunnels beneath central London.
Designed by Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation, and AtkinsRéalis, the line now serves 700,000 passengers daily and showcases a monumental achievement in navigating London’s historical underground while avoiding existing structures.
RIBA lauded the design of the seven central stations, highlighting their calm environments, fluid lines, and effective wayfinding systems. The muted palette, subtle lighting, and step-free access were also noted, along with engineering features that address climate change challenges.
RIBA president Muyiwa Oki described the project as a “triumph in architect-led collaboration,” transforming commuting into an effortless experience. Grimshaw partner Neill McClements emphasized the line’s transformative impact on London’s transport network and the importance of collaboration in addressing current challenges.
The Elizabeth Line outperformed five other finalists, including notable projects like the National Portrait Gallery revamp and the King’s Cross masterplan.
RIBA Special Awards 2024 winners announced
RIBA unveiled the winners of its four special awards at a live ceremony yesterday evening.
Shortlists for the RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize, RIBA Reinvention Award, RIBA Neave Brown Award for Housing and RIBA Client of the Year were compiled earlier in the year.
Clementine Blakemore Architects took home the Stephen Lawrence Prize for its Dorset dairy farm Wraxhall Yard.
Fardaa’s Croft 3 on Scotland’s Isle of Mull won the RIBA Reinvention Award for its creative reuse, enhancing environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This project transformed a ruined farm building into a restaurant and community space, praised as an “exemplar low carbon restoration” that reused site materials and featured locally crafted furniture.
The Neave Brown Award for affordable housing went to Al-Jawad Pike’s Chowdhury Walk, an 11-home social housing scheme named in honor of Dr. Abdul Chowdhury, who advocated for PPE during the pandemic. This project is part of Hackney Council’s new generation council housing initiative.
The jury praised the scheme’s attention to detail and the quality of its materials which make the homes feel “uplifting upon entering”.
Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council picked up the client of the year award for the pair’s “ambitious” community regeneration project, Shakespeare North, in Prescot.
Designed by 6a Architects, the new theatre building promotes the learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s works and includes an exhibition space, seminar rooms and both indoor and outdoor performance spaces.
The four special awards were announced yesterday alongside the Stirling Prize, the UK’s most prestigious architectural award for a new building, which was handed to The Elizabeth Line.
Rail lobby calls for private investment to boost infrastructure
HS1 Ltd, Mott MacDonald, and other stakeholders are urging the government to explore diverse investment options for public transport growth. The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) released a report suggesting that private funding could support major rail projects.
The group emphasized three key objectives:
1. Develop a long-term travel strategy** focusing on key links, especially from Birmingham to the North West and across northern England from Liverpool to Hull.
2. Engage with the infrastructure investment community** to explore various funding models instead of an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach.
3. Adopt a ‘whole systems’ approach** to planning, funding, and delivery on a national level.
Chair Dyan Perry highlighted that inconsistent policies have undermined investor confidence, leading to fragmented infrastructure. He noted that effective rail investment could drive local economic growth and enhance connectivity.
This initiative comes ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget announcement, with speculation about HS2’s extension from Old Oak Common to Euston. Although last year Rishi Sunak scrapped the northern leg of HS2, reports suggest potential reversals of previous cuts, allowing the line to run from Euston to Crewe.
The report, featuring contributions from major firms like Amey and KPMG, includes successful examples of public-private partnerships from international projects.
Demolition giant John F Hunt Group sold to staff
The John F Hunt Group Ltd has established an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) for its 500 employees. Chairman John Hall described this move as a natural progression for the £157m turnover demolition, construction, and regeneration specialist.
Hall stated, “Selling to a third party or breaking up the Group was never an option. Our employees are essential to the business, and transitioning to employee ownership is the next logical step. I’m thrilled that all directors and staff support this initiative.”
The EOT will encompass 21 businesses across 16 locations, excluding John F Hunt Power and Morris Machinery, which have seven regional offices.
Hall noted that EOTs are a recognized method for sustaining business success, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong balance sheet. He reassured that daily management will remain unchanged, and he will continue as active Chairman.
In its financial results for the year ending March 31, 2023, the Group reported a 44% increase in turnover to £157m, with pre-tax profits of £9.46m and a net asset value of £38.6m.
Contractors step up modern slavery surveillance
Construction firms are intensifying efforts to combat modern slavery gangs targeting their sites. A coalition of tier one companies and labor agencies has highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable individuals within the industry’s supply chain, despite the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
To raise awareness, campaigns have been launched in collaboration with the anti-slavery group Unseen and the Supply Chain Sustainability School. Unseen recently released a short film designed to help site managers identify potential victims, which will be used in training and inductions across the built environment sector. Notable firms supporting the film include Berkeley Group, Laing O’Rourke, and Kier Group.
Unseen warns that construction is among the top three sectors for modern slavery due to extensive subcontracting, high worker turnover, and complex supply chains. The Modern Slavery Act mandates firms with an annual turnover of £36m or more to declare the steps taken to prevent slavery in their operations.
In 2023, labor exploitation victims accounted for 58% of reports to the national helpline. Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen, praised the construction industry’s proactive measures, which empower smaller companies on-site.
Additionally, the Supply Chain Sustainability School released a toolkit outlining due diligence practices for modern slavery, warning that some site managers might overlook worker conditions due to financial pressures. The toolkit provides guidance on preventing and addressing exploitation and includes resources from expert organizations.
Signs of modern slavery include excessively long working hours, lack of contracts, pay deductions, and inadequate training. Jo Potts, sustainability director at Balfour Beatty, emphasized the importance of operating responsibly and upholding ethical standards in the construction industry.
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