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RIBA Client of the Year

RIBA Client of the Year

RIBA Client of the Year 2023

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for the RIBA Client of the Year 2023, an annual award that recognises clients who commission and champion outstanding architecture.

The annual RIBA Client of the Year award honours the key role that a good client plays in the creation of fine architecture.

This year, four clients have been commended for their ability to collaborate effectively, deliver community consultation and conservation, nurture the needs of local residents or users and contribute social value.

Read in-depth interviews with each of this year’s shortlisted clients on RIBA Journal.

Find out more about the shortlisted clients below.

RIBA Client of the Year 2023 shortlist

Find out about the projects each client has been shortlisted for below

Onion Collective CIC

for East Quay

The Sports Trust

for F51 Sports Park

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, Create London, Be First, and GLA (Greater London Authority)

for A House for Artists

Kirkleatham Parochial Church Council

for St Hilda's Church and Kirkleatham Parish Centre

RIBA Client of the Year 2023 jury

The judges for the RIBA Client of the Year 2023 are:

Denise Bennetts, Founder of Bennetts Associates and Chair of RIBA Awards Group
Mitchell Brand, Director (Land & Marketing) at Thornsett Group
Ben Wildsmith, Area Sales Manager at lbstock

Chair of the RIBA Client of the Year 2023 jury, Denise Bennetts, said:

"Great clients are vital to creating great buildings and places. This year’s shortlist illustrates not only the ingenuity and commitment involved in making great architecture happen, but the incredible benefits that such projects can bring. From breathing life into unloved buildings and regenerating towns, to creating spaces to bring young people and communities together, every client on this year’s shortlist is to be celebrated for their creativity, vision, and endeavour."

Recent RIBA Client of the Year awards

View the shortlist and winners of recent RIBA Client of the Year awards

2022 - Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road

Thornsett Group and the Benyon Estate named RIBA Client of the Year 2022

2021 - Cambridge Mosque Trust

by Marks Barfield Architects for Cambridge Mosque Trust

2019 - Network Rail

Network Rail, for Hackney Wick Station (with London Legacy Development Corporation), London Bridge Station and Ordsall Chord

2018 - Argent LLP

for R7, Duggan Morris; Gasholders, Wilkinson Eyre; Victoria Hall King’s Cross, Stanton Williams; Gasholder Park, Bell Philips Architects plus a number of previous RIBA Award-winning projects

Bedales-School-of-Art-and-Design-by-Hufton-and-Crow

2017 - Bedales School

Bedales School for Bedales School Art and Design Building by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

2016 - Westmorland Ltd

Westmorland Ltd for Gloucester Services by Glenn Howells Architects with Afl Architects

2015 - National Theatre, London

National Theatre, London for the transformation of Denys Lasdun’s Grade I-listed National Theatre by Haworth Tomkins and Stanton Williams

2014 - Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University, for the MMU Business School and Manchester School of Art.

2013 - National Trust

2012 - The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)

2011 - The Royal Shakespeare Company

2010 - Hammerson

2009 - Kielder Partnership, Camden & Islington Community Solutions, Parabola Land,
Grosvenor, Maggie's and The Reverend Nicholas Holtam

2008 - Coin Street Community Builders

2007 - Derwent London

2006 - Royal Botanic Gardens

2005 - Gateshead Council

2004 - Peabody Trust

2003 - City of Manchester

2002 - Urban Splash

2001 - Molendinar Park Housing Association, Glasgow

2000 - Foreign & Commonwealth Office

1999 - Marylebone Cricket Club

1998 - Roland Paoletti

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