The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2025. Founded by Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE and the Marco Goldschmeid Foundation in 1998, the annual award, now in its 27th year, was established in memory of Stephen Lawrence, a teenager and aspiring architect who was the victim of a fatal racially motivated attack in 1993.
Intended to encourage new talent and inspire others in the early stages of their architectural career, the award exclusively recognises projects led by an early career project architect. This is typically someone who has qualified within five years prior to the project’s completion date.
With themes of history and heritage revival, community inclusivity, social benevolence and ecological responsibility, this year’s shortlisted projects highlight the brilliant work of early career architects placing humanity, culture and emotional integrity at the heart of their projects.
Matthew Goldschmied, Jury Chair, Managing Trustee at the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, said:
“The Stephen Lawrence prize celebrates the achievements of early career architects and this year’s shortlist reflects the eclectic magic of architectural endeavour. Many stories are told through these buildings; narratives of delight, integrity and generosity to people, place and planet.
For the jury, these projects will offer memorable visits to a diverse collection of exceptional buildings. We are excited to meet the talent who brought these spaces to life and to hear how their dedication, perseverance and skill overcame the challenges faced. We are privileged to celebrate architectural excellence each year and to sustain the living memorial to Stephen.”
The six shortlisted projects are:
- Knepp Wilding Kitchen and shop by Kaner Olette Architects (Project Architect: Toko Andrews) The first rewilding project in the UK, formerly a collection of decaying and underused farmyard buildings. It is now a multi-functional series of spaces featuring a café/restaurant and farm shop showcasing sustainable, local produce, alongside dedicated visitor facilities.
- Hallelujah Project by Peregrine Bryant Architects (Project Architect: Helena Tunbridge) A conservation project in the Grade I-listed former home of George Frideric Handel and later Jimi Hendrix, now a museum offering exhibition spaces celebration the lives of the two musicians and their time in London.
- Pine Heath by Studio Hagen Hall (Project Architect: Louis Hagen Hall) An extensive whole house renovation and sensitive energy focused transformation of a modernist townhouse. This focused around retaining as much of the existing fabric and structure as possible, while upgrading key elements that contributed to the building's poor thermal performance, energy efficiency and carbon emissions.
- St. Mary’s Walthamstow by Matthew Lloyd Architects (Project Architect: Alex Spicer) An ageing Grade II* listed church which has been transformed into a bright, uplifting space that serves the wider community.
- University of Staffordshire Woodlands Nursery by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (Project Architect: Jack Baker) A timber-clad, carbon-neutral nursery built on a former car park.
- The Jackson Library, Exeter College, Oxford by Nex (Project Architect: Joe Dent) A radical transformation of a deteriorating library in Exeter College has created a fresh, robust and light-filled environment for studying.
The Stephen Lawrence Prize shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2025. Project Architects – including their year of qualification – were identified at the point of entry. The winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday 16 October 2025 at The Roundhouse in London.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: jenny.webber@riba.org
- The Stephen Lawrence Prize celebrates new talent by exclusively recognising projects led by an early career project architect. For this award, we define an early career architect as someone who has qualified as an architect typically within 5 years prior to the project completion date, although we consider mitigations that may impact this timeframe. We recognise that some entrants may not have been working full time for a range of reasons. To be inclusive we actively encourage applications from people who may have been working for longer than five years but have spent time outside of their professional career. Previously, the prize was awarded to the best projects with a construction budget of less than £1 million - see further information here.
- The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation was established amid unprecedented growing global awareness of racial inequality, and exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK. The Foundation has been working tirelessly with stakeholders in education, business, and government to develop a framework that will become the bedrock of the foundation’s future work.
- The Marco Goldschmied Foundation was created by Marco Goldschmied in 1998 and continues to sponsor The Stephen Lawrence Prize for architecture and to award grants and donations for education in architecture and the arts. The Foundation supports research into innovation in the arts, environment and human rights fields by the provision of grants and awards to individuals or other charitable organisations.
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows. Entries are to be submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on X for regular updates.
