RIBA announces shortlist for the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2025

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.

Image: University of Staffordshire Woodlands Nursery - Daniel Hopkinson

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.