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Midlands projects win architecture awards

Charlotte Benton
BBC News, West Midlands
KKE Architects Ltd An old fire station that has been transformed into housing. The building is red brick and has white rectangular windows.KKE Architects Ltd
A former fire station in Worcestershire picked one of the awards after it had been transformed into 28 apartments

A transformed 1930s fire station and a carbon-neutral nursery are among five projects to pick up regional architectural awards.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced the winners at a ceremony on Thursday evening celebrating great architecture across the country.

The five schemes were selected by an expert jury who visited all shortlisted entries.

Tim Collett, chair of the West Midlands RIBA jury, said the winning projects demonstrated how "constraints can become opportunities".

"Whether spanning a road tunnel, replacing a car park, or transforming underperforming existing structures into dynamic and exciting places to study and live, these projects deliver outstanding value," he said.

The 2025 RIBA West Midlands Award winning buildings are:

One Centenary Way by Howells, Birmingham

Hufton+Crow People walking along a paved area in the middle of a city. There are numerous buildings surrounding them, including a tall, black, rectangular structure. Hufton+Crow
The office building is built over a busy road in the heart of the city

The sustainable, steel-frame office building, bridging over a busy road tunnel in Birmingham was awarded Project Architect of the Year.

Hanbury Hall by Howells, Worcestershire

Greg Holmes An outdoor seating area with black tables and chairs. There is a red brick building to the left that has a glass front and wooden pillars that divide the windows.Greg Holmes
The Grade I listed property picked up the award for its new pavilion

The hall picked up its regional award after the addition of a new cafe to the Grade I listed country house.

University of Staffordshire Woodlands Nursery by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Daniel Hopkinson A wooden building that has large glass windows and a garden with a bark path and plants all around.Daniel Hopkinson
The carbon-neutral nursery is built on a former car park

The timber-clad, carbon-neutral nursery, which is built on a former car park, received the Sustainability and Client of the Year award.

Coventry University, College of Arts & Society by BDP

Nick Caville The ground floor of a modern university building pictured from a first-floor balcony. The ground floor has a white jigsaw-like structure above the entrance and lots of people are gathered.Nick Caville
The transformed Coventry University building was named RIBA West Midlands Building of the Year

The transformation of two brutalist buildings into a "future-facing hub" at Coventry Universities' College of Arts and Society was named Building of the Year.

The jury praised how the architects ambitiously "knitted the formerly disparate existing buildings together".

Old Fire Station by KKE Architects Ltd, Worcestershire

KKE Architects Ltd A wooden garden terrace in a luxury apartment block. There are benches along the terrace wall and balconies look onto the garden. Planters also line the perimeter. KKE Architects Ltd
The transformed fire station is on Copenhagen Street

The 1930s fire station on Copenhagen Street picked up one of the regional awards after it had been renovated into 28 new apartments and a retail space.

Speaking about all UK award winners, RIBA president, Muyiwa Oki, said: "This year's winners exemplify architecture's power to transform - turning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care."

The Midlands winners will now be considered for a RIBA national award, which will be announced on 10 July.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year, will then be drawn from the RIBA national award-winning projects later in the year.

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