The finalists for this year’s MJ Long Prize are Jennifer Pirie of Henley Halebrown, Natasha Huq of GRAS, Evelyne Vanhoutte of Sergison Bates and Rowan Seaford of Carmody Groarke.

This prize, named in memory of inspirational architect MJ Long, and now in its seventh year, celebrates UK-based architects who are excelling in practice.

The prize is open to architects working for UK practices and judged on an overall body of work with the emphasis on a recently completed project.

Pirie has been nominated for her role as project architect on a commercial office block Barge Crescent, in London; Huq for her work leading on the design, delivery and community engagement work in the repair and consolidation of the historic Preston Tower in Prestonpans near Edinburgh; Vanhoutte for leading on the retrofit of Ghent Barracks in Ghent into new regional government offices; and Seaford for her role in the rework of the Power Hall, Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

Last year’s prize was awarded to Lynch Architects associate director Rachel Elliott for her work on Westminster Coroner’s Court in London.

AJ architecture editor Rob Wilson said: ‘Excellence in practice – which the prize recognises – was demonstrated in spades by all four shortlisted candidates, who were each impressive in the breadth of their practice and skill and in the ambition of the buildings that they have led on delivering.

‘Each of the projects for which they have been nominated is exemplary not only in its design and detailing, but in the range and depth of community engagement and sensitivity to its context – aspects of practice that are front and central to what this prize was set up to recognise.’

Meanwhile, the architects in the running for this year’s global Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture are based in India, the Netherlands, the UK and Mexico.

The award shines a spotlight on exceptional designers from around the world under the age of 45, who are leading their own practices, with each finalist demonstrating original, tactical ways to navigate the contexts they work in, creating spaces for diverse local communities.

The shortlist comprises: Hester van Dijk of Overtreders W, based in the Netherlands; Pooja Khairnar of PK Inception, based in India; Charlotte Harris of Studio Charlotte Harris, based in the UK; and Jesica Amescua Carrera and Mariana Ordóñez Grajales of Comunal, based in Mexico.

Last year’s prize was awarded to Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, founders of Saudi architecture firm Syn Architects, for a body of work that included projects such as the Shamalat Cultural Centre in Diriyah, near Riyadh.

This year’s judges for the two prizes are: Pierre d’Avoine, Pierre d’Avoine Architects; Betty Owoo, Greater London Authority; Eva Jiřičná, Eva Jiřičná Architects and AI Design; Mariam Issoufou, Mariam Issoufou Architects; Sal Wilson, educator and sustainability consultant; Aric Chen, Zaha Hadid Foundation; Alice Brownfield, Peter Barber Architects; and Karen Livingstone, Fitzwilliam Museum.

Both prizes form part of the AJ and Architectural Review’s W Awards, which celebrate exemplary work of all kinds, from the design of the world’s most significant new buildings to contributions to wider architectural culture, from lifetimes of achievement to the work of women with bright futures ahead.

This year’s W Awards will be taking place in London on Thursday 21 May, where the winners of the MJ Long and Moira Gemmill Prizes will be revealed. Full details and registration for the event will be available soon.