A total of 120 projects have been shortlisted across 19 categories for the eighth AJ Architecture Awards, the annual showcase of the very best built projects in the UK. The shortlists are being revealed over the course of this week.

In the four schemes shortlisted for Heritage Project, Soho Theatre Walthamstow by Pilbrow & Partners and Bond Bryan has been shortlisted for a second time after making the Cultural Project list, announced on Monday. The Grade II*-listed Alhambra-inspired 1929 former cinema was remodelled and renovated as a live performance venue and local culture centre and reopened earlier this year.

Among the nine-strong shortlist for the Higher Education Project category, big-hitters include David Kohn’s distinctive curved quad for New College Oxford, Allies and Morrison’s new home for London College of Fashion on the Olympic Park’s East Bank and Haworth Tompkin’s £14.5 million ‘transformation’ of the Warburg Institute.

The Refurb Project category has been split into two with Carmody Groarke’s Manhatten-inspired silver office scheme and Squire & Partners’ transformation of Seifert’s Brutalist icon Space House both making the over £10 million price bracket.

Meanwhile, Walworth Town Hall by Feix&Merlin for developer General Projects and the Warburg Institute have both been shortlisted twice: in Heritage and Refurb project (£10 million and over).

Finally, in Schools, recently covered projects St Paul’s Girls’ School’s new Arts and Crafts-style Centre for Design and Innovation by Jestico + Whiles and Godolphin and Latymer School’s dining, library and sixth form annexe by Walters & Cohen Architects have made the cut.

The expert judges, who are in the process of travelling the country visiting every shortlisted scheme, include returning judges Eleanor Fawcett of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, Alpa Delpani, head of strategic planning and design at London Borough of Waltham Forest, fellow of Cullinan Studio Robin Nicholson and strategist Daisy Froud.

In addition to stand-out design, the judges will consider how each project has met or exceeded its brief, how it has promoted client or community engagement and how it has excelled in the use of space or sense of place. They will also strictly analyse what sustainability measures have been put in place. Each project must have been completed between 1 January 2024 and 31 July 2025.

The winners in the 19 categories, plus the three editorial-chosen awards, will be announced at a celebratory dinner event at another new venue this year – Royal Lancaster London – on 27 November 2025. More information can be found here.

Heritage project

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Walworth Town Hall by Feix&Merlin

Saltdean Lido by R H Partnership Architects
Soho Theatre Walthamstow by Pilbrow & Partners and Bond Bryan
The Waterman by Fathom Architects
Walworth Town Hall by Feix&Merlin

 

Higher education project

Adam Smith Building, University of Glasgow by Hassell

Adam Smith Building, University of Glasgow by Hassell
London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison
Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge by Haworth Tompkins
Purdown View by Stride Treglown
Ray Dolby Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge by Jestico + Whiles
Repurposing the Pool into a flexible Teaching & Learning Space for Waltham Forest College by Studio DERA
The Gradel Quadrangles by David Kohn Architects
Warburg Renaissance by Haworth Tompkins
Young’s Court Development at Emmanuel College, Cambridge by Stanton Williams

 

Refurb project (up to £10 million)

The British Academy by Wright & Wright Architects

22 Vine Hill by Buckley Gray Yeoman
Animal Studies Centre by Cullinan Studio
Biggar Youth Project by Fraser/Livingstone Architects
Cliffhanger by The Manser Practice
New Wave House by Thomas-McBrien Architects with New Wave London
The British Academy by Wright & Wright Architects

 

Refurb project (£10 million and over)

Bethnal Green Office by Carmody Groarke

11 Belgrave Road by Eric Parry Architects
Bethnal Green Office by Carmody Groarke
Building 7, Devonshire Square by Squire & Partners
Marylebone Place by Fletcher Priest Architects
Plant by FCBStudios
Space House by Squire & Partners
The Acre by Gensler Europe
Walworth Town Hall by Feix&Merlin
Warburg Renaissance by Haworth Tompkins

 

School project

The Richard Cairns Building by Nicholas Hare Architects

Centre for Design and Innovation, St Paul’s Girls’ School by Jestico + Whiles
Dulwich College Lower School Library by Alma-nac
East Calder Primary School by NORR
Godolphin and Latymer School – dining, library and sixth form by Walters & Cohen Architects
Harrow School Biology and Chemistry Building by Rivington Street Studio
Neilston Learning Campus by BDP
St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy by Hawkins\Brown
The Richard Cairns Building by Nicholas Hare Architects

 

The 2025 AJ Architecture Awards are sponsored by