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Newcastle University’s Stephenson Building has been named the best construction development in the UK after winning the overall Project of the Year at the prestigious RICS National Awards 2025. The scheme also won the Refurbishment and Revitalisation Award.
Showcasing the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure, the RICS Awards recognise outstanding companies, achievement and teamwork.
The Stephenson Building has a long history of training excellent engineers who have done great things, from building post-war Britain to developing biomedical engineering solutions. Since the 1940s, it’s been home to more than 25,000 engineering students.
The redeveloped Stephenson building will be the place for future engineers, researchers and designers to work together to tackle world challenges and develop cleaner technologies, smarter cities and advanced medical technology.
Regional Director, Ed Besford, whose North East and Scotland team undertook the project said: “We are extremely proud to have the building we designed and built win the RICS National Building of the Year and Refurbishment and Revitalisation award.
“We worked collaboratively with the client, consultants and supply chain through one of the most difficult and challenging periods construction has seen with the effects of Covid and the Ukraine war prevalent throughout. Together we delivered a high-quality landmark building for Newcastle University and its students.”
Commenting on the Stephenson Building, the RICS judges said: “The project sought to reinvigorate the existing outdated and inefficient 1950s engineering block with a future-proofed refurbishment and a dramatic extension, expanding the floor area to house seven engineering disciplines. The new vibrant atrium is central to highly functional study, workshop and collaboration spaces, letting in natural light and visibility across floors, reflecting the open and cross-disciplinary nature of the faculty.
“The welcoming, bright and well-designed accommodation has attracted a marked increase in female students, generated more research funding and led to best practice sharing amongst universities. That this complex development was built on time and within budget to evident high quality, is testament to the project leadership.”
The £44m Stephenson Building is Bowmer + Kirkland's third project for Newcastle University and the second under the NEUPC Framework. It took 168 weeks to complete and was handed over to the client in August 2024. Read the full case study.
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