Special Awards
Since 1959, the Civic Trust Awards has been an important platform to recognise the very best in the built environment. Each year, we proudly honour a small number of projects with highly coveted "Special Awards" from the year's winners who have demonstrated truly outstanding work in a specific field. Their work has not only enriched our physical environment but has also helped to create a better sense of place and identity for our communities.
All winning projects are considered for each of the Special Awards by National Judging Panel members and Sponsors who determine the individual winners.
We are incredibly grateful to the organisations who sponsor our Special Awards
Derwent London who are the long-standing sponsor the Special Award for Sustainability.
EPR Architects who have sponsored the Special Award for Reuse & Adaptation for 4 years.
BlueLight Management who have been sponsors for 4 years, sponsoring a number of Special Awards including Education, Transport & Infrastructure, the Michael Middleton Special Award and this year's Outstanding Achievement Special Award.
In 2026, we welcomed Buro Happold who sponsored the brand-new Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places which is presented to an outstanding project that has placed neurological differences at the heart of the design, resulting in a building or external environment that provides everyone with a place where they can flourish.
2026 Special Award Winners
The 2026 Outstanding Achievement Special Award, chosen by National Judging Panel Members as the overall exemplary scheme from the year’s Award-winning projects went to Urban Nature Project by Feilden Fowles Architects and J&L Gibbons. Judges described the project as “an exceptional and transformative scheme that redefines the relationship between culture, nature and the public realm in the heart of London”
The 2026 Special Award for Sustainability was presented to 76 Southbank by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Wolfe Commercial Properties (Southbank) Ltd and Stanhope Plc. It was chosen as the exemplary project which demonstrates excellent sustainability credentials in terms of overall design parameters, material selection, construction methods and long-term energy consumption, and described as “an outstanding example of how carefully considered architectural design can deliver exemplary sustainability outcomes through reuse, adaptation and long-term thinking.”
The 2026 Special Award for Reuse & Adaptation, presented to an exceptional scheme that would otherwise be left to decay or be demolished to address present-day needs, went to the Edinburgh Futures Institute by Bennetts Associates with Consarc for The University of Edinburgh with sponsors describing it as "an outstanding and exemplary demonstration of reuse and adaptation, transforming one of Scotland’s most significant historic civic buildings into a forward-looking centre for learning, research and public engagement."
The brand-new Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places sponsored by Buro Happold went to Horatio's Garden Sheffield & East by Harris Bugg Studio for Horatio's Garden. Ben Channon Director|Head of Inclusive Environments Buro Happold said “We were thrilled to present this year’s Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places to Horatio’s Garden Sheffield and East. This project stood out as an exceptional example of how spaces can holistically support neurodivergent users without compromising on design excellence and demonstrating beautifully how neuro-inclusion can integrate seamlessly with broader inclusivity principles. We were particularly impressed by the way the garden offers a serene and calming refuge within an urban environment, creating a truly restorative experience for its users.”
The 2026 Michael Middleton Special Award was presented to the outstanding restoration of Rochdale Town Hall by Donald Insall Associates & Gillespies for Rochdale Borough Council as a memorial and tribute to Michael Middleton CBE, who established the Civic Trust Awards in 1959. Judges said the project is “an outstanding exemplar of civic architecture, and its meticulous restoration represents a landmark achievement in conservation-led renewal. The project exemplifies the highest standards of architectural conservation, craftsmanship and civic ambition, celebrating the enduring value of historic public buildings when thoughtfully restored and re-engaged with contemporary life."
The 2026 Special Award for Community Impact & Engagement was presented to Sunspot by HAT Projects for Tendring District Council. National Judging Panel members described the project as “an exemplary demonstration of how meaningful community engagement, allied to thoughtful and pragmatic design, can deliver lasting social and economic impact. Located in Jaywick Sands, one of England’s most deprived communities, the project responds with sensitivity and ambition to a place shaped by resilience, self-reliance and long-standing neglect. Rather than imposing an external vision, Sunspot emerged directly from listening to local people and understanding the structural challenges they face.”