London, GB
The prestigious 2024 City Building of the Year Award, established by the Architects’ Company, has been awarded to 8 Bishopsgate, a 50-storey mixed-use tower designed by WilkinsonEyre for Mitsubishi Estate/Stanhope. The award will be presented during the Architects’ Company’s awards lunch on September 26th, with a plaque to be unveiled by Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli on October 10th.
The jury unanimously selected 8 Bishopsgate for its civic contribution and architectural excellence. They praised the building’s emphasis on public access and community integration.
"Public access to the building is a welcome feature of the development," noted the jury. "Leasing of spaces, including the auditorium, is encouraged as part of a management policy that sees the building as a welcoming City facility rather than an office ‘fortress’."
Situated next to the towering 22 Bishopsgate, 8 Bishopsgate stands out through its thoughtful design and engineering, carried out in partnership with Arup. The tower features a robust 10% amenity space, including a 220-seat auditorium that has been a commercial and design success.
Oliver Tyler, who led the project at WilkinsonEyre, expressed his delight at the recognition: "We are extremely pleased that 8 Bishopsgate has been selected by The Architects’ Company as The City Building of the Year. Being recognised by our peers, with input from the City planners, is always very special. While 8 Bishopsgate has won several industry awards, it is particularly rewarding for it to be recognised for the quality of its architecture."
Special Commendation for The Whittington Building
The panel also awarded a Special Commendation to The Whittington Building by Stanton Williams for The Mercers’ Company. The building, while compact at 36,000 sq ft, was praised for its impactful architectural presence.
"We are thrilled that The Whittington Building for The Mercers' Company has been highly commended in the 2024 City Building of the Year Awards," remarked Stanton Williams. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication that went into creating a building deeply rooted in its context, enhancing the public's experience of its surroundings."
The Whittington Building combines two existing structures, addressing both a pedestrian courtyard and Ironmonger Lane, and includes a newly created route through the site.
Jury and Judging Process
The jury, chaired by Chris Williamson, RIBA President Elect and current Master of the Architects’ Company, included Chris Dyson, Simone de Gale, Femi Oresanya, Stella Ioannou (Curator and Lacuna Projects Director), and Paul Finch (World Architecture Festival Programme Director). The panel visited all eligible projects in person, giving special attention to environmental design, public amenity spaces, and creative retrofitting approaches.
About the Awards
The City of London Building of the Year Award is an annual prize recognizing the best new building in the City of London. Established by the Architects’ Company, it highlights outstanding contributions to the civic life of the Square Mile. Past winners include the Leadenhall Building by RSHP (2015), Emperor House by Hopkins Architects with Apt (2022), and Exchange Square by DSDHA (2023).
For more information about the Architects' Company and its work, visit their website.
8 Bishopsgate Credits:
1 Comment
Amazing!
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.