An office designed entirely around circular economy principles, a 3,300m2 living wall and a former infirmary transformed into a modern office and events space, were just three of the amazing office innovations highlighted at the BCO’s National Awards event.
The awards, widely recognised across the built environment for celebrating the very best in office design, development and operation, took place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel on London’s Park Lane on 7 October.
The winners, announced in front of an audience of more than 1,200 senior figures from across the office sector, showcase what it takes to create a successful office in today’s environment and how those leading the way are revitalising cities, cutting carbon and setting new benchmarks for best-in-class.
Unusual HQ in Northamptonshire, home of lighting and stage engineering solutions provider Unusual Rigging, took home the awards for Corporate Workplace and Best of the Best.
The project was given the two awards for not only achieving the very highest energy performance rating of EPC A+ and being built entirely on circular economy principles, but for exemplifying how modern offices have evolved to become beacons of sustainability best practice.
A key highlight for judges was how this innovative building could be disassembled and reused at the end of its life, massively reducing its carbon footprint.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute, a former Victorian infirmary transformed into a modern office and events space, collected the BCO’s Innovation award. The restored 20,000m2 space includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, co-working space, business incubator space, plus exhibition and event spaces.
The judges were particularly impressed by the excavation under the main concourse to form a new auditorium, the innovative construction techniques used to restore and enhance the building, and the commitment of the University of Edinburgh to turning Scotland’s oldest voluntary hospital into a hub for future thinking.
Other winners on the night included One Station Hill in Reading, which picked up the award for Commercial Workspace, Capital Group’s HQ at 1 Paddington Square, PC, which won Fit Out of Workplace and Eden in Salford’s New Bailey development site, which was crowned winner of the ESG award. Eden is a LETI Pioneer project and is the UK’s first commercial office to achieve a 5.5-star NABERS UK “Design Reviewed” rating.
This year’s event also handed out its first awards for customer experience, a new category focused on how well the UK’s offices are serving the people that occupy them. GPE’s Woolyard development in London Bridge, SE1, won the Customer Experience – Commercial Landlord – award, with judges labelling the service as “game-changing”, with building managers understanding client needs, providing a genuine sense of care and enabling customers to succeed.
Natwest raised the Customer Experiencer – Corporate Occupier – award aloft for its offices at 250 Bishopsgate, EC2. The integration of technology with human-centred service throughout the building, plus the bank’s commitment to capturing the voices of 9,000 colleagues through various surveys to directly inform customer strategy, were standout actions for the BCO’s judges.
Mike Burton, chair of National Awards judging panel, said: “This year’s judging process revealed a notable shift in how we define excellence in the workplace. The 2025 winners show how the UK’s office sector is leading the way in creating spaces that are not just high-performing and sustainable, but deeply human. The winning projects prove that offices can be catalysts for wellbeing, creativity and urban renewal.”
Make Architects founder Ken Shuttleworth was handed the prestigious President’s Award at the event. He was honoured by BCO president Helen Hare for his outstanding contribution to the real estate industry.
“Ken’s philosophy is not just about the architecture of an individual standalone building,” said Hare. “It is about creating a place – one that must have a heart. Ken has genuinely made a difference to our industry. His fearlessness in breaking down architectural boundaries, dedication to bringing through the next generation of architects, while supporting other aspects of the office sector, is why he is the perfect recipient of this year’s BCO President’s Award.”
Shuttleworth is recognised as one of the world’s leading architects and continues to deliver a portfolio of iconic, innovative and sustainable buildings.
Over the course of his 50-year career he has worked on some of the most groundbreaking architectural landmarks in the world, from HSBC in Hong Kong to London’s Canary Wharf. He was one of the first to develop a 100% employee-owned architectural business and is committed to diversity, inclusion and recognising the importance of people.
BCO chief executive Samantha McClary added: “The BCO Awards are a celebration of bold thinking and brilliant execution. What stands out this year is the sheer diversity of innovation taking place, from circular economy construction and biophilic design to inclusive, neurodiverse environments and flexible leasing models. These workplaces – and the people who creature and curate them – reflect a sector that’s listening, learning and leading the way in meeting future challenges and opportunities head-on. The BCO is proud to champion this evolution and the people driving it”
The full list of winners from this year’s BCO National Awards:
- Best of the Best – Unusual HQ, Northampton
- Corporate Workplace – Unusual HQ, Northampton
- Commercial Workplace – One Station Hill, Reading
- Fit Out of Workplace – Capital Group, 1 Paddington Square, London
Highly commended – Dojo Bristol
- Projects up to 2,500m² – Englefield Estate Yard, Reading
Highly commended – The Living Lab, London
- Refurbished/Recycled Workplace – Norton Folgate, London
Highly commended – Foundation, Altrincham
- Innovation – The Edinburgh Futures Institute, Edinburgh
Highly commended – Oldham Spindles, Oldham
- ESG – Eden, Salford
Highly commended – 11 Belgrave, London
- Test of Time – BBC Wales, Cardiff
- Customer Experience, Commercial Landlord – Woolyard, London
Highly commended – Here East, Stratford
- Customer Experience, Corporate Occupier – 250 Bishopsgate, London
Highly commended – Cadworks, Glasgow (Ovo Energy)
- President’s Award – Ken Shuttleworth, Make Architects
Platinum sponsor of this year’s BCO Awards is AET Flexible Space. e AECOM, Glamox, Morgan Lovell, Troup, Bywaters + Anders are Gold sponsors, while Cundall, GPF Lewis and Quantem are silver sponsors. Estates Gazette is media partner to the awards.