Circular design and human-centred innovation celebrated at BCO National Awards

An office built entirely on circular design principles, a 3,300 sq m living wall and the transformation of a Victorian infirmary into a modern workplace were among the projects recognised at the British Council for Offices (BCO) National Awards. Held on 7 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, the event brought together more than 1,200 senior figures from across the office sector to celebrate excellence in workplace design, development and operation.

Unusual HQ, home of lighting and stage engineering company Unusual Rigging in Northamptonshire (main image), won both Corporate Workplace and Best of the Best awards. The project achieved an EPC A+ rating and was built entirely around circular economy principles, with the ability to be disassembled and reused at the end of its life. Judges described it as a model for how modern offices can combine innovation and sustainability.

The Innovation award went to the Edinburgh Futures Institute, a redevelopment of a former Victorian infirmary into a 20,000m² space for teaching, co-working, business incubation, and events. Judges highlighted the excavation beneath the main concourse to create an auditorium and praised the University of Edinburgh’s commitment to turning Scotland’s oldest voluntary hospital into a hub for future-focused collaboration.

Other winners included One Station Hill in Reading, which won Commercial Workplace, and Capital Group’s headquarters at 1 Paddington Square, London, which received Fit Out of Workplace. Eden in Salford’s New Bailey development, a LETI Pioneer project and the UK’s first commercial office to achieve a 5.5-star NABERS UK “Design Reviewed” rating, took home the ESG award.

This year also saw the introduction of new Customer Experience categories. GPE’s Woolyard development in London Bridge won the Commercial Landlord award, praised as “game-changing” for its focus on understanding occupier needs and creating a culture of care. NatWest’s offices at 250 Bishopsgate were named Corporate Occupier winner, recognised for combining technology with human-centred service and gathering feedback from 9,000 employees to inform strategy.

BCO National Awards judging chair Mike Burton said the 2025 winners reflected a shift in how workplace excellence is defined. “These projects show that offices can be catalysts for wellbeing, creativity and urban renewal,” he said.

Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, received the President’s Award for his contribution to the real estate industry. BCO president Helen Hare praised his “fearlessness in breaking down architectural boundaries” and his work in mentoring the next generation of architects. Shuttleworth’s career spans five decades and includes projects such as HSBC in Hong Kong and London’s Canary Wharf. He was also one of the first to establish a 100% employee-owned architectural practice.

BCO chief executive Samantha McClary said this year’s awards reflected a “diversity of innovation” across the sector. “From circular economy construction and biophilic design to inclusive and neurodiverse environments, these workplaces reflect a sector that’s listening, learning and leading,” she said.

Full list of BCO National Award winners 2025:

• 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