High-profile, unique and innovative projects demonstrating technological advances in façade design have been shortlisted for the SFE Façade 2026 Design and Engineering Awards.
The diverse range of projects, from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia, showcase new techniques for designing and constructing sustainable buildings, as well as sensitive refurbishment projects that raise the bar on reuse and renovation of façades.
Established by the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE), and sponsored by Hilti, Buro Happold and Meinhardt (UK), the awards feature a number of new categories this year.
Notable shortlisted projects for 2026 include the Intuit Dome in California, entered by Walter P Moore in the new Project of the Year – Arenas, Stadia and Infrastructure category. The 1.14 million sq ft facility houses an 18,000-seat arena and was designed around the idea of a basketball going through a net.
Birmingham’s Three Chamberlain Square has been shortlisted in another new category, Project of the Year – Commercial. Entered by FMDC, the 189,00ft2 Grade A office space establishes new benchmarks for façade-led sustainability in the West Midlands, achieving Breeam Outstanding and NABERS 5-star ratings – regional firsts.
There is also a record-breaker among the finalists, with Hangar One, entered by Arup, appearing in the Project of the Year – Refurbishment Heritage category. At 350m long, 100m wide and 60m tall, the 1933 airship hanger is one of the largest freestanding historic structures in the world. The project involved recladding and strengthening it for long-term use.
Six engineers are also recognised in the shortlist for the Young Façade Engineer of the Year: Arnau Colom, Bellapart; Shorena Gudzhabidze, Staticus; Calvin Huang, Prism Façades; Jennie (Wanqing) Li, Meinhardt; Anurag Sonar, Eckersley O’Callaghan; and Marti Wolowik, Buro Happold.
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Old Billingsgate, London, on 4 November.
To view the full awards shortlist, visit: www.cibse.org/facadeawards