Building Performance Awards 2026 shortlist: standout performers

Winners from the 2025 BPA's

The highest ever number of entries for the CIBSE Building Performance Awards (BPAs) reflects the growing demand for high-performing buildings in the UK and the rest of the world.

By requiring energy performance disclosure, building rating schemes – including NABERS UK and the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard – are forcing the industry to be accountable for delivering the operational performance promised during the design phase.

There has been a surge in entries for Workplace of the Year categories (new, retrofit and portfolio), which is likely to be associated with the drive in demand for sustainable offices by occupiers, developers and investors.

Judging for next year’s awards took place last month. The panel comprised 53 industry experts representing consultants, contractors, developers and manufacturers. Among the categories judged were two new Building Performance Evaluation awards – one for Products/Innovation and one for Projects.

The judges were particularly impressed by entries in the Products/Innovation category, praising manufacturers for their eagerness to analyse the large amount of data now being produced by buildings. Manufacturers were also complimented on their increasing attention to the reduction of embodied carbon in their products and processes.

Judges said the entries for the CIBSE Embodied Carbon Award – Products and Systems had ‘significantly’ improved, and there was progress not only in assessing embodied carbon, but also in reducing it. The efforts of manufacturers to understand the supply chain and provide accreditation for their products is impressive, they added.

Miriam Ozanne, regional director, head of performance, Aecom, up for Engineer of the Year

For the CIBSE Embodied Carbon Award – Services and Projects, the judges noted that there was more evidence of consultants using Environmental Product Declarations and other forms of whole life and embodied carbon-assessment methods and standards. More steps had also been taken to reduce embodied carbon in projects and the judges saw impressive engagement activities in the construction industry to raise awareness of the impact of embodied carbon.

Another particularly strong category this year is Building Performance Consultancy (up to 50 employees). Judges called it ‘very competitive and inspiring’, and said there were excellent examples of data analysis, post-occupation evaluation, embodied carbon measurement and the use of artificial intelligence to support learning and improvement.

As an individual award, Engineer of the Year is among the most coveted at the BPAs. This year, the judges have been bowled over by the quality of those they have spoken to in face-to-face interviews.

They said the shortlisted entrants were outstanding, and judging was particularly difficult because of the depth of experience and knowledge across the finalists. ‘The standard was exceptional,’ they added.

The judges also noted the broad range of engineers entering this year and said the important role facility managers will play in nudging the dial towards net zero was ‘really brought home to them’.

Harlow, head of engineering at Savills, up for Engineer of the Year

In the Collaboration category, judges saw how technology was enabling closer relationships between project teams. ‘A lesson from this year’s entries is that collaboration excellence increasingly relies on balancing human trust and technological integration – the entries showed how data and digital platforms are used to enhance, not replace, the relational dynamics that underpin high performance.’

In the Learning and Development category, judges were pleased to see the large amount of resources being made available to the wider industry, and the diverse range of subjects. ‘It shows that the whole industry is taking a very healthy approach to knowledge sharing in building performance,’ they said.

Phil Draper, managing director at Twenty One Engineering, up for Engineer of the Year

The judges were pleased to see that all the entries in the Workplace of the Year – New Build category demonstrated how sustainability goals can be achieved even with a challenging brief.

In the International category, they were also pleased to see the extensive use of data to verify designs at the earliest stages, with increased cognisance of occupier feedback loops, commissioning strategy and operator requirements.

The judges were particularly impressed with the Project of the Year – Residential category, and an ‘increasingly sophisticated approach to performance and occupant wellbeing’. (See panel, ‘Housing hits new heights’)