Elizabeth Tower wins RIBA Stirling Prize People’s Poll
We congratulate Witherford Watson Mann on a well deserved win for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025 with the inspiring Appleby Blue Almshouse.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, the Elizabeth Tower was voted the public’s favourite in the RIBA Stirling Prize People’s Poll, an extraordinary honour for a landmark that embodies both national heritage and architectural excellence.
When RIBA announced the Stirling Prize shortlist earlier this year, it was headline news: a clear signal that conservation and repair can stand alongside new build architecture. Despite not winning the final prize, the shortlisting sends a powerful message about evolving priorities in architecture.
As the first conservation project ever to reach the Stirling shortlist, the Elizabeth Tower project now stands as a triumph in itself, and a milestone for architectural heritage.
The People’s Poll win now amplifies that achievement, showing how deeply this project has resonated with the public.
The Elizabeth Tower team at the ceremony
“To stand among the country’s most forward-thinking buildings with a conservation-first project is a testament to changing values” said Mark Goldspink, CEO, Purcell. The jury’s decision to include Elizabeth Tower on the shortlist signals a wider shift in architectural values: towards sustainability through reuse, respect for heritage, and collaborative, long-term thinking.
From reinstating Pugin’s original colour scheme on the clock faces to undoing damaging alterations and integrating discreet yet critical modern upgrades (such as a glass stair enclosure with lift access), the project represents a careful balance of boldness and restraint.
We also extend our congratulations and thanks to our client, Strategic Estates, recognised on the Stirling shortlist for RIBA Client of the Year for their vital role in sustaining democracy and stewarding the Parliamentary Estate, as well as all the experts, craftspeople, and consultants who made this achievement possible.
