RIBA Stirling Prize 2012 Goes to Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton Williams

The coveted RIBA Stirling Prize 2012 has been awarded this weekend to the Sainsbury Laboratory, a major new plant science research center in Cambridge, England designed by London architects Stanton Williams. Now in its 17th year, the RIBA Stirling Prize is the UK's most prestigious architecture prize, awarded to the architects of the best new European building built or designed in the UK.

Winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2012: Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton Williams

This is the first time that Stanton Williams has won or been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize. Set within the University of Cambridge Botanic Gardens, the low-rise, collonaded stone and glass building is carefully designed to complement its Grade II listed garden setting. The architects have created an exceptionally stimulating work environment, reinterpreting the tradition of the monastic cloister and collegiate court to create spaces for reflection, debate and collaboration amongst scientists. Next to the laboratory spaces, the architects have designed a stylish new public garden café.

The Sainsbury Laboratory was chosen by the judges from the following shortlisted entries (previously on Archinect): The Hepworth Wakefield by David Chipperfield Architects; London Olympic Stadium by Populous; The Lyric Theatre by O’Donnell + Tuomey; Maggie’s Centre, Gartnavel, Glasgow by OMA; and New Court by OMA with Allies and Morrison.

The 2012 RIBA Stirling Prize judges were: Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (Chair) – architect and former president of the Royal Academy; Sir Mark Jones - Master of St Cross College Oxford, and former Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum; Joanna van Heyningen - architect, van Heyningen & Haward Architects, UK; Hilde Daem - architect, Robbrecht + Daem, Belgium and Naomi Cleaver - designer, writer and broadcaster.

Previous winners of the RIBA Stirling Prize include: Evelyn Grace Academy (2011) and MAXXI Museum, Rome (2010) both by Zaha Hadid Architects; Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital, London by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (2009); Accordia housing development by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios/Alison Brooks Architects/Macreanor Lavington (2008); The Museum of Modern Literature, Marbach am Neckar, Germany by David Chipperfield Architects (2007).

Project Details:

Sainsbury Laboratory
Location: Bateman Street, Cambridge 
Architect: Stanton Williams 
Client: University of Cambridge
Structural Engineer: Adams Kara Taylor
Services Engineer: Arup
Landscape: Christopher Bradley-Hole and Schoenaich Landscape Architects
Contractor: Kier Regional
Contract Value: £69.0m (US$111m)
Date of completion: January 2011
Gross internal area: 11,000 sq m