Now in its 20th year, the RIBA Stirling Prize is the industry’s most coveted accolade. At a special ceremony earlier last month, Burntwood School in Wandsworth scooped the prestigious award for the UK’s best new building.

Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the building reimagines a 1950s modernist secondary school campus for 2000 girls and 200 staff. The architects created six new faculty buildings and two large cultural buildings linking original buildings by renowned 1950s/1960s architect Sir Leslie Martin. Every building is full of light and air with double height spaces at the end of each corridor to increase natural daylight and create well-framed views. It offers a range of teaching spaces from conventional classrooms to interactive open spaces.

This is the first time AHMM has won the RIBA Stirling Prize, having already been shortlisted three times with Westminster Academy in 2008, Kentish Town Health Centre in 2009 and the Angel Building in 2011. Turn to page 9 for a glimpse of the industry’s overwhelming support for this worthy winner.

Also among the shortlisted projects was Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partner’s NEO Bankside housing development in London. The scheme, which houses 217 luxury apartments across four buildings, is one of the newest additions to London’s south bank, and provides ample ground floor space for retailers to take occupancy. In this month’s Greenhouse focus, FC&A explores the concept behind GAIL’s Artisan Bakery, which occupies a retail space in Building C of the new development. Turn to page 10 to read about how this building is contributing to the local community.

Elsewhere in this issue, you will find dedicated features on Doors & Windows, Insulation, Structural, Drainage & Landscaping, KBB and Hotels, plus a dedicated specification guide on door and wall protection specialist, Yeoman Shield.

I hope you enjoy this edition. Don’t forget you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Future Constructor & Architect’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘fc&a’ on Google play or the App Store.