After years of careful design and construction, delivery of a project on time and on budget is triumphant. When that delivery is recognised in the form of the UK’s most coveted and prestigious architecture award, industry professionals can appreciate the sheer dedication invested, not just by the architecture firm, but by the project team as a whole. It is with this that FC&A congratulates Stanton Williams and associated partners on its recent Stirling Prize achievement for Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. Referred to as a timeless piece of architecture that intelligently disguises the building’s complexities, Sainsbury Laboratory provides flexibility for future expansion and balances stringent requirements for security.

With ‘sustainability’ at the core of all major projects, the definition of this buzzword is constantly evolving. As seen in the Sainsbury Laboratory, accounting for future expansion is key to ensuring a seamless development – this can incorporate the aesthetics, functionality and, primarily, resources. One such project that has recently addressed this model is featured within FC&A’s Greenhouse focus – Northamptonshire’s Criminal Justice Centre. As well as significantly reducing predicted carbon footprint via a number of energy efficient systems, it has also been designed with expansion in mind. Turn to page 6 for further details on this sustainable build.

Elsewhere in this issue, FC&A profiles a stunning project based at Coventry University. The new Faculty of Engineering and Computing, designed by Arup Associates, is a unique concept translating elements of science and nature in all aspects of the design. In addition, Lakesmere demonstrates how off-site construction can still lead to a sustainable working model and International Timber sheds light on the new EU Timber Regulation that comes into play as of March 2013. I hope you enjoy this issue, and as always, if you would like to comment on any of the articles featured, please do not hesitate to get in touch.