Congratulations to the project team that delivered the University of Exeter Forum, as the building won “Building Resilience – Buildings that have stood the test of time” at the 2024 Education Estates Awards in Manchester this month.

The Education Estate awards celebrate excellence and achievement in the education sector, recognising the contributions of consultants, contractors, architects, clients, and innovative projects.

Officially opened in 2012 by Her Majesty the Queen, The Forum was one of the pioneering UK higher education projects that acknowledged the shift towards viewing students as customers.

Our design brief aimed to create a student-focused hub at the heart of the campus, a place for learning, studying, and socialising.

Key features and achievements:

· Innovative design: The Forum is renowned for its timber gridshell roof, which represents a significant advancement in structural design.

· Client vision: The project was envisioned as a signature facility to elevate the University’s status and aid in achieving top ten national rankings. The Forum has successfully contributed to this goal, with increasing student enrollment numbers each year.

· Sustainability: From its inception, The Forum has been a model of sustainability, achieving a 130% increase in area with only a 40% increase in energy consumption. As we strive towards Net Zero Carbon, we continue to evaluate and enhance its environmental performance.

Consult the full list of winners on the Education Estates website.

Read more in “Forum at Ten”, where the original project team assess the learning legacy of the scheme, its impact on subsequent developments within the sector, and explore what, if anything, they would do differently today.

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