Our work to retrofit New Court, Trinity College, Cambridge has been awarded the Editor's Prize in the inaugural Architecture Today Awards for building that have stood the test of time. The Architecture Today Awards have only considered projects that have been in use for at least three years and which can demonstrate a strong track record for delivering on their environmental, functional, community and cultural ambitions.

The winners were drawn from a shortlist of 32 finalists selected by a panel of technical experts. Finalists were then invited to make the case for their project at a day of live crits in front of a jury.

Judges commented:

The opportunity for design research that draws in micro scientific approaches is rare – this team identified an opportunity to take this on and created a rigorous approach to challenging conventions around conservation. The application of the research, and the impact on the project, should and will be replicated. We should be grateful for the team’s willingness to share this work.

Hanif Kara, of AKT2 engineers

William Wilkins’ New Court has already lasted over two centuries. It has even had the difficult Grade 1 Listed accolade bestowed upon it. This project addresses a vital design question: when the outside and inside are both listed, where does the wiring, plumbing and insulation go? This team has delivered a sympathetic yet critically intelligent model for creating Banham’s well-tempered environment in a way that met with Historic England’s approval. This is a 21st century reinvention of what Cedric Price termed a ‘medieval castle with 13amp plugs’.

Simon Allford, Director of AHMM and President of the RIBA