Tilbury Douglas celebrates RIBA Awards success for St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out business, is celebrating the recent success of its St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy Project in Derby, which has secured a series of prestigious accolades at the RIBA East Midlands Awards 2025.
The project was recognised with three major honours:
- RIBA East Midlands Award 2025
- Project Architect of the Year, awarded to David Brook of Hawkins\Brown
- Sustainability Award, sponsored by Autodesk
The RIBA Awards are among the most respected accolades in architecture, recognising design excellence, innovation and meaningful contribution to the built environment. They highlight projects that deliver exceptional quality, sustainability and social value at a national standard.
Delivered in partnership with Hawkins\Brown, the scheme reflects a clear commitment to sustainability, design excellence and educational impact. The biophilic design introduces five single-storey classroom blocks around central green spaces, connected by a sheltered ‘town square’ layout that supports natural light, flexible learning and outdoor engagement.
Timber construction, rooftop photovoltaic panels and passive ventilation ensure performance aligns with GenZero standards set by the Department for Education.
Chris Loach, Regional Director – East Midlands at Tilbury Douglas said: “This recognition from RIBA highlights what can be achieved when architectural vision is matched by effective delivery. It builds on our extensive experience in the education sector and our established track record of working with the Department for Education to create sustainable, future proofed learning environments.”
This success follows a series of national and regional honours for the project:
- East Midlands Property Dinner – Sustainability Award
- East Midlands Property Dinner – Construction Project of the Year (Highly Commended)
- AJ100 Awards – Sustainability Initiative of the Year
- Derby Civic Society 2024 Awards – New Build
- Structural Timber Awards – Education Project of the Year
As a strategic delivery partner, Tilbury Douglas continues to shape education environments that reflect the highest standards of sustainability, quality and performance across the UK.