The RIBA Awards champion architecture excellence from around the world, no matter the form, size, or budget. Shortlisted projects must showcase innovation in the drive to create more sustainable futures and demonstrate a commitment to improving people’s lives through thoughtful design. Parameters that strike a cord with the ethos of the Mary Ward Centre.

From the deep retrofit of the building to its iconic bold yellow identity, the Mary Ward Centre serves thousands of students annually. It extends education beyond its walls, reaching underserved communities and reflecting a commitment to diverse educational needs and lifelong learning.

AWW was approached by the charity in early 2020 to assess the spatial potential of the existing building and to help develop a project brief that would bring Mary Ward’s vision for unified services and accessible learning for all to life.

The transformation of the disused Queensway House office building on Stratford High Street was the opportunity that charity needed to consolidate its education and legal support services, which were previously split across two sites.

‘We are thrilled that the Mary Ward Centre has been shortlisted for a RIBA Award. This project was a true collaboration, transforming a disused building into a vibrant hub for education and community support. It’s incredibly rewarding to see its impact recognised.’ Tim Forster, Sustainability Director.

Guided by our core social values, the project embraced the principles of a circular economy. This included creatively repurposing the building, engaging with a reuse network for the interior fit-out, and using the project as a springboard to help Mary Ward foster local, sustainable partnerships.

CEO of Mary Ward, Therese Reinheimer-Jones, commented: “The building now puts us on an equal footing with other sustainable and dynamic learning spaces in the city, providing us with further credibility and giving us a ‘seat at the table’—which, in turn, ensures the communities we serve also have a ‘seat at the table’.”

We are incredibly proud to be recognised by RIBA and look forward to welcoming the judges into this unparalleled home for learning in the heart of Stratford.

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Retrofit provides a new home for Mary Ward

AWW has co-created a landmark new home for the Mary Ward Centre, which reflects and embraces the culture and the needs of both current and future occupants.