Awards buzz is building for ARU Peterborough
£32 million The Lab is shortlisted at the national Education Estates Awards
ARU Peterborough’s newest building, The Lab, has been shortlisted for a second major national award less than a year after its official opening.
The £32 million facility, which marks the third phase of ARU Peterborough’s growing city centre campus, is a state-of-the-art hub for teaching, research and community engagement.
In April, it was judged the Best Building in Britain at the Pineapple Awards 2025, thanks to its positive impact on those who use it, and The Lab has now been named as a finalist at the Education Estates Awards.
The awards ceremony takes place in Manchester on 14 October and ARU Peterborough is shortlisted alongside institutions including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Cambridge and Durham University in the Project of the Year – Universities category.
Designed by Cambridge-based MCW architects and built by Morgan Sindall Construction, The Lab officially opened in November 2024. It features cutting-edge laboratories, engineering workshops and flexible learning spaces, including the striking double-height Living Lab, which has been specially designed to host public events and outreach activities.
Its design prioritises sustainability and wellbeing, with exposed timber interiors creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, highlighting its high standards in energy efficiency and environmentally responsible construction.
“We are thrilled that The Lab continues to attract national attention. Being shortlisted for the Education Estates Awards is fantastic recognition of the vision, hard work and collaboration that brought this building to life.
“It’s a truly inspiring place to study and work, and the Living Lab has already welcomed hundreds of schoolchildren and members of the community. The additional lab and engineering spaces are enabling us to expand our range of employment-focused courses, which is great news for anyone looking to continue their studies in the city, or retrain and change career.”
Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU Peterborough
“We are incredibly proud that the Lab has been shortlisted for the Education Estates Project of the Year - Universities award.
“Our vision was to create a truly collaborative and dynamic space that would not only meet the functional needs of the university but also inspire the next generation of innovators. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire team and validates our belief that thoughtful design can profoundly shape the future of learning.”
Lien Geens, Associate Director at MCW architectsARU Peterborough is a partnership between Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Peterborough City Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.