Looking back this year's event highlights, NBK Architects has taken the Building Refurbishment award at the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2026, earning the judges' recognition for a project that balances the complexity of live operational delivery with a confident and distinctive architectural vision.

Refurbishing within a functioning airport environment presents challenges that go well beyond design. Phased delivery, uninterrupted operations, and precise coordination across a live site demand project management discipline as much as creative ambition. 

Few building types impose that level of operational constraint on a design team, and fewer still produce results of this quality under those conditions. The judges described the scheme as "a sensitive and well executed refurbishment within a live aviation environment," noting that the phased delivery and seamless operational continuity reflect strong coordination and control throughout.

The architectural response is equally assured. The reinterpretation of Art Deco forms through curved geometry and refined detailing gives the terminal a distinctive identity, one that honours its heritage without being constrained by it. The result is a building that feels both familiar and renewed.

The addition of a public-facing restaurant extends the terminal's reach beyond its operational function, introducing social value and repositioning Weston Airport as a more accessible and engaging destination for the wider community.

The Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2026 ceremony took place on Thursday, 23rd April 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

View the full list of winners at the official awards website to be updated for the latest news and updates. .