Architecture for the Common Good: Reflections Following the MacEwen Award Shortlist

The recent MacEwen Award shortlist is a timely reminder that architecture for the common good should underpin every project, regardless of sector or scale.

Architecture for the Common Good: Reflections Following the MacEwen Award Shortlist

Last week the Royal Institute of British Architects announced the shortlist for the RIBA MacEwen Award, an accolade that recognises architecture which delivers genuine social value. The award celebrates projects that place community benefit, inclusion and long term impact above image or spectacle.

For us as Leeds architects, the principles behind this award are not aspirational extras. They are fundamental to how we approach every commission.

Beyond Aesthetic Statement

Architecture for the common good is not defined by dramatic form or visual impact. It is measured by how well a building performs for the people who use it and the communities that surround it. It asks whether a scheme improves daily life, strengthens local identity and remains adaptable over time.

Social value is often associated with civic buildings such as schools, community centres or cultural venues. However, its relevance extends far beyond the public sector. Commercial architecture carries equal responsibility.

Every workplace influences productivity, wellbeing and staff retention. Every industrial or energy facility shapes its environmental context. Every residential development affects the character and cohesion of its neighbourhood.

As architects working across Leeds and the wider region, we recognise that design decisions at every scale have social consequences.

Leeds: Growth and Responsibility

Leeds continues to experience sustained development across commercial, residential and infrastructure sectors. With growth comes opportunity, but also obligation. As Leeds architects, we have a duty to ensure that new projects strengthen rather than dilute the city’s social fabric.

Designing for the common good in this context means:

• Considering how schemes integrate with existing communities
• Prioritising long term durability and adaptability
• Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are embedded from inception
• Delivering value through intelligent, efficient design rather than excess

It also means advising clients candidly. The greatest long term returns are often achieved not through maximising short term density or specification, but through creating robust, flexible environments that remain relevant for decades.

Quality Design at Any Budget

One of the most compelling aspects of the MacEwen Award shortlist is its consistent demonstration that meaningful architecture is not dependent on unlimited funding. Many shortlisted projects succeed because of rigorous thinking, collaboration and inventive problem solving rather than high capital expenditure.

This principle resonates strongly with our approach. Whether delivering a complex commercial facility or adapting an existing structure, our objective remains the same: to create buildings that function efficiently, enhance their context and generate measurable long term value.

For clients, this translates into schemes that are commercially viable while also contributing positively to place.

Looking Forward

The publication of the shortlist provides an opportunity to reflect on the broader role of architects. Recognition is welcome, but the real measure of success lies in the lived experience of the people who occupy and interact with our buildings every day.

As Leeds architects committed to thoughtful, commercially grounded design, we see architecture for the common good not as a specialist category, but as a baseline standard. The challenge is not simply to design well, but to design responsibly.