We are proud to share that The Wave, at the University of Sheffield, has won Exterior Project of the Year at the Education Property Awards 2025, held on the opening night of UKREiiF in Leeds.
The Wave takes home Exterior Project of the Year at Education Property Awards 2025.
Recognised for its transformative approach to placemaking and sustainability, The Wave is a landmark project that brings together five departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences into a dynamic, inclusive, and future-focused facility.
Our landscape design echoes everything that is quintessentially Sheffield and is carefully embedded into the scheme. The two ‘Pocket Parks’ are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve as hubs for students, staff, and visitors to gather, fostering a sense of community within the campus.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the Wave has won the Exterior Project of the Year, congratulations to our landscape team for all their hard work and the continued recognition of the great work across the University of Sheffield Campus projects” said Mark Collins, Senior Chartered Landscape Architect. “The Wave is a landmark project that exemplifies our vision of designing inclusive, sustainable, and inspiring spaces for learning and sociability.”
The Wave is a prime example of our Thoughtful Design ethos in action. The building promotes interdisciplinary learning and research through a central atrium surrounded by curved floorplates designed to encourage movement, collaboration and connectivity. Inclusive design features, biophilic elements, and a diverse range of learning environments ensure accessibility and wellbeing are at the heart of the experience for all users.
Its award-winning external design features a sustainable public realm inspired by Sheffield’s natural topography. Two new pocket parks, biodiversity-rich green corridors, a public café, and the use of natural materials including stone, timber, and wildflower planting have created a seamless connection between building and landscape. With over 80 native trees planted on-site, the building proudly holds a BREEAM Outstanding rating and now the title of Exterior Project of the Year 2025.
This recognition is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of education through pioneering tools like HLM Insight supporting evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable design solutions for tomorrow’s learning environments.