Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) honour Greenhill Building for its design and environmentally friendly build. Site offers local communities a space to teach and hold events.
The Greenhill Building, a flexible new building at Harrow Arts Centre won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) London Award 2025 at the ceremony on Tuesday 13 May. The teaching and events space at the Harrow Arts Centre site opened in Summer 2023 and hosts a range of activities from Bhangra dance classes to photography workshops and is well received by the local community. Designed by Chris Dyson architects, the building delivers transformative social value and a lasting cultural impact.
The team worked creatively with a limited budget, and their inventive approach to site, form, structure, and materials has delivered a bright, flexible building of enduring value to the local community. The building is made from a timber which is a sustainable alternative to steel and was built within nine months.
Cllr Janet Mote, Cabinet Member for Community and Culture said:
“We are delighted that Harrow is celebrating this Award. Projects like the Greenhill Building are helping restore pride in Harrow and, for the community, it is more than just a ‘building’, it’s their space to get creative, learn something new and socialise. And in our aim to reduce our carbon footprint, it’s been built with environmentally friendly materials.
“Harrow Arts Centre is the only professional multi-artform venue in Harrow and is committed to providing a journey of a lifetime enjoying the arts for people from every background. I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in this awarding winning project.”
The RIBA Awards jury said:
“The project is an early example of a fully cross-laminated timber (CLT) arts centre, proposed by the design team as an affordable, low-waste, and low-carbon alternative to structural steel. Lightweight and fabricated off site, the system reduces the need for expensive foundations and meant that the entire main build was completed in under nine months.”