The University of Cambridge’s Estates Division is celebrating after picking up two prestigious awards on 4 November.
The University was named as Construction Client of the Year at the Building Awards 2025 - the winner is chosen from a shortlist, compiled by industry leaders and the judging panel.
The University was recognised for its long-term and socially responsible client leadership at Eddington, where it provides high quality, sustainable and affordable housing for staff alongside community facilities, green spaces at a development that encourages walking, cycling and public transport use, helping to alleviate the city’s housing and transport challenges.
The judges also commended Cambridge’s client foresight on two new buildings at the Cambridge West Innovation District – the West Hub and the Ray Dolby Centre, both designed by Jestico + Whiles and built by Bouygues UK.
The West Hub, which opened in 2022, offers a unique meeting place for people to connect and socialise and represents a modern University approach to learning spaces, shared-use resources, and integrated library services which are open and accessible to all departments at the University, as well as to members of the public.
Set to revolutionise physics research and education at Cambridge the Ray Dolby Centre is the state-of-the-art new home of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. The new facility which opened last year features 173 laboratories, lecture halls, learning and collaborative spaces, workshops, cleanrooms.
Read more about the winners of the Building Awards.
On the same day, the University received the Team Achievement Award at the Institute of Asset Management Awards. The University’s Asset Management team was recognised for transforming asset management through operational excellence, innovation and engagement.
The award for the Asset Management team comes just one year after the University transformed its approach to estate repairs and maintenance - bringing in a new service managed by the University’s Estates Division working with directly contracted maintenance suppliers. With a renewed focus on customer service and engagement, this innovative approach introduced new processes and systems, as well as better quality, consistency, reliability and visibility of information about building assets and operation. The award also recognises a strong commitment to staff through a comprehensive engagement programme that has been deployed across the whole of the Asset Management Team.
The University’s Director of Estates, Graham Matthews, said, “Winning awards like this does not happen by accident, they are a testament to the hard work and commitment of all the teams in the Estates Division to shape environments that create connections, inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and better support our academic mission.
“I’m especially proud that both awards highlight the professional way in which we work together as colleagues in the Estates Division, with staff and students at the University and with the construction sector, to create a more effective, efficient, and sustainable estate.
“It is a great validation of our unstinting focus on improving how we design, deliver and operate our estate.”