Burntwood School, UK, AHMM

Awards: The Stirling Prize

Image credit: Rob Parrish

The esteemed RIBA Stirling Prize for 2015 for the UK's best new building was awarded to Burntwood School by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.The building is a large all-girls school located in Wandsworth, London, and according to the judges, 'demonstrates the full range of the skills that architects can offer to society'.

Image credit: Timothy Soar

Six new faculty buildings and two large cultural buildings link to the original structures (designed by renowned '50s architect Sir Leslie Martin), recreating the campus for 2000 female students and 200 staff.AHMM has successfully brought natural light and air into the buildings by incorporating double height spaces at the end of each corridor, not to mention created a collection of teaching spaces from conventional to interactive open spaces.Sponsored by Almacantar, the Stirling Prize originated in 1996 after being previously known as the Building of the Year Award (began 1988).

Image credit: Timothy Soar