We’re delighted to share that The Spark at Southampton Solent University has been shortlisted for 'The Building Resilience: buildings that have stood the test of time' Award at the Education Estates Awards 2026.

The shortlist recognises buildings that continue to deliver value long after completion - places that adapt, support their communities and remain relevant as needs evolve. The Spark is a great example of this: a building designed not just for today, but for the future.

Completed in 2016 as part of Southampton Solent University’s campus transformation programme, The Spark was conceived as a shared academic environment where learning, teaching, social interaction and events could come together. Its flexible approach created a welcoming hub for students, staff and the wider community.

A decade on, we recently revisited The Spark through a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to understand how the building has performed in use. The findings reinforced the value of designing with people at the centre.

The evaluation showed that The Spark continues to support changing patterns of learning, with adaptable layouts, flexible furniture and technology-enabled spaces allowing the building to respond to evolving needs without significant physical change. It has also become a key destination for campus life, hosting academic, cultural and public events that strengthen connections between the university and the city.

For us, this is what resilient design is about. It is not only about how a building performs when it opens; it is about how it continues to serve the people who use it years later. By listening to users and understanding how spaces evolve over time, we can create places that remain valuable, adaptable and loved.

The Education Estates Awards celebrate the people, projects and organisations shaping the future of the UK’s education estate, recognising innovation, sustainability, inclusive learning environments and outstanding contributions to the sector.

The winners will be announced at the Education Estates Awards ceremony on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

We’re proud to see The Spark recognised alongside other inspiring education projects - and grateful to everyone at Southampton Solent University and across the project team who helped create a building that continues to make a difference.