Delivered for ECF (a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General and Homes England), Eden is a 12-storey office building at New Bailey, a vibrant mixed-use regeneration masterplan in Salford, Greater Manchester. It dramatically enhances the biodiversity of the masterplan with its 3,300m² living wall, introducing a major piece of green infrastructure on the site of a former surface car park. A LETI Pioneer project, Eden is designed to achieve net-zero operational carbon and champion sustainability, resource efficiency and wellbeing at every level.
Project architect Stuart Fraser said: “As a pioneering sustainable development, Eden demonstrates how ambitious environmental goals can be achieved within budgetary constraints. The project transforms a former surface car park into a thriving green landmark, offering a blueprint for future urban developments and showcasing how innovative design can drive meaningful environmental, social, and economic change.”
Ken’s Lifetime Achievement Award celebrated his 50-year (and counting) career in architecture and recognised his outstanding contribution to the real estate industry, specifically for commercial office design. Current BCO President and Head of Projects at GPE, Helen Hare, presented Ken with his award. Read her full speech below.
Born in Birmingham, Ken went on to study in Leicester and later joined Foster + Partners. In 2004, after 30 years Ken left to establish his own practice, Make Architects, now with offices in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Ken is recognised as one of the world’s leading architects and continues to deliver a portfolio of iconic, innovative sustainable buildings. Over the course of his 50–year career, he has worked on some of the most groundbreaking architectural landmarks in the world from HSBC in Hong Kong and Canary Wharf, City Hall, More London, Hong Kong Airport and, more latterly, Capella Sydney, 40 Leadenhall, 5 Broadgate, Rathbone Square and The Hiscox Building.
He was one of the first to develop a 100% employee-owned architecture practice. From the very outset of establishing Make, he pioneered bringing individuals together, a workplace where everyone has a say, from graduates to project leaders, recognising the importance of people. The spirit of inclusivity on projects extends to communities, place and key stakeholders. Ken personally oversees the design direction of every scheme and under his leadership, Make has established itself as one of the UK’s foremost architectural practices.
A former BCO President from 2017-18, he has an ability to unite and put people at ease and has been an enthusiastic promoter and supporter of the BCO’s NextGen.
One of the few remaining architects who is able to sketch – a dying skill – the pencil creation signifies not just Ken’s talent but his passion for such skills. He has an ability to look at the past, present and future with projects. Like a chess grandmaster, it is not just how the Knight moves but seeing many other moves ahead in this sector, where multiple pieces play their part to create the best developments. A sketch of Rathbone Square and the heart signifying the central garden square hangs on my office wall with the signature ‘The Knight’s Mark’, created by Dr Ken Shuttleworth.
Ken’s philosophy is not just about the architecture of an individual stand-alone building, it is about creating a place – one that must have a heart. It is that real depth of coming back to understanding people and humanity. There are many examples that show how he has never shied away from challenging the status quo and Ken’s ability to see things in his own mind allows him to constantly move the chess pieces into the right positions.
Architects hold a broad remit and their contribution is enormous, overlaid with his own values demonstrates a passion and love for design: you get all Ken in everything he does. While he might never have all the answers, he has an inquisitive mind and through his passion, gets results.
The Eden building in Salford, completed last year, is another prime example with its living biophilic façade housing over 350,000 individual plants, and 32 different species.
An outstanding example of his work is the Swiss Re building, 30 St Mary Axe – more famously known as the Gherkin. Opened in 2004, it launched the age of giving buildings specific monikers. The 41-storey egg-shaped edifice Ken created while at Foster + Partners reshaped the skyline of the City and rightly deserves the label of an icon.
Despite now being enveloped in a jungle of other City skyscrapers, ironically some of which are Make’s own progressive designs, its unique character and shape, will always leave the Gherkin standing solitary and beautiful – a true legacy.
His fearlessness in breaking down architectural boundaries, dedication to bringing through the next generation of architects, while supporting other aspects of the office sector, is why this year’s BCO President’s Award is going to someone who has genuinely made a difference to our industry.
Having had the privilege to work with him personally adds to the pleasure of my role in this year as BCO president to recognise such an important person in our industry who has made these outstanding contributions.
Congratulations to Dr Ken Shuttleworth.
Helen Hare, president, BCO 2025
