Sunderland’s HICSA scoops triple honours at RICS North East Awards

Sunderland’s Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) has been named the North East’s Project of the Year after winning a trio of honours at the 2026 RICS North East Awards.

Envisioned through a partnership between Sunderland College and Sunderland City Council, HICSA was recognised for its outstanding contribution to the built environment, winning the overall Project of the Year award as well as Best Public Sector Project and Best Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project.

Brought to life by AtkinsRealis, Brims Construction, MawsonKerr, SHED, and Skelly & Couch, with support from Homes England and funding from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the project saw the transformation of the 130-year-old Monkwearmouth Station goods shed – once a centre of railway activity – which had become a derelict liability following decades of neglect, vandalism and severe structural deterioration.

Combining the sensitive restoration of the original building with a modern low-carbon extension, the academy offers large-scale workshops and classrooms where students gain practical experience and skills in housebuilding, retrofit, and modern methods of construction.

Judges praised the academy as a ‘high-performance, net-zero learning factory’ that ‘stands out as a hybrid project: part regeneration, part infrastructure, part education asset – positioned as a national exemplar for skills and net zero delivery.’

They described the development as ‘an outstanding, nationally significant project with exceptional measurable outcomes, innovation in both design and education model, and best-in-class sustainability performance’ adding that ‘strong leadership and clear third-party endorsements reinforce its credibility and impact.’

Councillor James Jackson, Cabinet Member for Business, Housing and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “Winning three RICS North East Awards, including the overall Project of the Year title, is an outstanding achievement and one that everyone involved in HICSA should be incredibly proud of.

“HICSA is much more than a building. It represents a commitment to investing in people, creating opportunities and ensuring Sunderland has the skilled workforce needed to deliver the homes, infrastructure and developments of the future. We’re very much committed to ensuring that communities across the city feel the impact of the regeneration the council is driving, and HICSA is a good example of a project that is creating opportunities for young people across Sunderland.”

HICSA is managed by Sunderland College and operates as the North East region’s Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTEC), awarded by the Department for Education.

Iain Nixon, Sunderland College’s Group Executive Principal for Regional Skills, said: “Winning three RICS North East Awards, including Project of the Year, is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved in HICSA.

“These awards recognise not only the quality and innovation of the building, but also its purpose. HICSA was created to inspire the next generation of construction professionals while demonstrating how heritage buildings can be transformed into sustainable, future-focused learning environments.

“As the North East CTEC, we have seen our students thrive in a setting that brings education and industry together, equipping them with the skills employers need now and in the future.”

Lawrence Inkster, Director at AtkinsRéalis, said: “As a North East based team, seeing HICSA named Project of the Year makes us immensely proud. This project has transformed a historic building into a world-class learning environment that will equip future generations with the skills needed to deliver the sustainable homes and infrastructure of tomorrow.

“HICSA embodies everything we value at AtkinsRéalis – preserving heritage, embracing innovation, driving sustainability and creating lasting social impact. It has been a privilege to work alongside Sunderland City Council, Sunderland College and the wider project team to bring this vision to life, and these awards are thoroughly deserved recognition for everyone who contributed to its success.”

Dan Kerr, Director at MawsonKerr, said: “The RICS awards focus on real world impact of buildings and projects and it is a benchmark for quality. We are delighted that HICSA has received these three awards and we thoroughly enjoyed working on this project with whole team and visionary clients, and we look forward continuing this partnership.”

The latest success adds to HICSA’s growing list of accolades, having also recently won the Constructing Excellence North East Retrofit Award for the project delivering environmental, economic and social value.

As regional winners, HICSA will now represent the North East at the RICS UK Grand Final later this year, where it will compete against the best construction, regeneration and infrastructure projects from across the country.