Accessibility-first railway revamp wins at the ICE London Awards 2026

Tackling congestion and poor accessibility, the Colindale Station Redevelopment took home the trophies for Best Project – Large (over £5m) and Team of the Year at the ICE London Awards 2026.

The Northern line station had long suffered from these problems, made worse by rapid local housing growth. To address this head on, the redevelopment replaced the outdated station with a bold new facility built directly above the operational railway.

The station now has full step-free access from street to platform, an expanded ticket hall and improved circulation routes.

The judges appreciated how this £40m project’s early multidiscipline workshops led to carbon and operational energy savings and a more efficient design.

They were also impressed by how the team worked with the supply chain to refine the design together, engineered out risk, and developed 20 value engineering proposals worth £4.5m in savings.

The Richmond Cycle Hub won Best Project - Sustainability.

This modern, secure and highly sustainable cycle parking facility promotes integrated active and public transport while enhancing the wider station environment and public realm.

The hub stood out for its strong and consistent integration of sustainability across the entire project lifecycle.

It cut construction impacts, improved biodiversity, used resources more efficiently and supported active travel, all while working within the constraints of a live railway.

The judges praised its well-integrated approach to design, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning, delivering lasting environmental and community value.

Making community spaces more people focussed

The Greenside Rain Garden won Best Project Small (under £5m) for transforming a flood-prone residential street into a vibrant, climate-resilient and people-focused space.

Redesigning a section of Westville Road into a pedestrian-first space, the scheme centred around integrating sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Specifically, three large rain gardens, which capture, filter and gradually release rainwater.

What also stood out was the fact that Year 5 pupils helped shape the project. They created designs for the space following hands-on learning about climate change and SuDS, highway design and engineering.

Residents, parents and guardians, and school pupils participated in planting and requested to re-name the space, fostering a strong sense of ownership and long-term stewardship.

Increasing the asset life of the Thames Path at Kew won the scheme the award for Best Project – Asset Resilience.

This high-profile public route along the river is heavily used by residents, commuters, walkers, and cyclists.

Next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, need for the project arose after a section of towpath collapsed, creating an immediate public safety risk and preventing access to all users.

The carefully considered solution safely directed water onto the floodplain at a controlled location. This reduced the amount of water overflowing onto more vulnerable sections of the towpath, helping to prevent damage.

The judges appreciated the team’s commitment to understanding the local environment and working with it, not against it.

Using spent coffee grounds – an innovative first?

Whale on the Wharf, a 12-metre, four-storey public artwork at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf won the Best Project – Innovation Award.

Made from five tonnes of plastic recovered from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the artwork depicts a blue whale emerging from the water.

The sculpture's cantilevered, asymmetric shape creates significant structural challenges, with strong forces generated by its weight and by wind. To support it safely, the team designed robust foundations beneath the dock to act as counterweights.

Rather than resort to conventional high-carbon concrete, the team developed an entirely new concrete mix: 'Bio-Espresso'. A world-first, this biochar-enhanced mix incorporates spent coffee grounds sourced directly from Canary Wharf's own cafés and restaurants.

Celebrating the talent

Recognising emerging talent and those who are helping hone it, the ICE London Awards also celebrated professionals working in the city.

Afua Essel won STEM Ambassador of the Year. She has independently designed and delivered a remarkable range of programmes spanning primary schools, secondary schools, public libraries, and her local community.

She has demonstrated a sustained and genuine commitment to making engineering accessible to everyone, not just those who already feel it is for them.

Katie Nicoll won Rising Star of the Year. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the nominee’s two years of volunteering with the Engineers for Overseas Development charity. This includes their support in delivering a school project in Uganda.

The judges thought this was a great promotion of civil engineering. They also appreciated the nominee’s demonstration of integrity while ensuring designs balanced competing needs and challenges on value.

Si Shen was awarded Mentor of the Year by impressing the judges with how he's successfully mentored a diverse group of engineers across varying backgrounds and specialisms, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability in tailoring his approach.

The evening was supported by headline sponsor Veda along with category partners Kilnbridge, TYPSA, Cordek, MHB Consultants and Tony Gee.

The chosen charity for the awards was the ICE Benevolent Fund.

Find out more about the ICE London Awards 2026 winners.