The Elizabeth Line, London's newest transport network, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture.
Designed by a collaborative team including Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation and Atkins Réalis, the project has been recognised for its exceptional design and significant impact on the city's infrastructure.
Stretching over 100 kilometres from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, the Elizabeth Line has transformed travel across London and the South East.
The £19 billion project, which opened in May 2022, includes 41 stations, with 10 new stations designed as part of the winning scheme.
The award-winning design encompasses a comprehensive range of architectural elements, including platform architecture, passenger tunnels, escalators, station concourses, signage, furniture, fittings, finishes and supporting technology.
Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President and Jury Chair, praised the project and said: "The Elizabeth Line is a triumph in architect-led collaboration, offering a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport."
He highlighted the line's consistent identity and ease of navigation for the 600,000 daily passengers it now serves.
The Elizabeth Line has already demonstrated its value beyond transportation, expanding capacity, reducing congestion, supporting city-wide regeneration and creating employment opportunities.
It further continues to contribute to London's long-term growth and development.
The line has cut journey times significantly, with trips from Paddington to Canary Wharf now taking just 17 minutes compared to the previous 32 minutes.
Neill McClements, Partner at Grimshaw, speaking on behalf of the line-wide design team, emphasised the project's transformative impact: "The Elizabeth Line is a piece of infrastructure that has been transformative, not only for London's transport network but also for many people's lives, highlighting the role design plays in elevating our every day."
The RIBA Stirling Prize jury commended the Elizabeth Line for its highly inclusive and cohesive design, which has already shown substantial social, environmental and economic benefits for London and its residents.
The line's trains, which can carry up to 1,500 passengers each, are also more energy-efficient than previous models, contributing to London's sustainability goals.
In a social media post on LinkedIn Mike Bagshaw, Managing Director of the Elizabeth line said: “The architecture of the Elizabeth line is truly inspiring and I am grateful to lead a dedicated team tasked with operating the service.
“It’s great to see the efforts of the team reflected in the latest customer service satisfaction scores, ranking the Elizabeth line first amongst TfL modes.”