ARU Peterborough’s new £32 million building, The Lab, has won a prestigious national award for its impact on the city.
The Lab triumphed in the Best Building category at the Pineapples Awards 2025, which celebrate buildings that have a positive effect on places and people.
ARU Peterborough outshone five other contenders in the category, including 8 Bishopgate, a 50-storey tower block in the City of London, and UCL East Marshgate, University College London’s new development at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London.
Pineapples have historically symbolised welcome in UK architecture, and ARU Peterborough received a golden pineapple trophy at the awards ceremony in London.
The judges praised The Lab, stating: “This building should be highlighted for the palpable impact that a facility can have in Peterborough. It is inspiring to see a regional team building something from scratch which inspires its local community.
“It is a real beacon for its placemaking and wider social impact. What really lifted it above the other projects was this impact which highlights the civic role that a university can have.
“The public spaces created are really versatile and adaptable for different uses. As the university campus develops this building will sit at its heart.”
The Lab is home to the Living Lab, designed to host exhibitions, talks, and public engagement events. It also contains teaching spaces, tissue culture and microbiology labs, and engineering workshops, allowing ARU Peterborough to offer a wider range of courses.
Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU Peterborough, said: “We’ve received some impressive accolades in the last 18 months, including winning the Times Higher Education University of the Year award and being named Social Mobility University of the Year, but this award is very special indeed.
“From day one, we’ve been clear that ARU Peterborough is designed to serve the needs of this great city, and so to receive this award is fantastic recognition that we’re on the right track.
“As the university continues to grow, this building will be at its heart, and we encourage everyone to come and explore ARU Peterborough’s open campus for themselves.”
Completed last summer and officially opened in the autumn, The Lab was built by Morgan Sindall Construction and designed by Cambridge-based MCW architects.
Lien Geens, Associate Director of MCW architects, said: “Our vision was to create more than just a building; we aimed to thoughtfully integrate The Lab with the first phases of the University while establishing it as an inspiring hub for the city.
“A key part of this was designing for transparency – offering inviting views into the dynamic activities within, encouraging the wider community to feel connected and enticed to be part of the university's vibrant campus.
“Seeing The Lab come to life and now receive this prestigious award is a testament to the vision of the client and the dedication of the entire project team.”
The next undergraduate Open Day at ARU Peterborough is on Saturday, 7 June. The event provides the chance to explore the campus and find out more about the different employment-focused courses on offer.
ARU Peterborough is a partnership between Anglia Ruskin University, Peterborough City Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
