York Minster has been announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as the winner of the Client of the Year Award 2026, for the York Minster Centre of Excellence. Comprising two buildings - the Heritage Quad and the Technology Hub - the Centre includes masons' workshops, state-of-the-art digital fabrication tools, a drawing room, and a hall of residence for interns and international collaborators.

Since the 7th century, the Minster has been at the centre of Christianity in the North of England.

As traditional craft skills continue to decline, with only 13 workshops remaining in the 42 English Cathedrals, the centre was created in response to the urgent need to preserve these places of heritage and the skills needed to care for them.

York Minster worked closely with Tonkin Liu Architects to establish a leading global facility to inspire the next generation of craftspeople, and secure the long-term conservation of the Minster for years to come. By prioritising the reuse and renewal of existing structures, the project while significantly reduces embodied carbon while preserving the site's rich heritage.

Now in its 28th year, the annual Client of the Year Award celebrates the crucial role of clients in championing outstanding architecture, and delivering transformative and considered projects.

Neil Gillespie, RIBA Awards Group Chair and Director and Chairman, Reiach and Hall Architects, said: "York Minister is one of the great buildings of the world, a tour de force of ambition and courage. The keepers of the Minster bear the heavy responsibility of the care of the Minster for future generations.

The brief to house the artisans that do this important work could simply have been prosaic service buildings. However, through inspired commissioning, the places where craft traditions and cutting-edge technology are explored and developed are so much more. The York Minster Centre of Excellence collectively celebrates continuity and collaboration, space and material, craftsmanship and skill."

Alexander McCallion FRICS, Director of Works & Precinct, York Minster, said: “The Chapter of York is delighted to have been recognised as Client of the Year by RIBA. The Centre of Excellence is the culmination of over 6 years' work creating a unique facility balancing the use of modern technology with traditional craft skills, all housed within two beautiful buildings - great additions to our incredible heritage estate.

The new spaces and technology found in the Centre have allowed us to accelerate the restoration and conservation of York Minster and continue a strong apprenticeship programme to safeguard these vital skills for future generations. 

"Importantly, the new low-carbon infrastructure shows what can be achieved in a heritage estate with a strong architectural vision and bespoke planning framework.”

Anna Liu, Director, Tonkin Liu Architects, said: "Alex McCallion is a courageous client who envisioned and enabled a brave new future for heritage craft at York Minster. His ambition was to create modern buildings that responded to the historical context of the Yorks precinct and communicated to the public the important role that craft and advanced technology play. 
The buildings tell a story, make the invisible visible, bring living heritage to the fore, and invite future generations to join them. The Heritage Quad and Tech Hub will accelerate the restoration of our built heritage by four decades within the next century, stepping up to the challenges of safeguarding and innovating heritage craft."

This year’s Client of the Year jury comprised: Neil Gillespie, Reiach and Hall Architects (Jury Chair, Awards Group Chair) Nana Biamah-Ofosu, YAA Projects (RIBA Awards Group member), Martyn Craddock, United St Saviour’s Charity (Previous Year’s Winner for Appleby Blue Almshouse)