The public has been invited to view each of the five shortlisted design concepts for the national memorial following the launch of an online exhibition today (7 May). The winner in the contest organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants, will create a ‘historic’ memorial to the UK’s longest-serving monarch on the site next to Buckingham Palace in London’s St James’s Park. Norman Foster’s architecture practice leads a design team including British interdisciplinary artist Yinka Shonibare and French landscape architect Michel Desvigne.Advertisement Thomas Heatherwick’s firm heads up a team including British sculptor Halima Cassell, landscape architect MRG Studio, and multidisciplinary practices Webb Yates and Arup. The three other shortlisted teams are led by architecture practice WilkinsonEyre; landscape architect J&L Gibbons with William Matthews Associates; and landscape architect and garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects. The five teams had been briefed to ‘create a memorial masterplan that celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life of service and provides a space for pause and reflection’. Shortlist of design teams for Queen Elizabeth II memorial (full teams below) Foster + Partners with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates and Arup J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop and Arup Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte) and Structure Workshop WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One and Hilson Moran The memorial masterplan site incorporates a section of St James’s Park next to the Mall and land surrounding a pathway down to the park’s lake, including its Blue Bridge. As well as design, assessment criteria for the competition include value for money, placemaking experience and visitor experience. The memorial has a provisional construction budget in the range of £23-46 million, excluding VAT.Advertisement The contest is backed by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, an advisory body jointly established by the UK government and Royal Household in 2023. Chaired by the late Queen’s former private secretary, Robin Janvrin, it comprises eight senior figures from across British public life. This panel of committee members will select the winning design concept – expected to be announced later this year – and work with the team on the final design. This is expected to be unveiled in 2026, in what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s centenary year. All five teams will receive a £50,000 honorarium for their stage two designs. Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, Janvrin, said: ‘Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life of service profoundly touched countless individuals, and she was a figure of great respect and admiration. Memories of her long reign are still fresh for so many of us, and we need to capture the essence of them for future generations. ‘In recognition of this, it is only fitting that we invite the public to express their views on these design concepts. ‘We are delighted to be working with some of the best architects, artists and designers in the world to produce a landmark memorial of outstanding beauty that celebrates and honours the life of Queen Elizabeth II.’ The public exhibition runs until 19 May. The AJ has launched a reader poll – vote for your favourite design here Shortlist of design teams for Queen Elizabeth II memorial (full teams) Foster + Partners with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste Foster + Partners – creative lead; contractual lead; architect; structural and MEP engineer; landscape and horticulture; lighting designer; sustainability; principal designer Yinka Shonibare – artist Michel Desvigne Paysagiste – landscape architect Purcell – heritage consultant Gardiner & Theobald – project manager and cost consultant 2x4 – digital designer and wayfinding consultant Nigel Dunnett Studio – ecology consultant David Bonnett Associates – accessibility consultant Arup – logistics and security consultant DP9 – planning consultant Eckersley O’Callaghan – glass structure engineers Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates and Arup Heatherwick Studio – creative lead, contractual lead, architect, landscape architect Halima Cassell – creative lead, artist MRG Studio – landscape architect and horticultural specialist Giles Quarme Architects – heritage architect Webb Yates – structural engineer Territory Studio – digital designer Host – project manager, cost consultant Montague Evans – planning consultant Aequitas Global – Commonwealth specialist The Stonemasonry Company – material specialist 2-3 Degrees – engagement specialist Barker Langham – interpretation and curation, wayfinding consultant Speirs + Major – lighting designer CAE – accessibility consultant Arup – sustainability, ecology, MEP engineering, security, logistics J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop and Arup J&L Gibbons – landscape architect, creative and contractual lead William Matthews Associates – architect and bridge designer Michael Levine – production designer, artist Lichfields – planning consultant Purcell – heritage consultant Structure Workshop – structural engineer Arup – civil engineering, MEP engineering, accessibility, sustainability, logistics and security Pentagram – digital designer, interpretation and wayfinding consultant Plan A – project manager Hennessy Godden – cost consultant PFB – CDM principal designer adviser Speirs + Major – lighting designer Dr Henrik Sjoman – horticulture and trees Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte) and Structure Workshop Tom Stuart-Smith Studio – creative lead, landscape architect Jamie Fobert Architects – contractual lead, architect Factum Arte – artist Gardiner & Theobald – project manager, cost consultant The Planning Lab – planning consultant Purcell – heritage consultant, principal designer CDM The Parks Agency – historic landscape consultant Structure Workshop – structural engineer Holmes Studio – digital designer, interpretation and curation Tony Kirkham MBE – arboricultural expert Landmark Trees – arboricultural consultant The Landscape Partnership – ecology Goss Consulting – accessibility consultant Speirs + Major – lighting designer WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One and Hilson Moran WilkinsonEyre – creative lead, contractual lead and architect Lisa Vandy – artist Fiona Clarke – artist Andy Sturgeon Garden Design – landscape architect DP9 – planning consultant Townscape consultancy – heritage consultant Hilson Moran – MEP engineer Atelier One – structural engineer RAA – digital and exhibition designer OPERA – project manager Core 5 – cost consultant Speirs + Major – lighting designer