The winners of the 2025 W Awards Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture and MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice have been revealed in Venice Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, founders of Saudi architecture firm Syn Architects, have been declared the winners of the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture 2025, and Rachel Elliott of Lynch Architects has won the MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice 2025. Shamalat Cultural Centre by Syn Architects. Credit: Hassan Al Shatti The Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture recognises a bright future for designers under the age of 45 who are leading their own practices. Alissa and Alsudairi, founders of Syn Architects in Saudi Arabia, have won the Moira Gemmill Prize 2025. The duo’s major project to date is the Shamalat Cultural Centre, which saw a series of traditional mud houses transformed into an arts space in Diriyah, near Riyadh. The restoration, completed in 2023, marked their first experience with earthen architecture and sparked questions about restoration and adaptive reuse, ultimately laying the foundations for their practice, which they formally established in 2019. Alissa and Alsudairi are also the co-founders of saudirchitecture.org, an online database documenting modernist and post-modernist buildings in Saudi Arabia. Read Rahel Aima’s profile of Syn Architects, published in the AR’s W Awards issue. The jury for the Moira Gemmill Prizes included Sandra Barclay of Barclay & Crousse, Eva Jiřičná of AI Design, Karen Livingstone of the Fitzwilliam Museum and Cristina Monteiro of DK-CM. They commented: ‘The quality in design and material sensitivity in Syn Architects’ work are evidence of a highly refined vision. We also commend the practice’s more research-driven work, which constitutes an important contribution to Saudi architecture and culture.’ Westminster Coroner’s Court by Lynch Architects, project architect Rachel Elliott. Credit: Johan Dehlin and Pedro Cardigo MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice recognises exemplary work by project architects practising within larger architectural firms. Rachel Elliott of Lynch Architects has won the 2025 MJ Long Prize for her work on Westminster Coroner’s Court in London. The extension and refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building introduces a new courtroom, an enhanced arrival sequence, purpose-built waiting areas and two secluded gardens. Elliott’s work helped ensure that the quality of spatial and emotional experience befits the weight and substance of the building’s ongoing public duty. Read Ellie Duffy’s review of Westminster Coroner’s Court, published in the AR’s W Awards issue. The jury for the MJ Long Prizes included Anna Liu of Tonkin Liu, Albert Williamson‑Taylor of AKT II  and Sal Wilson, educator and sustainability consultant. They commented: ‘Rachel Elliott demonstrated incredible competence in her holistic approach to Westminster Coroner’s Court, and a deep understanding of the structural, environmental and social integration needed to create powerful architecture.’ The W Awards 2025 were hosted at the European Cultural Centre, Palazzo Michiel, in Venice, Italy on 9 May, where the winners of the MJ Long and Moira Gemmill Prizes were presented with trophies designed by Mycket, alongside Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture winner Suad Amiry, and Jane Drew Prize for Architecture winner Anne Lacaton. The work of all W Awards winners, as well as of both shortlists, is featured in the AR March 2025 issue, available to purchase here 2025-05-09 AR Editors Share