A RESEARCH Associate at award-winning northern practice Building Design Northern has been shortlisted for a prestigious accolade by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

KTP Associate and Architect, Dr. Faye Sedgewick, has been shortlisted as a 2023 RIBA Journal Rising Star.

Making the 20-strong shortlist, Faye has been recognised for pioneering one of few research-focused partnerships in the architectural domain, which seeks to enhance the quality of homes and care environments for older individuals in the North East.

In association with Origin, the RIBA Journal Rising Star initiative recognises ambitious young design professionals, celebrating those who demonstrate resilience, innovation, and agile thinking for the benefit of their practice and the built environment.

As a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture (PhD), Faye is committed to designing, delivering, and advocating for better and more inclusive environments that promote healthy ageing.

Faye is the leader of BDN’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Northumbria University, a future-focused partnership that is developing an evidence-based design guide for longevity housing and care settings for older individuals. In the first 12 months of the partnership, BDN have collaborated with academic specialists around the world to implement a research-led design response onto their live projects to achieve sustainable, accessible and inclusive mainstream housing for their clients.

Reflecting on the success, Dr. Faye Sedgewick said, “It is an honour to have been recognised amongst a high-standard of talent in the Architecture industry as one of the shortlisted 2023 RIBA Journal Rising Stars.

“Working on the KTP has provided a unique opportunity for BDN to embed contemporary research into architectural design to further enhance advancements and impact within the ageing sector, giving me the ability to develop design principles that I am so passionate about. Thank you to all at BDN for their incredible support!”

The final cohort of Rising Stars will be announced on 24 October 2023. View the shortlist in full here > Rising Stars 2023 shortlist announced with 20 contenders | RIBAJ