The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced the 34 winning projects of its RIBA International Awards for Excellence 2026 (from a shortlist of 52), recognising the world's best new architecture across 15 countries, including Bangladesh’s BRAC University.

BRAC University was given the Asia Pacific Awards 2025 and International Awards for Excellence 2026.

RIBA said the university campus, based in Dhaka, had transformed “a derelict dumping ground into a vibrant 170,000 sqm academic and civic anchor serving 20,000 students.” 

It highlighted how the 13-storey campus employed a "club sandwich" sectional strategy, floating nine levels of academia above a publicly accessible Campus Park. 

“This compact design maximises land use on the 2.14-hectare site while creating social interaction spaces. The project integrates academic, civic, and recreational programs across multiple levels, featuring classrooms, laboratories, auditorium, multipurpose hall, amphitheatre, and rooftop facilities including swimming pool, cricket pitch, and running track.

“Grounded in passive tropical design principles, it achieves cross-ventilation through horizontal breezeways aligned with prevailing winds, reducing reliance on air-conditioning while creating comfortable learning environments that connect occupants with nature.”

Modular planning enables future adaptability and faculty resizing. The structure is designed for a more than 100-year lifespan. Minimal applied finishes in teaching areas maximize cost-effectiveness while allowing student activities to animate spaces.

Development for the structure began in 2011, construction started 2016, operations commenced 2024. 

The design achieves a 130% green plot ratio with 26,000 sqm of landscaping, exemplifying urban densification potential while multiplying greenery.

Complimenting the design, RIBA said, “It dissolves barriers between faculty and students, encouraging interaction across disciplines. Multiple circulation paths create visual and physical connectivity throughout the vertical campus.” 

This year’s RIBA cohort responds directly to urgent social, environmental and urban conditions across the globe. 

From a carbon-neutral furniture factory in Norway to a performing arts centre inside one of the world's largest refugee settlements in Uganda, this year's cohort reflects the full breadth of what architecture can achieve when it rises to meet the challenges of our time. 

Whether addressing climate, migration, housing, rapid urbanisation, or infrastructure, the winning projects demonstrate how thoughtful design can positively impact everyday life and help build a more equitable and resilient future. 

All of the winners are now in contention for the prestigious RIBA International Prize, to be announced at a ceremony in London on 15 October 2026.