HICSA wins Constructing Excellence North East Retrofit Award

Sunderland’s Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) has won the prestigious Constructing Excellence North East (CENE) Retrofit Award in recognition of the project’s transformation from a derelict historic building into a pioneering facility that delivers environmental, economic and social value.

Celebrating projects that demonstrate excellence in improving assets through innovation, collaboration, digital technologies and measurable sustainability outcomes, HICSA was chosen by judges for “not only preserving and repurposing heritage fabric but also creating a nationally significant skills academy that will support the future of sustainable construction.”

The project saw the transformation of the 130-year-old Monkwearmouth Station goods shed – once a centre of railway activity – which has become a derelict liability following decades of neglect, vandalism and severe structural deterioration.

Despite its condition, the building was identified as a critical anchor within Sunderland City Council’s Riverside Sunderland masterplan and an opportunity to reimagine a historic asset into a ‘skills engine’ to power the city’s Sheepfolds quarter.

The result is HICSA, a nationally leading skills hub which is revolutionising modern low-carbon construction, innovation, and skills training, where local people are trained in the techniques used to regenerate the building itself.

Empowered through a visionary partnership between Sunderland College and the council, and brought to life by AtkinsRealis, Brims Construction, MawsonKerr, SHED, and Skelly & Couch, with support from Homes England and funding from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the building’s open plan design encourages collaboration between industry professionals and students, enabling innovation to be experienced first-hand.

Cllr Councillor James Jackson, Cabinet Member for Business, Housing and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s fitting that the work undertaken to transform the former Monkwearmouth Station tool shed into a state-of-the-art construction skills academy has itself been recognised by such a prestigious industry accolade.

“Since opening last year, HICSA has provided hundreds of people with the skills required to fill the construction roles of tomorrow, while positioning Sunderland as a centre of excellence when it comes to innovation in construction. It is a fantastic success story for the city.”

Sonya Anderson, HICSA Campus Principal, said: “Winning this prestigious retrofit award is a fantastic achievement and reflects the vision, partnership and innovation that has brought HICSA to life. Congratulations to all our partners and everyone involved in making this vision a reality.

“In our first year, we have already seen high levels of student achievement and progression. We are proud to be opening doors to education and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to gain the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed.”

Lawrence Inkster, Director at AtkinsRéalis, said: “We are delighted with HICSA’s success and proud of the team behind this nationally significant facility.

“It reflects AtkinsRéalis’ purpose to engineer a better future for our planet and its people by creating the future workforce who will protect our planet, support local communities and deliver sustainable outcomes for generations to come.”

Dan Kerr, Director at MawsonKerr, said: “HICSA stemmed from a close collaboration between clients and design team to derive a rigorous brief that set an ambitious tone to the project from the outset.

“The blend of retrofit and newbuild elements presented a fantastic opportunity to celebrate traditional and modern methods of construction that fundamentally derived design decisions at every step. This ethos led to an authentic educational tool where students can see themselves how building components are constructed, from architecture and structure to mechanical and electrical systems, taking inspiration and lessons, employing this into their studies and work life.”

The building is composed from old and new parallel forms, with a ‘shadow’ link between the two architectural languages. A modern timber extension was built alongside the original engine shed and connected by a central link that houses building services and circulation spaces.

This approach allowed modern systems to be added while protecting the historic structure, creating a learning environment where traditional and modern construction methods can be seen side by side.

Despite challenges including a tight site in a coal mining consultation area located next to an active Metro line, difficult ground conditions and the administration of the original contractor, the team remained committed to its low-carbon vision.

Through strong collaboration and a fabric-first approach, the former derelict building has been transformed into an all-electric learning facility powered by air-source heat pumps and high-performance insulation, delivering excellent energy performance and long-term environmental, social and educational benefits.

In 2025 Sunderland College was named as the North East’s Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) by the Department for Education. Based at HICSA, the North East CTEC brings together brings together further education colleges, universities, independent training organisations, schools, employers and key stakeholders to boost training, raise industry standards, address skills shortages, and drive economic growth.