The Tall Buildings Summit is a prestigious celebration of excellence and innovation within the tall building sector, bringing together architects, engineers, planners, developers and product manufacturers who are redefining our skylines. From pioneering projects to the people behind them, the awards take a holistic approach, recognising contributions from across the industry.
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours individuals with distinguished careers who have made lasting contributions over decades. It recognises those whose vision, leadership, and expertise have had a transformative impact on the design, construction, and advancement of tall buildings. The focus is on career-long dedication, innovation, and influence across the industry.
Introduced for the first time this year, we are thrilled to see Ian and Rachel named as the inaugural recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Shortlisted alongside other exceptional professionals within the industry, they felt privileged to receive this recognition.
Ian and Rachel founded SimpsonHaugh in 1987 and, over nearly 40 years of practise, have designed and delivered numerous skyline-defining projects. In London, this includes One Blackfriars, Dollar Bay, and Circus West Village, the pioneering first phase of the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. In Manchester, their extensive portfolio ranges from the iconic Beetham Tower to the high-rise residential buildings that shape the New Jackson neighbourhood. They are also currently designing the UK’s tallest tower outside of London. Working in close collaboration with aspirational clients, they have consistently pushed the boundaries of tall building design.
As a practice, we are delighted to celebrate Ian and Rachel’s achievement. We also congratulate all those shortlisted, as well as Darren Paine of DeSimone Consulting Engineering and John Fleming of Tide Construction, who both received Outstanding Contribution to the Industry awards.