Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) Lancaster, UK

In 2011 the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) became the first higher education building and only the second building ever to receive a BREEAM Outstanding rating post-completion.

The Institute houses a range of flexible performance and workshop spaces that support an exciting programme of music, drama, design and fine art.

The design was developed as an exploration of the interplay between nature and the man-made, inspired by the woodland setting. Daylight floods the teaching and research areas and light timber finishes lend both brightness and texture to the interiors. A highly innovative, prefabricated cross-laminated timber structure provides high levels of airtightness and also enabled a quick and safe construction programme.