10 Design, part of Egis’ Architecture Line, in collaboration with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), has been shortlisted for the 2025 Unlock Net Zero Awards in the highly competitive Project Innovation of the Year – Community Retrofit category. Their joint research project, “Retrofit Revisit: 10 Case Studies,” is being recognised for its significant contribution to understanding the long-term performance of deep retrofit solutions in UK housing.
The Unlock Net Zero Awards celebrate projects and initiatives that are pushing boundaries in the journey to decarbonise the built environment. Organised in partnership with key UK climate and housing organisations, the awards spotlight innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact in delivering net zero housing solutions. Being shortlisted places 10 Design and CIBSE among the industry’s thought leaders actively shaping the future of sustainable development.
The shortlisted research was co-authored by Marion Baeli, Principal of Sustainability Transformation at 10 Design, and Julie Godefroy, Head of Net Zero at CIBSE. Titled “Retrofit Revisit: 10 Case Studies,” the project revisits a decade-old selection of housing retrofit projects to assess their real-world performance over time. Supported by Innovate UK and Historic England, the research offers a rare longitudinal insight into the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from early adopters of deep retrofit strategies.
“Our research has been recognised for its impact and innovation,” said 10 Design in a statement. “It’s great to see awards like this recognising ground research and real collaboration – because progress happens when we share what we know.”
The case studies cover a diverse range of properties—from historic buildings to social housing stock—each of which underwent comprehensive energy efficiency improvements between 2010 and 2014. The research evaluates their current performance against the original retrofit goals, considering aspects such as thermal comfort, air quality, energy use, and occupant satisfaction.
10 Design, an internationally renowned architecture firm under the Egis umbrella, brings deep design expertise and a strong sustainability ethos to the collaboration. The firm has a growing presence in transformative urban and residential projects, with a specific focus on climate-conscious architecture.
CIBSE, meanwhile, is a leading professional body that sets standards and promotes best practices in building services engineering. Its Net Zero initiative is at the forefront of helping organisations meet the UK’s legally binding 2050 net zero emissions target.
Julie Godefroy of CIBSE highlighted the significance of the study: “This kind of evidence-based analysis is essential. We must ensure that the measures we implement today will perform effectively in the long term—and that they deliver real benefits to occupants and communities.”
The project was made possible through collaboration with an expert steering group, supported by public and private sector partners committed to driving forward decarbonisation in housing.
With the awards ceremony set for June in Manchester, the recognition of Retrofit Revisit marks a key milestone for industry-led, collaborative research. It showcases how partnerships between design professionals and technical institutions can deliver meaningful insights to support the UK’s retrofit challenge—a crucial part of reaching national climate goals.
Explore the full research: Retrofit Revisit: 10 Case Studies
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