London’s skyline has long been defined by the silhouette of the Elizabeth Tower—the iconic clocktower more commonly known as Big Ben. Now, after a painstaking five-year restoration that returned the 166-year-old structure to its original Victorian splendor, the tower has been nominated for Britain’s most prestigious architecture award, the RIBA Stirling Prize. The announcement, made on September 4, 2025, has sparked both celebration and reflection across the United Kingdom, as the project stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the most innovative new buildings in the country.
According to The Associated Press, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) described the tower’s restoration as “a veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship,” adding that the project preserves a “defining symbol of British heritage.” The 96-meter (316-foot) structure, formally known as the Elizabeth Tower, has housed the Big Ben bell since 1859, its famous chimes marking the passage of time through wars, celebrations, and everyday London life. Yet, in 2017, the bongs fell silent as the tower was shrouded in scaffolding for what would become the most extensive works in its 160-year history.
The restoration, led by Purcell architects, was initially estimated to cost £29 million ($39 million). However, as BBC News reports, the final bill soared to £80 million, more than doubling the original projection. The reasons? The project’s scope expanded as workers uncovered deeper structural issues, including corroded cast-iron roofing, damaged stonework, and the need for intricate repairs to the clock mechanism itself.
Despite the swelling costs, the results have been widely praised. Craftspeople painstakingly returned the clock faces to their original blue and gold color scheme—a vibrant nod to the Victorian era that had been hidden beneath decades of black paint. As The Independent notes, the restoration also reinstated St George’s Cross flag emblems and repaired the clock mechanism, ensuring the famous timepiece would continue to keep London punctual for generations to come.
Traditional skills in stonemasonry, gilding, glass cutting, and clockmaking were essential to the project’s success. Yet, the restoration wasn’t just about looking backward. Modern touches were thoughtfully integrated, including the installation of an elevator as an alternative to the tower’s daunting 334-step climb to the belfry. Energy-efficient LED bulbs replaced the old lightbulbs behind each clock face, subtly blending sustainability with heritage. Accessibility was also a priority, ensuring that more people could experience the tower’s heights firsthand.
RIBA President Chris Williamson, quoted by BBC News, emphasized the broader significance of the shortlisted projects for the Stirling Prize: “Each offers a blueprint for how architecture can enrich society,” he said. “They show a hopeful vision for the future, one where architecture strengthens communities and helps shape a more sustainable and inclusive built environment.”
The Elizabeth Tower’s nomination is particularly noteworthy because the Stirling Prize usually recognizes new buildings. Last year’s winner was the Elizabeth Line, London’s ambitious east-west railway project. This year, the competition is fierce. Alongside the Elizabeth Tower, the shortlist includes AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge—a futuristic laboratory blending cutting-edge science with public engagement spaces; the London College of Fashion’s striking 17-storey campus in Stratford, east London; and three innovative housing projects: the Appleby Blue Almshouse, Niwa House, and an inventive extension to a historic home in Hastings.
The Appleby Blue Almshouse, as described by RIBA, reimagines social housing for over-65s, aiming to “foster community and reduce isolation among residents” through communal areas and shared facilities. Niwa House, with its Japanese-inspired design and seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, was praised for its accessibility and breathtaking quality of light. Meanwhile, the Hastings House extension transforms a late 19th-century home with inventive reuse of space and materials.
Each contender reflects architecture’s evolving role in society—balancing tradition and innovation, aesthetics and function, community and sustainability. The Stirling Prize, first awarded in 1996, has recognized everything from Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Its criteria—design vision, innovation, and originality—make the Elizabeth Tower’s inclusion a testament to the power of restoration and the enduring relevance of historic landmarks.
The Elizabeth Tower’s journey to the 2025 shortlist has not been without challenges. The decision to restore the clock faces to their Victorian color scheme, for instance, sparked debate among traditionalists and modernists alike. Yet, as the scaffolding came down in 2022, revealing the tower’s renewed brilliance, public opinion largely turned to admiration. The project’s commitment to using traditional materials and techniques, while embracing necessary modernizations, has been held up as a model for future conservation efforts.
“The result is described as ‘a veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship’ by the judges—although it came at a cost, going way over its original budget,” BBC News observed. Still, for many Londoners and visitors, the price seems justified by the outcome: a revitalized symbol of national identity, shining once more above the Houses of Parliament.
The winner of the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced on October 16, 2025. Whether the Elizabeth Tower takes home the top honor or not, its nomination stands as recognition of the value of preserving history while adapting to the needs of the present. As RIBA’s Williamson put it, “These projects demonstrate architecture’s unique ability to address some of the most urgent challenges of our time, responding with creativity, adaptability and care.”
For now, the bongs of Big Ben ring out again, echoing across the Thames—a reminder that, with vision and dedication, even the oldest of landmarks can find new life in a changing world.
