Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, Architect of Clarity and Function, Dies at 85

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw ©Rick Roxburgh

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, one of the most influential figures in contemporary architecture, has passed away at the age of 85. Known for his pioneering approach to sustainable design and the integration of form, structure, and function, Grimshaw leaves behind a legacy of innovation and excellence.
Elizabeth Line, ©Hufton + Crow Photography

Founder of Grimshaw Architects in 1980, he was admired for his technical curiosity, creative pragmatism, and dedication to sustainable architecture.

International Terminal Waterloo ©Jo Reid & John Peck

Landmark projects: Eden Project, Waterloo, and beyond
Two of his most celebrated works have become enduring symbols of contemporary architecture: the Waterloo International Terminal in London, completed in 1994 and winner of the RIBA Building of the Year, and the Eden Project in Cornwall, with its geodesic glass and steel biomes nestled in a former clay pit—now one of the UK’s most visited attractions.
The Eden Project in Cornwall ©Sealand Aerial Photography

British Pavilion Expo '92 in Seville ©Jo Reid & John Peck

His signature can also be found on projects such as:
- the British Pavilion at Expo 1992 in Seville,
- the Ludwig Erhard Haus in Berlin,
- the Bath Spa,
- residential complexes in Regent's Park and Camden Town,
- production facilities for Herman Miller
- Terra | The Sustainability Pavilion for 2020 Dubai World Expo
- Elizabeth Line, 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture.

Bath Spa School of Art & Design (formerly the Herman Miller factory, also designed by Nicholas Grimshaw)


2020 Expo 2020 Dubai LLC –SO. All rights reserved

Under his leadership, the practice expanded globally to more than 600 collaborators across offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg © Yuri Molodkovets

Architect, mentor, visionary
Grimshaw was not only an architect but a mentor and cultural promoter. He chaired international juries, lectured worldwide, and helped shape generations of designers. From 2004 to 2011, he served as President of the Royal Academy, where he supported the expansion of the Burlington Gardens complex.

Knighted in 2002 for services to architecture, he received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2019—the highest honor in British architecture.
Sir Nick Grimshaw with RIBA Royal Gold Medal ©Morley von Sternberg

In 2022, he founded the Grimshaw Foundation to support underrepresented youth in design. More than 500 students have already benefitted from the foundation’s educational programs.

His legacy
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw leaves behind more than iconic buildings. He championed a vision of architecture as a balance between invention, technical precision, and social impact. As Andrew Whalley, Chairman of Grimshaw Architects, noted: "His architecture was never about surface or fashion, but always about structure, craft, and purpose - about creating buildings that endure because they are both useful and uplifting and, in Nick’s words, ‘bring some kind of joy".