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Architect Walters and Cohen has won the 2012 Jonathan Ibikunle school architect of the year award at the British Council for School Environment鈥檚 (BCSE) annual awards event.

The firm also took first prize in three other categories for its work on schools in London and Bristol, including the Elm Park Primary School in Hornchurch, London (pictured), and was praised for its 鈥渢houghtful, high quality work鈥� and 鈥渏oyful, uplifting designs鈥�.

Skanska won schools contractor of the year in the awards and Atkins won consultant of the year. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets won the best local authority award.

The panel considered a range of criteria, including the physical environment, resources and materials used, how the design supported the ethos and culture of the school, as well as teaching and learning, and the use of ICT.

Commenting on Walters and Cohen鈥檚 award, Nusrat Faizullah, chief executive of the BCSE, said: 鈥淲alters and Cohen has consistently married form and function in its work on learning environments, leading to schools which look fantastic but also do the job required - providing a building that supports and facilitates our teachers and children now, as well as those of the future.

鈥淲e face a myriad of challenges in the current economic environment. But this year鈥檚 awards show we have some brilliant architects designing truly great schools, who can bring their creativity and skill to bear on the challenges ahead.鈥�