The newly completed extension at the Liverpool School of Architecture, designed by Dublin-based O’Donnell + Tuomey, is set to host AJ Small Projects 2026, marking the awards’ first event outside London in its 31-year history. The 3,000m2, three-storey extension, built on a former car park, features interconnected studios, exhibition areas, teaching spaces, offices, and a café, all designed to foster creativity and learning.
The event, taking place on April 30, 2026, will showcase the awards’ shortlist of inventive, low-budget architecture, with a live, crit-style judging session and an exhibition running until May. AJ Small Projects spotlights schemes delivered for £399,000 or less, demonstrating that limited budgets can produce bold, impactful design.
Over three decades, AJ Small Projects has become a stage for emerging and independent practices, with past winners achieving national and international recognition. The Liverpool event offers an opportunity to explore one of the UK’s most talked-about new academic buildings this year while discovering upcoming architectural talent. The judges will be announced soon, and tickets are available for booking.
AJ Small Projects 2026 Details- Location: Liverpool University’s newly completed architecture school extension
– Date: April 30, 2026
– Event: Live, crit-style judging session and exhibition
– Shortlist: 20 schemes showcasing inventive, low-budget architecture
Image Courtesy: Nick Kane, Architects’ Journal
