Horatio’s Garden Sheffield and East has triumphed at the 67th Civic Trust Awards 2026, taking home three prestigious awards.

Designed as a restorative and fully accessible outdoor sanctuary for people affected by spinal injuries, Horatio’s Garden has already made a profound difference in the lives of patients, carers, and volunteers.

The garden received:

• Civic Trust Award - recognising excellence in the built environment.
• 2026 Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places - celebrating environments designed with neurological accessibility in mind.
• Selwyn Goldsmith Universal Design Award - honouring spaces that prioritise dignity, choice, and independence in design.

This success comes hot on the heels of the project’s recognition at the IStructE Yorkshire Awards, where it won Best Medium Project, further highlighting the exceptional engineering, creativity, and care that went into bringing the garden to life.

Judges’ Comments

Ben Channon, Director | Head of Inclusive Environments, Buro Happold:
"We were thrilled to present this year’s Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places to Horatio’s Garden Sheffield and East. This project stood out as an exceptional example of how spaces can holistically support neurodivergent users without compromising on design excellence, demonstrating beautifully how neuro-inclusion can integrate seamlessly with broader inclusivity principles. We were particularly impressed by the way the garden offers a serene and calming refuge within an urban environment, creating a truly restorative experience for its users."

Civic Award Judges:
"Shaped by its users, loved by its volunteers, and rooted in the fabric of Sheffield’s natural and industrial heritage, it stands as a meaningful civic contribution and an exemplar of inclusive, patient-led design."

Selwyn Goldsmith Universal Design Award Judges:

"By placing dignity, choice and independence at the heart of the design, the project sets an outstanding benchmark for universal design within healthcare landscapes, demonstrating how thoughtful environments can restore agency, connection, and quality of life."

The awards not only celebrate the garden’s design excellence but also underscore its transformative impact, providing patients, carers, and staff with a space that fosters healing, connection, and wellbeing.

Horatio’s Garden continues to set the standard for inclusive, restorative landscapes, demonstrating how thoughtful design can truly change lives

Find out more about the engineering behind this multi-award winning project here