Big name architects fall by the wayside as long-list of nine is cut to six for London centre

Zaha Hadid and Foster + Partners have been knocked out of the race for a £120m job to design and build a 12,500m2 cancer centre for Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London, Building understands.

It follows a short-listing process as part of a design competition run by the RIBA for the 11-storey building that saw nine teams whittled down to six this week.

They are:

  • Anshen & Allen Associates / Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners / Laing O’Rourke
  • Woods Bagot / BDP / Brookfield Construction
  • Hopkins Architects / Skanska Construction UK
  • Grimshaw / Jonathan Bailey Associates / Bovis Lend Lease
  • Make / Mace
  • Allies and Morrison / Devereux Architects / Kier Regional

The long-list of nine included Foster + Partners with Vinci and Zaha Hadid with Balfour Beatty. An entry from Sir Robert McAlpine and Rafael Vinoly is understood to have been cut at an earlier stage.

One bidder told Building last week: “This is a job everyone wants to do – it’s a great client, with a great track record of commissioning buildings, and for a worthwhile cause.”

The competition is the latest in a huge construction programme at the hospital trust. Guy’s hospital has commissioned BDP and Marks Barfield to masterplan a £350m redevelopment of its London Bridge estate, including a further cancer treatment centre worth £200m.