The Merchants’ Academy, Bristol received a commendation in the 2010 Civic Trust Awards. The project, which features extensive external areas for use by the wider community and which also won an RIBA award in 2009, was described by the Judges of the Civic Trust awards judges as: “a simple and robust building with a welcoming, encouraging ambience, reinforced by the simple palette of materials and the occasional use of striking and colourful graphics. The school forms a focal point for the community as a result of the combination of a strong clients-architect relationship.”