POLKEY
COLLINS
At POLKEYCOLLINS, great architecture is about more than buildings. It's about the people, ideas and collaborations that bring spaces to life. This year, we're proud to put forward five entries for the Greater Lincolnshire Construction & Property Awards 2027, recognising both our projects and the talented individuals behind them.
The awards, organised by Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, recognise the people, projects and businesses making a positive contribution to the built environment across Greater Lincolnshire.
For POLKEYCOLLINS, this year’s nominations reflect the breadth of work undertaken by the practice - from ambitious redevelopment projects and thoughtful, considered design to supporting the next generation of architectural professionals..
Our five nominations span four award categories:
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IMPS Territory - Retrofit & Regeneration Project of the Year
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Lewis Bell - Apprentice/Graduate of the Year
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Daniel Collins - Design Consultant of the Year
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Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board - Development Project of the Year (Under £5 Million)
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Fanzone - Development Project of the Year (Under £5 Million)
Daniel Collins,
Managing Director
While each nomination represents an achievement worth celebrating, we're particularly proud to recognise Lewis, whose progression from recent architecture graduate to an integral member of a major project team demonstrates the value of giving emerging talent opportunities to develop, contribute and take responsibility.
Recognising Emerging Talent:
Lewis nominated for apprentice/graduate of the year
Joining POLKEYCOLLINS in February 2026, following his graduation from Newcastle University with a BA (Hons) in Architecture, Lewis has made a remarkable impact in a relatively short period.
With previous experience gained through an architectural internship and freelance design consultancy work, Lewis arrived with a strong foundation in design and a determination to develop his skills in practice.
What followed was an opportunity to become involved in a complex, fast-paced redevelopment project almost immediately.
Within his first week, Lewis joined the project team for IMPS Territory at Lincoln City Football Club, a significant transformation of an underutilised area within the stadium's Rilmac Stand.
The project presented an exciting opportunity to create a year-round destination for supporters, visitors and the wider community, bringing together a covered fanzone, a 300-person hospitality and conference venue, premium seating, a community café and wider stadium improvements.
For Lewis, it became far more than an opportunity to contribute to the architectural design. It provided invaluable experience across the entire project lifecycle.
"What I'm most proud of is the responsibility I've been trusted with so early in my career. Being involved in IMPS Territory from the initial design stages through to construction and completion has been an incredible learning experience.
It's given me the confidence to take on new challenges, build relationships with clients and contractors, and develop my understanding of what it takes to deliver a project.
To have been given these opportunities in my first few months at POLKEYCOLLINS has been a real highlight, and I'm excited to continue building on everything I've learned."
Lewis Bell,
Architectural Graduate,
Learning through responsibility
From the earliest concept stages, Lewis played an active role in developing design proposals, producing sketches, visualisations and presentation material to communicate ideas to the client and project stakeholders.
As the scheme progressed, so did his responsibilities.
Working alongside our wider team, Lewis became increasingly involved in technical design, consultant coordination, contractor engagement and on-site delivery.
Regularly attending meetings with Lincoln City Football Club, consultants and contractors, he helped coordinate information, respond to design challenges and support the decision-making required to keep the project moving forward.
For a graduate in his first months of practice, this level of exposure and responsibility has been an important part of his professional development.
Rather than simply observing the process, Lewis became an active member of the delivery team, gaining first-hand experience of the relationships, communication and problem-solving needed to turn architectural ideas into completed spaces.
Rising to a 12 week Challenge
The delivery of IMPS Territory came with an exceptionally demanding programme.
With construction only able to commence following Lincoln City's final home fixture, the redevelopment needed to be delivered within a 12-week window, ahead of the 2026/27 football season.
This required an intensive period of coordination, collaboration and quick decision-making across the project team.
Lewis attended site several times a week, working directly with contractors and specialist subcontractors to assist with technical challenges, unforeseen site conditions and the practical realities of delivering a complex redevelopment to a fixed deadline.
Alongside his architectural responsibilities, he produced weekly progress reports for the client, recording construction activity, key milestones, upcoming work and potential risks.
These reports helped maintain clear communication and transparency across the project team throughout the construction programme.
The experience has given Lewis an invaluable understanding of how projects are delivered, from managing information and coordinating stakeholders to responding to challenges as they emerge on site.
Creating an identity beyond the architecture
One of Lewis's notable contributions to IMPS Territory extended beyond the building itself.
He led the development and coordination of the project's branding and wayfinding strategy, working closely with the wider design team to establish a consistent visual identity throughout the redeveloped stadium areas.
Through signage, graphics and wayfinding elements, his work helped connect the different spaces, improve navigation and reinforce Lincoln City Football Club's identity.
This involvement demonstrates Lewis's ability to consider the wider experience of a building, recognising that successful architecture is about how a space looks, functions and feels to the people using it.
It also highlights the breadth of skills developed through the project, combining architectural thinking with visual communication, graphic design and the creation of welcoming, intuitive environments.
Taking ownership beyond completion
Lewis's involvement has continued beyond the main construction phase.
Following practical completion, he has taken on greater responsibility for snagging and post-completion coordination, helping manage the resolution of outstanding works and supporting the final stages of project delivery.
His role includes carrying out site inspections, preparing and maintaining snagging schedules, coordinating with contractors and monitoring outstanding actions.
He also regularly leads site walkarounds with Lincoln City Football Club representatives and the contractor team, helping identify priorities, resolve issues and maintain progress.
Taking ownership of these responsibilities has helped Lewis build confidence in representing POLKEYCOLLINS independently, while developing strong professional relationships with the client and wider project team.
"Lewis's journey is a reflection of the opportunities that can be created when emerging professionals are supported, encouraged and trusted to contribute.
His entry for Apprentice/Graduate of the Year recognises not only the progress he has made, but also his commitment, initiative and willingness to embrace responsibility."
Tom Cressey-Smith,
Architectural Designer
At POLKEYCOLLINS, we believe that supporting the next generation of architectural talent is essential to the future of our profession. Providing opportunities to be involved in meaningful projects, engage directly with clients and gain practical site experience is an important part of helping our team grow.
Lewis has made the most of those opportunities, and we are incredibly proud of what he has achieved in such a short space of time.
Recognising excellence across the practice
Alongside Lewis's individual achievement, our other four award entries recognise the diversity of work, design expertise and collaboration taking place across POLKEYCOLLINS.
Imps Territory,
Retrofit & regeneration project of the year
Imps Territory represents an ambitious approach to the redevelopment and reuse of existing stadium space.
By transforming an underutilised area of the Rilmac Stand into a multifunctional destination, the scheme creates new opportunities for hospitality, community activity and supporter engagement beyond matchdays.
Delivered within a challenging programme, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design and close collaboration can unlock the potential of existing buildings and infrastructure.
Daniel Collins,
Consultant of the year
Our entry for Daniel recognises the importance of design leadership, technical expertise and collaboration in delivering successful architectural projects.
Strong design consultancy is about more than producing creative proposals. It requires an understanding of client aspirations, practical constraints and the coordination needed to translate ideas into reality.
Daniels entry is an opportunity to celebrate the expertise and commitment that help define our approach to architecture and the relationships we build throughout the design process.
LMDB Depot, Strubby
Development project of the year (under £5 million)
Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board Depot is one of two POLKEYCOLLINS projects entered into the Development Project of the Year category for schemes under £5 million.
The entry reflects our commitment to delivering considered development projects, where good design, effective coordination and attention to detail are fundamental to achieving successful outcomes.
Fanzone
Development project of the year (under £5 million)
Our Fanzone entry recognises the role that carefully designed spaces can play in bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.
The project reflects the importance of balancing functionality, identity and user experience to create environments that respond to the needs of the people who use them.
Looking ahead
Having five entries across four award categories is an exciting opportunity to reflect on the people and projects that continue to shape POLKEYCOLLINS.
From regeneration and development to design consultancy and emerging talent, each represents a different aspect of what we do and the collective effort required to deliver successful projects.
We're especially proud of Lewis and the progress he has made since joining the practice. His experience is an example of the opportunities that come from combining curiosity, commitment and a willingness to take on new challenges.
We would like to thank our clients, collaborators, consultants and contractors, whose contributions are essential to the success of our work, and congratulate everyone involved in this year's entries.
We look forward to celebrating the talent, ambition and achievements of Greater Lincolnshire's construction and property industry at the awards in February 2027.
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