The NLA Awards 2025 Shortlist has been announced, and we are delighted to share that KOVA KX, Native Land and Ashby Capital’s lab-enabled workspace in London’s Knowledge Quarter, has been shortlisted in the Healthcare and Life Sciences category. Supported by the Mayor of London, the annual NLA awards celebrates projects which are shaping a better London, particularly those focused on sustainability and equity within the capital.

KOVA KX, designed by Stiff + Trevillion architects, is breaking new ground for sustainable, Grade-A lab and office space in a repurposed heritage building, with the original Edwardian structure built over a century ago. KOVA KX is the largest life sciences letting of 2025, with the medical research organization LifeArc set to be the sole occupier.

Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land, shared his thoughts:
“Our aim is to deliver high quality workspace for London’s Knowledge Quarter, with outstanding floor-to-ceiling heights that create large-volume creative workspaces that can be rapidly converted to science and technology research. 105 Judd Street is a flagship project that supports the aims and objectives of the Knowledge Quarter and embodies Native Land’s mission to provide innovative, sustainable, mixed-use urban projects, offering a first-class experience for occupiers.”

Targeting towards the highest sustainability ratings including BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A rating, KOVA KX aims to outperform RIBA and LETI 2030 embodied carbon goals with emissions of just 250-300kg CO2E/sq m, whilst also including all-electric services. The occupier will benefit from the three new terraces, as well as the 152 cycle spaces and a public café on the ground floor for the local community.

To find out more about all of the projects shortlisted for this year’s NLA Awards, click here.