National Award Success for CREATOR Building in Malawi
The Clinical Research Excellence and Training Open Resource (CREATOR) building has been named Malawi's most outstanding construction project by the Construction Industry Regulatory Authority (CIRA).
Cassidy + Ashton is incredibly proud to announce that the landmark £10 million facility in Blantyre has received top national honours during Malawi’s National Construction Day 2026, which celebrated excellence in the sector under the theme “People, Quality, and Innovation: Building a Legacy.”
Officially opened in 2024, the CREATOR building at the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW) is a state-of-the-art facility poised to transform health research, specialist medical education, and scientific leadership in Malawi and the wider sub-Saharan African region.
Intelligent Architectural Design
The architectural vision for CREATOR was to strike a delicate balance between a welcoming, modern aesthetic and high technical performance. The building’s design responds directly to its climate; its south-facing orientation has been optimised to minimise midday heating, while an intelligent, environmentally sensitive air conditioning system ensures long-term sustainability.
World-Class Facilities and Innovation
By integrating postgraduate medical training, advanced laboratory science, clinical trials, and epidemiology under one roof, the building acts as a strategic resource to nurture future African health research leaders. The facility boasts several distinct, purpose-built zones:
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Training Open Resource: A versatile space featuring a webinar theatre for hybrid teaching, electronic poster displays, and breakout areas that flow out onto the South Lawn.
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The Postgraduate Library and Innovation Hub: A major milestone for the country, this is Malawi’s first postgraduate medical library. It offers a peaceful 24/7 study space with reliable internet, dedicated grant support, and internet calling pods, all with inspiring views of the surrounding hills.
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Multi-Disciplinary Research Floors: The second and third floors are designed around large open tables and breakout rooms to promote seamless collaboration across vital research themes, including Population Health, Vaccines, and Infection Biology.
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CREATOR Laboratories: The fourth floor houses innovative, technology driven laboratories equipped for rapid pathogen sequencing, modern imaging, and single-cell transcriptomics, alongside Malawi’s state-of-the-art insectary.
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The Far View: A dedicated roof terrace designed as a space for reflection and celebration, whether marking a trainee passing their PhD or the publication of a new scientific discovery.
Training and Talent Retention
By establishing a world class training environment in-country, CREATOR reduces the need for talented clinicians and researchers to leave Malawi to access advanced specialist education. This retains vital expertise close to the populations most affected by the health challenges being studied.
A Lasting Legacy and Collaborative Success
A collaborative partnership model has been central to the building’s success from the very beginning. The delivery of the project saw LSTM’s Estates Team leading the management, working closely alongside MLW’s other partners, including Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the University of Liverpool, and Wellcome.
Speaking on the award win, Kevin Stewart, Head of Estates at LSTM, said: “This is a fantastic and thoroughly deserved achievement, and a testament to the collaborative approach, shared vision and dedication of everyone involved in delivering the CREATOR building. It is a lasting investment in research, education and healthcare that will leave a legacy not only in Blantyre, but across Malawi for generations to come.”
We are thrilled to see this exceptional building recognised on a national stage and look forward to watching its continued impact on global health and wellbeing!
