Molly Etchells has been nominated for the RIBA President’s Medal

We are thrilled to celebrate that BM3's very first apprentice, Molly Etchelles, has been nominated by Loughborough University for the RIBA Dissertation Medal 2025 for her undergraduate research, “Fabricating Change: Exploring waste textiles as a sustainable solution for architectural construction.”

Her work critically examines the environmental impact of fast fashion, drawing meaningful parallels with architectural practice and the construction industry’s own challenges around waste and resource consumption. Through this research-led exploration, she identifies opportunities for architecture to play an active role in addressing environmental harm through material innovation and circular design thinking.

This investigation culminates in the development of a prototype brick manufactured from textile waste, transforming discarded materials into a viable and thought-provoking construction product. The project stands as a powerful demonstration of how design-led innovation can challenge conventional approaches, promote more resource-efficient and ethical practices, and inspire more sustainable futures within the built environment industry.

Molly joined BM3 in 2023 as a Part I Placement Student and has recently returned as a Level 7 Apprentice.

Congratulations Molly!

You can read more about her entry here: https://www.presidentsmedals.com/Entry-20370