The prize and medal are awarded to the best performance by a student in the final year of the BA Hons and MArch programme in the School of Architecture. The prize and medal were donated by the Cole Anderson Foundation - a charitable body established by Alexander Anderson's family. Alexander Anderson (1903-1996) was born in Liverpool and attended the Department of Civic Design from 1920-23. He studied under the eminent town planner Professor Patrick Abercrombie with whom he remained in touch until the professor's death. Alexander Anderson was himself a much respected town planner responsible for schemes such as the Greyfriars complex in Ipswich.
The Alexander Anderson Medal and Prize was given to both the highest scoring BA and MArch students.