Thank you to all our friends
and co-creators for 40 years
of inspired environments
introduction
AWW is 40 years old this year. It is difficult to be
objective from this exalted viewpoint, but I think most
of our friends would say we’re ageing pretty well; a
little grey around the temples but in rude good health
and ready to face the slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune.
Our collaborative approach
to architecture, masterplanning
and interior design means
that we deliver inspired
environments in every sector,
UK and worldwide.
of the London office was clear, even in a difficult
market, and more recently it has blossomed to sturdy
fruition under London Director Nick Mulholland. A
chance encounter for buccaneering Ian Sanders near
Plymouth docks led on to a dalliance which matured
into a respectable and profitable liaison between our
offices in these great West Country ports.
The city of our birth, Bristol, is looking pretty good too;
Sunday Times ‘Best Place to Live’, European Green
Capital, soon to receive high speed electrification of
the line to London, and a brand new Arena within five
minutes’ walk of Temple Meads. The last 40 years
has witnessed a marked improvement in Bristol’s
built environment, with much of the post-war years’
development giving way to newer, better architecture.
This short narrative aims to illustrate AWW’s place in
these 40 years, and to mark our contribution to the
growth of this unique and special city.
Thus AWW Bristol, London and Plymouth: award
winning, popular and prosperous, despite the
minor blip of the longest and deepest recession the
profession has ever encountered, 2015 finds AWW
well placed for further adventure both at home and
increasingly internationally, secure in the knowledge
that its emerging succession plan will lead the
Practice to even greater heights.
It is right to close this introduction with a final note
on our inheritance. Alan and David’s greatest gift
to us all was their vision and, through hard work,
establishment of a secure and sustainable structure
of ownership for the Practice for this and future
generations; we will go on and on, as someone
once said.
It started with Alan Atkins in 1974, joined in
partnership the following year by David Walters and a
dozen years later by John Webster. These three fairy
godmothers nursed the Practice through its infancy,
its mutinous teenage years and into early adulthood.
There were major contributions from the much missed
Tony Edwards, from James Barattini and Roger Guck,
all of whom left us a legacy of fine buildings and the
solid foundations of a reputation for excellent design
to build on. Ian and I, who together increased the
practice by 50% in staff numbers just by turning up
on the same day in 1984, became Directors when the
partnership incorporated in 1999 and were joined by
Phil Bevan a year later at the same time that
Greg Slater became our first Director of an embryo
London office.
It is fun looking back over the forty years behind us, as
the following pages show: but I hope they hint that it is
a lot more fun looking forwards over the next forty.
Richard Francis
AWW Practice Director
But it was with the addition of three more second
generation Directors, Chris Mitchell, Mark Alker Stone
and David Perkin, that the practice grew the wings
and talons of a major national practice. The potential
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3
in the beginning...the 1970s
This politically-charged
era saw continuing
sweeping changes to
cityscapes, with Brutalist
tower blocks such
as London’s Trellick
Tower transforming
surroundings. ‘High
tech’ architecture was
also moving forward;
the Pompidou Centre in
Paris being a prominent
example.
In the latter half of
the 1970s, there was
growing public debate
about the future of the
city centre and the nature
of late 20th century
urbanism. Environmental
and community
concerns began to be
“From quite early days, I carried out a
whole series of projects for Anchor Housing
Association. These projects enabled us to
help the more vulnerable in society.”
acknowledged, alongside
the need for developer
investment and profit.
In 1975 and 1976,
exhibitions were hosted
at Bristol Museum and
Art Gallery under the
banner ‘Twenty Ideas for
Bristol’. They reflected
the growing public
debate about the future
of the city centre and
the nature of late 20th
century urbanism. A
vigorous debate around
a contemporary inflection
of Bristol’s architectural
legacy ebbed and flowed.
David Walters
Although the term was
unheard of in the 1970s,
the stage was set for
culture-led regeneration.
The opening of Arnolfini
in the refurbished Bush
House in 1975 was
significant: this has
become a leading centre
for the contemporary
arts. The opening was a
catalyst in attracting other
businesses to the thenneglected harbourside,
now a focal point for
Bristol’s social and
cultural life.
of AWW (Atkins, Walters
& Webster Ltd) began.
It was against this
background that the story
He was joined a year later
by David Walters; Atkins
and Walters was formed
on 1st May 1975.
Atkins and Walters
moved to Berkeley
Crescent in 1977 and
they bought the building
in 1978, giving them a
good platform on which
to develop the practice.
Bush House
AWW founder and
director Alan Atkins set
up alone in Bristol’s Old
Market in 1974, a bold
move during the mid1970s recession. His
first ever project, which
heralded the birth of the
practice, was The Old
Dairy House, Somerset.
Bristol architecture in the
1970s was dominated by
older practices and many
of the jobs pre-1975
were granted by the
government. Architects
did not necessarily
have to compete based
on design skills or
reputation, with jobs
often being allocated to
‘good friends’.
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Younger practices of
architects coming on
to the scene, such
as AWW, were better
positioned to understand
the developing needs and
aspirations of the era.
The very early
architecture of Atkins and
Walters was modern,
fresh and attractive in a
period which valued the
modern aesthetic.
“We had some great architects come to work for us who were
an incredibly important part of the practice.
Tony Edwards, who has sadly now passed away, excelled in
detail design on a small scale: he was a great designer and a
gentleman.
James Barattini, a historic conservation specialist, was also a
wonderful designer who helped us establish the practice.
Some of the other great architects who formed an incredibly
important part of developing the practice are still with the firm,
such as Director Mark Alker Stone.
Everyone helped to expand the practice by working together,
there was very little politics and a great sense of unity.”
Alan Atkins, Founder
5
the 1980s
The 1980s ushered in a
new wave of prosperity,
and, with it, a backlash
against massive new
offices in Bristol, under
the aim of promoting
conservation and
bringing the life back into
areas. This unfortunately
resulted in a plethora of
Victorian pastiche, such
as Broad Quay House in
the Centre.
The Bristol and West
Tower (1960s) and the
Colston Tower (1970s)
may be criticised but
the towers are certainly
Bristol landmarks. In the
‘Cherish and Change’
exercise of the Bristol
Central Area Action
Plan of 2010, there
has been support for
the Colston Tower and
the Radisson Blu hotel
(the former Bristol and
West building), along
with several other tall
buildings in the Central
Area, whereas the 1980s
provided the city with
little new architecture
of note.
Old Market, 1980s
Following the closure
of Bristol University’s
architecture department
in the early 1980s, the
city was left without an
architecture school until
the University of the West
of England established its
faculty in 1996.
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Milton Hill House, Abingdon 1980s
Bristol Business Park
Ian Jenkins and
Richard Francis joined
the practice in 1984,
taking the office to a
heady six strong and
growth continued with
John Webster joining
us as a partner in
1987. Larger projects
including Newfoundland
Court (at the foot of
the M32 in Bristol),
Bradshaw Microwave
headquarters, Bristol,
an interminable string of
supermarkets and our
long association with
the MoD all commence
in this decade. Most
particularly, the first
of the office buildings
on Bristol Business
Park was begun; a
development which was
eventually to total some
500,000sqft in more than
30 buildings, all of them
by AWW.
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Ministry of Defence HQ
Quartermaster-General
£30m project, 1980s
AWW was commissioned
to prepare a new
masterplan for the site in
Andover, and to design
a series of new buildings
including a 14,200sqm
naturally ventilated
office building, a new
100-bed Combined
Mess Building, stores,
motor transport
accommodation and a
new gatehouse.
Glassboat floating restaurant
The project also entailed
the refurbishment
of an existing office
complex, along with
new infrastructure
works and car parking.
AWW was additionally
responsible for the
space planning and
furniture procurement
process for all the office
accommodation.
Plans for planning
approval, 1980s
Atkins and Webster
produced the drawings
for the planning
approval of this iconic
floating restaurant,
which remains a Bristol
institution. As the longstanding owner, Arne
Ringner, recalls: “There
was quite a tug-of-war:
the council said they
didn’t want any ‘floating
failures’ defacing the
quaysides”.
early chapter in Bristol’s
Harbourside success
story, and the restaurant
is still under the same
ownership today.
The subsequent approval
of the project was a key
Kennedy Way Sheltered Housing
£2m project, 1980s
Northavon District
Council commissioned
AWW to create a
development of sheltered
single bed flats. Designed
to have 33 apartments
and bungalows, this
residential scheme
reflected a typical
Gloucestershire
farmhouse vernacular
style with high pitched
roofs and the project
provided south east
or south west facing
balcony terraces
throughout.
It also provided a ‘street’
character, with residents
having their own letter
boxes and door bells to
give privacy.
“Even after 30 years, it still looks good and
with the landscape setting successfully
providing the cottage garden style homes
that the client envisioned.”
John Webster
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9
the 1990s
This decade saw
structures as diverse
as the record-breaking
Petronas Towers in
Kuala Lumpur and the
asymmetric titanium-clad
Guggenheim Museum in
Bilbao. The postmodern
Vauxhall Cross, the MI6
building, became a new
London landmark on
the Thames.
In 1997, Bristol City
Council published the
first Bristol Local Plan
for 20 years but, by the
end of the decade, large
amounts of time and
money had been spent
on contentious public
consultations with little
actually being decided.
Key development
opportunities were sadly
missed during the 1990s,
the most notable being
£90m science centre,
arrived in 2000.
Behnisch’s harbourside
Centre for Performing
Arts, abandoned in 1998.
AWW continued to
grow, expanding into
new offices in 1997 at
Berkeley House, King
Square. Long-standing
associates Ian Jenkins,
Richard Francis and
Roger Guck were
appointed as Directors
in 1999, the year that
AWW became a Limited
Company. The practice
was one of the first
adopters of computers
and Autocad in the early
90s while still at King
Square; the success of
the University of Bristol
project was dependent
on this.
However, in 1996, the
Bristol Architecture
Centre opened with
the aim of championing
better buildings and
places for people and the
harbourside regeneration
continued with the
launch of the Matthew, a
replica of John Cabot’s
historic ship of 1497.
1998 saw the launch of
Spike Island, a former tea
packing factory which
has become a significant
national centre for the
contemporary visual
arts. Pero’s Bridge, the
first new cross-harbour
bridge for generations,
was formally opened
in 1999. At-Bristol, the
Millennium Square © Gille Roads
Royal Mail Wolverhampton
Eastern Regional Control Centre
“I am pleased to see
that the building is still
much loved and used
in the manner we
anticipated.”
Other notable work by
AWW during this period
includes a new build
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The Matthew © Shawn Spencer-Smith
retail development for
Safeway (now Morrisons)
located on a sensitive
site on the edge of Bath;
a 13,000sqm high-tech
manufacturing facility
designed to munition
factory standards for
DRG/Rexam Medical
Packaging; and the
Wolverhampton mail
centre, the first project
in the United Kingdom
to use site rolling of roof
sheets at the eaves level
directly onto the roof.
John Webster
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Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Victoria Street
Offices for developer
Deeley Freed, 1990s
The practice also
completed work on
Victoria Street, a city
centre site affected by
bomb damage.
10-22 Victoria Street
is an office building
designed by AWW
and constructed for
developer Deeley
Freed in a contract that
retained the front façade
of a number of listed
buildings merging them
into one office complex.
“This project kickstarted a whole series of office projects around
Bristol and established the reputation of the practice in the
commercial sector. It makes me feel proud of our success in
overcoming difficulties with conservation issues and a very difficult
shaped site when I pass the building.”
Alan Atkins
Merchant Venturers Building
Faculty of
Engineering for the
University of Bristol,
1990s
Office and
IT laboratory
space, internal
refurbishment, 1990s
While AWW had
worked extensively
across the South West,
it was the contract
with Hewlett-Packard
which encouraged
the practice to spread
its wings nationally.
AWW was appointed
at Hewlett-Packard
Laboratories European
Research HQ on the
internal refurbishment
of Buildings One and
Two (each in excess
of 20,000sqm) to
accommodate the
company’s expanding
12
AWW won a limited
architectural competition
to design a new
Engineering faculty within
the Clifton conservation
area of Bristol. The
11,000sqm of naturally
ventilated, I.T. teaching
laboratory and office
accommodation was
UK operations. AWW
won a Times Gestetner
Top 100 award for
Hewlett-Packard R&D
Facility: 20,000sqm of
office and IT laboratory
space, incorporating
a glazed and planted
atrium.
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for the Faculty of
Engineering at Bristol
University. The building
was constructed on a
restricted site with a light
building cross fall and
a two storey complex
building adjacent to the
landmark Wills Memorial
Tower, involving difficult
site configuration. This
provided the University
with a gateway building
into its campus. While
this building was
completed in 1996, in
2010 it was cited as an
example of excellence in
architecture in a report
by Estates Project
Managers.
the noughties – and beyond
This was the era
that brought us the
Millennium Dome,
the Gherkin and the
transformation of
St Pancras Station
in London.
In Bristol, the focus
was on the major
development of
the Harbourside,
transforming an
underused area with
extensive areas of
derelict land and
buildings into a mixeduse city quarter and
visitor destination. The
masterplan has achieved
wide accessible public
spaces, focused on
strategic views, but there
is wistfulness that some
opportunities were lost.
The new architecture
could have embraced
more confidence and
swagger, especially
the residential element,
helping Bristol to
develop a reputation as
a UK centre for modern
architecture.
The other major
development was the
Cabot Circus shopping
centre, opened in the
teeth of the recession in
2008. With its massive
glass roof, imposing
stone façades and
futuristic-looking car
park, Cabot Circus
was the first retail-led
development in the UK
to achieve the highest
BREEAM rating of
Excellent.
The 2000s was a time
of growth for AWW. The
London office opened
in 2000, followed by the
Plymouth office in 2006.
In 2005, AWW had
grown to 65 and once
again needed to look for
bigger premises, moving
the Bristol headquarters
to 70 Redcliff Street.
There were some
significant changes
in AWW’s ownership
structure with the
appointments of
Philip Bevan and
Greg Slater (2000),
14
Mark Alker Stone (2006),
Chris Mitchell (2006) and
David Perkin (2007)
as Directors. The original
founders, Alan Atkins
and David Walters,
retired in 2004 and
2006 respectively,
while Ian Sanders and
Nicholas Mulholland were
appointed as Directors
in 2010. John Webster
retired in 2011.
for Best Commercial
Building for Portwall
Place and the British
Council for School
Environments Award for
Merchants’ Academy.
BIM Level 1 was
introduced across all
projects as early as
2006, with BIM Level 2
following in 2008.
AWW embeds sustainable solutions
from the very start of the consultation
process with the client, engaging and
communicating effectively and working
with client partners to agree strategies
for site, planning and build.
The practice gained the
Investors in People and
the ISO 9001 and ISO
14001 accreditations
and a number of awards,
including the Brick Award
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Portwall Place
£25m bespoke office
building, completed
2008
This 15,000sqm of
bespoke offices lie on
an urban site between
Bristol’s floating harbour
and Temple Meads
railway station. The
contemporary design
combined with the use
of traditional materials
creates a modern
aesthetic within this
historic central location.
The large office floor
plates, providing
3,250sqm per floor,
wrap around two atria,
providing natural daylight
into the heart of the
Brick Award for Best
Commercial Building
2009
Merchants’ Academy
scheme. The building is
located on Portwall Lane,
which follows the line of
the old city wall.
£20m secondary
school, completed
2008
Merchants’ Academy is
a 12,000sqm secondary
school in South
Bristol built under the
Government’s Academies
programme. The
school accommodates
approximately 1,000
pupils aged 11 to 18. The
school has six separate
pavilions opening onto
a cloister around a
secure courtyard play
area. The ‘heart’ building
The offices are
located over an
existing 19th Century
glassworks that
had to be retained
due to its historical
importance: the
Glass Works now
sits below the
ground floor slab.
Careful consideration
was given to the
building’s flexibility to
ensure that tenants of
varying sizes could be
accommodated. The
building now houses a
range of tenants on
each floor.
at the main entrance
contains the school’s
office functions, music
and drama departments
and dining and assembly
halls.
The design has a
strong sustainable
focus; using
natural ventilation,
daylighting and
passive heat sinks
to keep energy
usage low, achieving
a ‘Very Good’
BREEAM rating.
British Council for
School Environments
Award 2009
Royal Parade
£11m mixed use
development,
completed 2002
“This important historic Glass Works site
required a sensitive and collaborative
approach throughout. The structural
solution was developed to ensure that
the ground works caused minimum
impact to the historical foundations.”
Mark Alker Stone, AWW
16
This was a major
redevelopment of
the former Dingles
department store, a well
known and prominent
landmark building on
Queens Road, Clifton.
The accommodation
is arranged behind the
retained Grade II listed
façades and has leisure
use at basement level
with retail use on the
ground and first floors.
The upper floors were
converted to residential
use with 88 apartments
being created around
a central covered
courtyard. The residential
element culminates with
two penthouses, both
of which have stunning
views over Bristol and
beyond.
“This was a challenging and very successful
project with the development team creating
highly valuable retail spaces fronting onto
Queens Road with apartments above, around
a unique covered courtyard area.”
Philip Bevan, AWW
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project profiles
“AWW has captured our essence.
The passion and creativity of the AWW
team has delivered a beautiful yet functional
headquarters representative of a leading
international company.”
Imperial Tobacco
Phase I:
£18m Headquarters
building, completed
2013
Phase I is an
£18m 100,000sqft
Headquarters office for
Imperial Tobacco, set
over four floors with car
parking, energy centre
and landscaping. AWW
worked in partnership
with the client to
create an inspiring
workspace environment
incorporating architecture
and interior design
befitting an international
FTSE top 25 company.
The building has been
future proofed for higher
occupation densities.
Public art has also been
incorporated, visible
from the main road to
enhance the approach to
the building with a focus
on the main entrance.
reservation enables the
building to be connected
to a district CHP system
in the future. AWW’s
approach to the fire
strategy will allow for
further subdivision of the
building.
AWW has put
sustainability at the heart
of the scheme with a
high quality, energy
efficient, contemporary
building which achieves
a BREEAM rating of
‘Excellent’. The roof
houses 500sqm of
photovoltaic cells, and an
energy centre with biomass boiler and a duct
The orientation of
the building and
the design of the
façades have been
carefully considered
to maximise the use
of natural daylight for
lighting the interior
of the office building,
whilst minimising
solar heat gain.
Ken Hill, Imperial Tobacco
All outdoor spaces,
including balconies,
have Wi-Fi and ports to
enable outdoor working.
Telephone booths with
acoustic damping,
created specifically for
the project, add a unique
and fun element. The
meeting rooms, with
backlit fret-cut panels,
have proved particularly
successful and staff
comment on how much
they enjoy moving
around the office.
BCS Environmental
Award 2014
BCO Corporate
Workplace Award –
South West, Thames
Valley & South Wales
Awards 2014
RICS SW Commercial
Award 2014
Insider Property
Awards Office
Development of the
Year 2013 – South
West
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19
Phase II:
£6m Refurbishment
of adjoining building,
completed 2014
In Phase II, the
refurbished Imperial
Tobacco building
provides additional office
space to complement
the award winning
headquarters building
constructed on the
adjacent site. This
refurbishment had to
directly correlate, with no
differential between the
two buildings in either
appearance or character.
The tired remains of this
former factory have taken
on a new lease of life:
Phase II is more than
just an office space. It
includes a commercial
top of the range nursery,
a valuable resource for
employees and the public
alike. There is also an allweather sports pitch.
The quality of the internal
environment, including
open plan office space, a
multi-functional meeting
suite, café and external
terraces, is dynamic and
offers true flexibility.
“AWW were
committed and fun
to work with. The
creativity of their
design team was
complemented by
their practical vision
and can-do attitude.”
“The new HQ provides workspace
designed with sustainability as a key driver
and supports Imperial’s approach of a
motivating work environment for its staff.”
Imperial Tobacco
Mark Alker Stone, AWW
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21
66 Queen Square
£10m new office
building including
refurbishment of
a Grade II house,
completing 2015
The demolition of a
1960s and 70s building
along King Street has
allowed the development
of the site into a
Grade ‘A’ office, which
adjoins and includes
the refurbishment of
the Grade II Queen
Anne House. The site
is within the city centre
conservation area and
adjacent to the Grade
I and Grade II* Queens
Square and King Street
buildings.
Great attention was
paid as to how the
project was to integrate
sensitively into its historic
surroundings, including
the important views
across historic Queen
Square, the first square
to be built in England
outside London and
now a Green Flag Award
park.
“A proactive initiative to bring in the
doubters demonstrably worked, and
created a strong, unified team”
Judging comment, BIM Project Application
of the Year 2014
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23
BCI Awards 2014
BIM Project
Application of the
Year
A passive orientation
on the new build
element, the use of
PV cells, increased
insulation, and
flexible/adaptable
floorplates all
contribute to an
‘Excellent’ BREEAM
rating for design.
“We worked closely with the Local
Authority and English Heritage to ensure
that the relationship of the new buildings
was given careful consideration to ensure
the urban grain, scale and mass didn’t
dominate the listed buildings.”
Ian Jenkins, AWW
One of just a
few commercial
developments started
in Bristol in 2013, 66
Queen Square combines
Georgian elegance with
modern, efficient office
space incorporating
integrated sustainability
features for long-term
energy efficiency,
including solar shading
and solar energy capture.
Working with Skanska,
AWW used building
information modelling
(BIM) as we do on
every project. BIM is
a collaborative way of
working, which provides
everyone involved with
accessible, accurate
data, leading to better
communication and
greater efficiency. This
helps create better
performing buildings from
the outset and this was
recognised by the project
winning BIM Project
Application of the Year
2014.
“Designed to be light, spacious and
flexible, the large floor plates of the new
building provide a modern canvas.”
Skanska
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25
Cornwall Hotel and Spa
£25m project:
65-bed hotel, spa
and pool
2004-2010
RICS Regeneration
Award South West
2011 – Winner
SPATA Awards 2011 –
Best Overall Pool and
Best Commercial Pool
CMR Leisure appointed
AWW for masterplanning,
architecture and interior
design services for the
transformed into a
distinctive 4-star hotel
with a fine dining
restaurant, a luxurious
‘Clearing Spa’ and
award-winning infinity
pool.
creation of this 65-bed
boutique hotel with 60
woodland lodges plus
spa and health club,
through conversion and
extension of a listed
Regency Manor Estate.
An award winning
swimming pool, spa
and sports facilities
are provided within a
converted stable block
and new buildings in the
large Victorian walled
kitchen garden.
Dating back to 1834
and unoccupied since
the mid-1960s, the
30 acre estate has
been sympathetically
The existing Regency
White House comprises
nine bespoke bedrooms
on the first floor, and a
fine dining restaurant,
bar, lounge and
boardroom on the
ground floor. The link
building which houses
the reception, brasserie
and kitchen seamlessly
ties the old house to the
extension wing where the
56 Woodland bedrooms
are located.
Conservation was
a high priority in
the designs within
the estate’s historic
setting. There is
even a Bat Hotel
and Barn, created to
provide a new home
for several different
species of the local
bat population.
“It is, without doubt, the most impressive new hotel I have had the
privilege to be involved in. The design, both of architecture and
interior, is a huge compliment to the applications and detail that
have been applied by all concerned. AWW has designed, both
externally and internally, an outstanding hotel.”
Haydn Fentum, CEO, Bespoke Hotels
26
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Many internal finishes
survived and were
lovingly restored,
including windows
with shutters, doors,
skirtings, ceiling cornices
and a remarkable
range of marble and
slate fireplaces. Where
AWW was unable to
sympathetically restore
features, they were
replicated in the same
style.
New standards of
comfort, amenity,
efficiency and safety
have been added, with
M&E cleverly hidden
within the existing fabric
of the building, skirtings
removed and service
channels established
behind for electric power
and communications
cabling, maintaining
the illusion of an oldfashioned interior
whilst still enjoying all
mod cons.
The design of the main
house bedrooms is
completely bespoke in
its approach. Each of
the nine guest rooms is
individual, yet all blend
in beautifully with the
quirky nature of the old
White House.
“Conservation was a high priority in the design with the
estate’s historic setting and natural beauty a great asset.
It was the inspiration to integrate elements of nature and the
external parkland surroundings in both the architectural and
interior design.”
Richard Francis, AWW
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29
The design of the hotel
extension bedrooms
integrates elements of
nature and the external
parkland. Premier rooms
have an open bathroom,
with huge picture
windows. There are also
generous balconies to
help bring the outside in.
Broad Quay
£35m project:
176-bed hotel,
160 residential
apartments, A1, A2
and A3 units.
2003-2008
This development
comprised the demolition
and regeneration of a
series of buildings on a
prominent site in Bristol
City Centre. The landmark
former Bristol & West
tower was retained and
converted to a 176 bed
hotel for Radisson Blu.
The tower is re-clad in
glass panels in different
shades of blue, with
darker glass nearer the
ground and lighter panels
towards the top, which
gives the illusion that the
tower is merging into the
sky. The basement was
also retained and the
remainder of the site was
developed to provide
160 residential
apartments with 36
Apart Hotel units and
2,800sqm of A1, A2 &
A3 retail and leisure uses,
including a Health Club.
The Bristol & West
18-storey office tower
opened in the Centre
to much acclaim in July
1968 and was one of
the city’s first office
block skyscrapers. At
the time, the design was
considered so avantgarde that architecture
students were bussed
in from across the UK to
see ‘the future of Bristol’.
“A fantastic job. I think it’s always more difficult to revamp a
building than to start from scratch, as you’ve to work around what
you’ve already got …”
Michael Rathgeb, Radisson Blu
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31
RICS Regeneration
Award South West
2011 – Highly
Commended
Bristol Civic Society
Environment Award
2011
Featured in ‘Bristol’s
100 Best Buildings’
by Mike Jenner
“Before being regenerated, this landmark
site was described as an ‘ugly, hideous,
monstrosity’. AWW kept the iconic tower,
transforming it from a concrete eyesore,
using different shades of blue glass
getting lighter as the tower reaches the
sky to create an effect of the building
blending into the skyscape. AWW took on
a huge challenge, transforming an iconic
eyesore into a landmark Bristol could
once again be proud of.”
Bank of Ireland’s
takeover in 1997 marked
the beginning of the end
for the Bristol & West
Building Society but the
tower itself survived at a
time when many other
Bristol buildings were
being demolished.
The stark 1960s
architectural style
became unfashionable,
and the drab grey
façade looming over the
city centre contrasted
unfavourably with the
regeneration taking
place around Bristol’s
waterfront. A motion
to have the building
demolished in 2003
was defeated by just
one vote.
Philip Bevan, AWW
The old Bristol & West building before regeneration
With prudent
reinvestment,
existing buildings
can achieve as
high environmental
efficiency standards
as new build.
With careful design and
creativity, AWW was able
to adjust the proportions
of the tower and reclad
the exterior to transform
the overall appearance.
The former Bristol and
West Tower is now the
Radisson Blu Hotel.
The development also
comprises residential
apartments and retail
and restaurant units and
the area is popular with
Bristol residents and
visitors alike.
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33
Finzels Reach and Georges Square
Finzels Reach:
£140m project
– 300,000sqft
office space,
399 apartments,
87,000sqft retail and
leisure. 2009-2014
Georges Square:
6,500sqm HQ office
building
AWW was appointed to
deliver Finzels Reach,
a new mixed-use
development in the heart
of Bristol City Centre. The
development has over
300,000sqft of ‘Grade
A’ office space, 399 high
spec apartments and
87,000sqft of cafés, retail
and leisure. The project
comprises both new
build and conversion of
Grade II listed retained
structures.
the retail space and
the conversion and
regeneration of retained
buildings including public
spaces and landscaping.
The office element
of the development,
Bridgewater House,
has been awarded
BREEAM ‘Excellent.
Phase 1 included
195 apartments and
100,000sqft of office
space, with Phase 2
having a majority of
BCO Regional
Commercial Workplace
Award 2013 for
Bridgewater House
(Finzels Reach)
Building Design Award:
Urban Regeneration Architect of the Year
2004 (Georges Square)
Bristol Civic Society
Award: Environmental
- Regeneration 2004
(Georges Square)
“Our work on Bridgwater House has been recognised with a
BCO award, a highly recognised industry accolade for defining
excellence in office space design. As part of Finzels Reach, the
transformation of the former Bristol Courage Brewery site opposite
Castle Park, Bridgwater House is the first office commercial
building on the site. The development creates a new dynamic city
quarter with offices, apartments, leisure uses and retail space.”
Mark Alker Stone, AWW
34
35
AWW had previously
created a mixed use
complex incorporating
office, residential and
leisure facilities on
the adjacent site.This
development is situated
on a prominent city
centre heritage site,
facing onto the floating
harbour. It consists of
6,500sqm of new build
HQ offices and the
refurbishment and fit-out
of three former brewery
buildings (the Keg Store,
Brewhouse and Tower),
to provide a total number
of 55 luxury flats.
The waterfront elevations
respond to the historic
dockside character of the
site and stitch together
the historic buildings on
Finzels Reach and Bath
Street. The architecture
adopted a warehouse
style and, through the
use of brick, blends
with the adjacent listed
buildings.
“Despite the market
conditions, the
developers persisted
in their vision to
deliver a high quality
building that they
and the City of
Bristol can be proud
of. The scheme
is well planned
and welcoming,
providing many
public realm
benefits.”
British Council for
Offices (BCO)
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37
South Bristol Community Hospital
“A real jewel in the crown.”
Chris Hughes, Head of Estates and Facilities
at NHS Bristol
£35m project:
Community hospital
and dental training
school, 2004-2012
Procured through the
Bristol LIFT initiative
and forming part of
the Hengrove Park
regeneration project,
South Bristol Community
Hospital provides a range
38
of primary healthcare
facilities and extensive
outpatient facilities
including consulting
rooms, treatment
rooms, physiotherapy,
phlebotomy and a day
assessment unit. The
building also includes
state of the art diagnostic
and treatment facilities,
a minor injuries unit,
operating theatres and
60 inpatient bed spaces,
as well as a new dental
training school.
The building adopts a
range of environmental
design features enabling
30% less energy
consumption than the
NHS best practice
benchmark (only 27.6
39
GJ/100m3/annum).
Photovoltaic cells supply
energy to power the
feature lighting around
the main entrance and a
mini CHP Plan minimises
energy wastage.
RICS South West
Community Benefit
Award 2014
The building will
consume 30% less
energy than the
NHS best practice
benchmark, saving
£89,000 on heating
costs a year alone.
Emerging design
proposals were
rigorously tested by
the project team and
a wide range of other
stakeholder bodies. The
scheme was presented
to the CABE South
West Design Review
Panel who commended
AWW’s clarity of design.
The Client Team adopted
a progressive approach
to issues ‘ownership’,
while the atrium design
provides a strong identity
and encourages in all
stakeholders a sense of
communal responsibility
and civic pride.
The choice, application
and lifecycle aspects of
materials specification
were carefully
considered throughout
the Hospital, to deliver
the requirements of
robustness in use,
appropriate character
to the building form,
and address the wider
considerations of
sustainability.
The subject of a
campaign for over 60
years, this long-awaited
scheme is transforming
the way health care is
provided in the city.
“We have striven to provide a clearly
legible and accessible, well lit and naturally
ventilated, patient friendly environment.
The main entrance to the building is
clearly signposted on approach by the
large canopy, creating a focal point and
providing a clear message for first time
users of the building.
On entering the building, patients (and
visitors and staff) experience a full height,
top lit atrium, providing a clear view to the
main reception desk and beyond to the
stairs and lifts.
This visual connectivity, and the simple plan
form of the building, enables patients to
immediately understand where they need
to go, avoiding the unnecessary additional
stress often caused by way-finding
strategies in healthcare buildings.”
“It never fails to take my breath away. It is a substantial piece of
infrastructure … I think if South Bristol was a movie, there would
be a cast of thousands. So many people have been involved to
make it happen and it is about what local people have done to
campaign for it.”
David Perkin, AWW
Ben Bennett, NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Programme Director
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41
South Bristol Skills Academy
Kalzip Teamkal
Network Awards 2010
Best project over
1500m² and Best
Installed Project
Bristol Civic
Society 2011 BCS
Environmental Award
South West Built
Environment Awards
2011 – Highly
Commended
needs and general
college facilities.
£23m further
education college
2008-2010
The scheme
achieved a BREEAM
rating of ‘Very
Good’ and includes
energy generated
by roof mounted
solar panels and
a Biomass boiler.
This unique curved,
iconic structure is
the centrepiece of
the Hengrove Park
development. The
campus includes
hair and beauty, a
catering college, motor
vehicle workshops,
a construction skills
department, special
and a full height atrium
and winter garden
internally. Using AWW’s
3D CAD skills, we were
able to design and
send to manufacturer
the external cladding
systems within the tight
construction programme,
all arriving on site and
fitting perfectly.
Battersea Police Station
“We are delighted with the highly positive
community response. The committee praised
the design and complimented the design
team’s achievement in retaining
this existing building in harmony
with the new.”
Nicholas Mulholland, AWW Director
The design features
curved external preengineered cladding
£6m residential
conversion scheme,
2013-ongoing
AWW is working
with Linden Homes
on the conversion of
the existing Police
Station by demolishing
the extension, and
constructing a new
building at the rear to
create a five storey,
46 apartment building.
The main block of
the station, which
is understood to be
candidate for inclusion in
the Local Heritage List,
has been retained.
Care was taken to ensure
an appropriate density
for the development of
the site, while remaining
deferential to the historic
portions of the Police
Station to be retained.
The massing ensures
that the development
is able to provide a
good return of quality
residential units, while
remaining in proportion
with its context.
“The use of 3D
modelling played a
vital role in facilitating
the design. We were
appointed to deliver
Bristol Skills Academy
because of our
reputation as a leading
BIM architect.”
The building
is to positively
enhance the local
area through a
high standard of
architectural and
urban design.
Ian Jenkins, AWW Director
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43
University Square Stratford
£17.7m new build
higher education
project for Birkbeck
and the University of
East London
2011-2013
On a tight urban
site in East London,
adjacent to a major
traffic interchange, and
requiring road closures
and major drainage
diversions, this was a
particularly challenging
project.
building is home to the
UEL School of Law and
Institute of Performing
Arts and the Weston
Learning Centre.
The project delivers a
BREEAM ‘Excellent’
building utilising
integrated PV
façades, rainwater
harvesting and
intelligent control
sensors to minimise
energy consumption.
There are specialist
performing arts studios,
music practice rooms
and lecture theatres as
well as a range of general
purpose facilities and
accommodation. The
“We enjoy an
excellent collaborative
relationship with
Volker Fitzpatrick and
this inspiring new
University project
provided us with many
challenges along
the way, including
construction in East
London during the
Olympics.”
Purifier House and the Boat House
£7m mixed use
scheme:
apartments, retail
space 2006-2013
This Grade II listed
former gasworks have
been transformed into
stylish one and two
bedroom apartments
and duplexes. The site
was redeveloped by
restoring and renovating
the existing Purifier
House and Gasferry
Road wall (Grade II
listed) and introducing a
new building (The Boat
House). A new harbour
inlet and split level
harbourside walkway
was created as part of
the masterplan.
The new build sits in
harmony with the historic
building in both design
and locality, sitting within
the original walls.
Both proposals
have been designed
to achieve either
a BREEAM
or EcoHomes
‘Excellent’ rating.
David Perkin, AWW
“This is an exciting addition to the world
class facilities already in Newham.”
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham
“I really like the result of the scheme. It’s really well designed
and Purifier looks great. Our successful collaboration with AWW
has helped us bring the waterfront back to life.”
Hayley Milner, Linden Homes
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45
New Bridewell
regeneration
As the needs of UK
cities have evolved,
we relish opportunities
to regenerate areas,
buildings and interiors
that have become tired
or outlived their original
purpose.
“We are proud to be part of the continuing
development and regeneration of Bristol.”
Philip Bevan, AWW
The Courtrooms
The former Magistrates
Court in the urban centre
of Bristol was dubbed
one of Bristol’s biggest
eyesores. AWW was
appointed by Watkin
Jones Group to provide
a mixed use student
accommodation scheme
on the brownfield site.
The building provides
348 new student
bedrooms with a mix of
grouped clusters and
individual studios. The
scheme also provides
commercial/retail units at
ground floor and public
realm improvement.
This £20m new build
mixed use scheme in
Bristol’s city centre
will provide 500 new
student beds, three
new retail units with
the provision of a new
public route and public
square. The proposal
replaces an existing eight
storey 1960s Police
Headquarters building
with a new structure
culminating in a 15
storey landmark tower to
provide a new gateway
into the city centre.
The University of
Bristol agrees that
the development is in
an excellent location
and is a valuable
addition to the stock of
purpose-built student
accommodation in the
city. It will contribute
both to meeting existing
students’ needs and to
the increasing number of
students coming to the
university in the future.
The building has
also been designed
to respond to, and
complement, the local
listed assets within this
historical location. The
new building continues
the regeneration, as
established by the Local
Authority, of a run-down
area. It aims to improve
the public realm and to
strengthen pedestrian
and public transport
links through this part
of the city.
“Together with our Magistrates Court
development, this will provide a substantial
enhancement to, and investment within, the
Nelson Street area.”
Watkin Jones Group
The scheme uses a
mixture of solid masonry
and reflective lightweight
materials to enhance the
shape of the structure.
This striking and dynamic
addition to the city
centre is kickstarting
the regeneration of
a street infamous for
post-war architectural
monstrosities.
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47
Merit House, London
sustainable evolution
The UK has a host of
buildings and cityscapes
which no longer meet the
needs and aspirations
of the 21st century. We
are proud to work with
our clients to develop
sustainable, green
solutions by repurposing
and refurbishing these
sleeping giants to create
innovative, fit-for-purpose
modern landmarks.
“We were delighted with AWW
as our architect; they are great
designers, creative, friendly and
a pleasure to work with. As part
of a team, their collaborative
approach was really inspiring.
Computershare
This £38m 220,000sqft
HQ Building
refurbishment design
by AWW converts and
reorganises the office
and ancillary space to
create a contemporary
office environment.
This allows for multiple
occupancy and includes
a shared restaurant, gym
and meeting spaces,
all organised around
a central street. Key
features such as the
original beams have been
retained.
capacity studies
alongside cost reviews
enabled our design
team to maximise the
development opportunity.
AWW worked alongside
Computershare from the
beginning, producing a
series of options within
an overall masterplan
document. Detailed
The Pavilions has since
been listed by English
Heritage as a fine
example of post-war
architecture.
Client, Merit House
A £15m total
refurbishment, including
full interior fit-out, for
the owner occupier of a
1960s office building to
create new landmark HQ.
The design allows for full
new services coordinated
with the existing concrete
structure that will be
retained. A new double
height entrance is
formed alongside a new
landscape pedestrian
entrance plaza facing
the street.
The building has been
fully reclad with a high
performance façade
system engineered to
reduce air leakage and
exceed insulation values
set by the building
regulations current
standards.
AWW is regenerating an
unsightly, under-used
and outdated office
building into a positive,
high quality, high
performing, sustainable
building.
The building is
targeting a low
EPC and BREEAM
‘Excellent’, utilising
high performance
cladding to
reduce solar gain
and heat loss.
“The building was built in 1965 and
represents the architectural language
of that past era. AWW is refurbishing
this prominent building to provide a
contemporary building as a new landmark
that benefits the local area.”
Mark Alker Stone, AWW
48
49
Landmark developments in Africa
international focus
AWW’s approach to
collaborative design
has seen us invited
to work on exciting
projects worldwide.
Our work in Ugep,
Nigeria was our first step
into new markets; a real
milestone for AWW.
It is very rewarding to
see our international
strategy start to
deliver. In addition to
education buildings in
Nigeria, AWW has been
appointed to design a
50,000sqft office building
in Lagos.
Clark Green City. We
were one of just five
Architectural practices
invited to present their
Masterplanning vision,
and the only European
office represented.
With a number of
projects underway
in the Philippines,
we were shortlisted
in an international
competition to design
the new sustainable
AWW was first
approached to work
in India in 2012 and, in
2014, AWW Director
Chris Mitchell was a key
speaker at a conference
hosted in Delhi on
Sustainable Learning
Environments. In addition
to work in India, Nigeria
and the Philippines,
we have put together
concepts for a hotel in
Malta and have designed
a stunning villa in France.
Projects in the pipeline
include a landmark
HQ building in Africa
featuring a striking
double skin façade.
waterfront development
plot. The dramatic,
curved and tapering
structure enables
views of the water from
all apartments while
internal layouts respond
to the challenging
climate, maximising the
opportunity for natural
cross ventilation with
external terraces.
In an exclusive residential
suburb of Lagos, the
most populous city in
Africa, AWW is creating
an organically formed
£21m apartment
building on a prime
Gazasia Waste to Energy Plant
AWW was appointed
from concept
design through to
the masterplanning
and architecture for
the development of
liquid biomethane
plant projects in the
Philippines.
Utilising waste to
generate electricity for
homes and transport,
GazAsia is a leading
producer of liquid
biomethane fuel in the
Far East.
The process
produces free heat
and a growing
medium as waste
products. We
are researching
the possibility of
high value food
production in
hydroponic glass
houses adjoining the
energy plant.
50
51
about us
AWW is a professional
consultancy providing
architecture,
masterplanning, interior
design and space
planning across the
UK and worldwide. We
deliver work we are truly
proud of through the
exceptional commitment
of our staff and our focus
on our clients.
“On a site with a long history, AWW’s
refreshing approach has impressed
us. Their keen commercial focus whilst
producing highly sensitive design has
resulted in a very successful outcome for
Barratt London. AWW’s BIM capability
facilitated the highly successful public
consultations where adjacent homeowners
were able to see accurately modelled
building views from their windows. All
feedback from residents was quickly
fed back into the scheme resulting in
widespread community support for what is
a strategic legacy project for Barratt.”
Attzaz Rashid, Barratt London
Chandos Way
“All the way from the earliest ‘blue sky’ discussions, through the
detailed design phase and up to and including construction, the
service we received was absolutely outstanding.”
Leslie Perrin, Senior Partner, Osborne Clarke
With ISO9001
accreditation, we
are committed to
quality in design
services and employ
innovative design
management to
create best-fit
solutions
52
We’ve held the Investors
in People accreditation
since 2006 and we also
engage in corporate
social responsibility
activities to benefit both
the wider community
and the environment.
We do this in the UK
and internationally. In
addition to charitable
sponsorship, such as
providing funding for the
on clients, delivers
successful projects
we are delighted to
celebrate.
Artbox 2015 project at
Divine Onkar Mission’s
orphanage centre in East
India. We also carry out
architectural work on a
pro-bono basis and we
are currently supporting
the Coron Ecovillage
project in the Philippines.
This approach, together
with great working
partnerships, has helped
us win a host of awards,
including the British
Council for School
Environments Award,
the RICS South West
Our collaborative,
open approach,
with its real focus
53
Regeneration Award
and the BCO Regional
Commercial Workplace
Award. Have a look
at the fold out timeline
(inside back cover) to
discover more.
our people
We are renowned
for delivering beyond
expectations, with our
successes celebrated
most recently, and
consistently, by AJ100
‘South West Practice of
the Year’ and ‘Best Place
to Work’ awards in 2011,
2012, 2013 and 2014.
This industry reputation
is the result of the
creativity, expertise and
commitment of our team;
each and every one of
our projects is led by a
Director, with appropriate
teams assembled to best
respond to the culture
and context of the brief.
collaborative culture and
our own inspired working
environment.
3 UK offices:
Bristol, London and
Plymouth
Currently over 80
staff and growing,
with international
outsource expertise
We’re very proud of
our high retention rate.
It’s a testament to our
“AWW has a strong division in their armoury
which specialises in interior design. They
are a bright bunch! Consistently producing
sharp, well observed, thoroughly researched
work with dollops of élan and dashes of brio.
Unusually for a design team they are good
at listening, which ensures there is a rare
emotional intelligence about their work.”
Robin Sheppard, Bespoke Hotels
AWW has a notable
record of repeat business
which underpins our
reputation of ‘most
recommended practice’.
Key to this successful
design approach is that
we listen to our clients,
stakeholders and end
users; we do not design
buildings before meeting
the people who will be
using them. We design
buildings that delight,
using cutting edge
technology to assist us
in developing innovative
ideas that deliver the very
best in added value.
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55
Our talented and creative
team have expertise in
•Business parks
•Education
•Defence and
government
•Healthcare
•Care homes
•Historic buildings and
conservation
•Hotel and leisure
•Energy, industry and
technology
•Mixed use
•Office
•Office refurbishment
•Residential
•Student residential
•Retail
•Masterplanning and
urban design
•Interior design
Our innovative design
methodology is called
Performance Driven
Design (PDD). This
design approach
stems from our ability
to comprehensively
understand the impact
of design decisions
from project inception,
particularly with regard to
carbon emissions related
to heating, cooling and
lighting energy use.
Performance Driven Design
1
option 1
2
option 2
option 3
feasibility
be made regarding
our clients’ specific
requirements, such as
running costs, carbon
emissions and embodied
carbon strategies.
Traditional Approach
chosen option based
on rule of thumb
1
option 1
10kg CO2/m2
2
3
•fine tuning?
•bolt-ons
•expensive!
3
emissions = 21kg of CO2/m2/year
best solution
would have
been:
option 3
12kg CO2/m2
chosen option based
on informed decision
•fine tuning
•cost effective
emissions = 7kg of CO2/m2/year
but too
late now!
Our PDD approach
considers more than
purely data and
simulation (often referred
to as Data Driven Design)
and can be applied to
all projects, both new
build and refurbishment,
regardless of their size
and nature.
and delivered as an
integral part of the
project.
We are recognised
leaders in BIM, having
pioneered the use of
BIM/REVIT for a number
of years: 3D REVIT and
Level 2 BIM is now used
on all AWW projects.
We have linked our
in-house environmental
modelling software to our
BIM workflow, helping
create better performing
buildings from the outset.
AWW’s commercial
expertise and extensive
BIM capabilities
ensure that the
benefits associated
with appropriate and
affordable low carbon
and energy efficient
solutions are developed
56
option 2
8kg CO2/m2
8kg CO2/m2
project delivery
Sustainability is achieved
through excellence in
design, rather than a
reliance on ‘bolt-on’
technologies. Testing
designs from the earliest
stages of a project
enables us to validate
design decisions and
inform clients and
stakeholders of the best
measurable sustainable
outcomes. This allows
informed decisions to
AWW’s innovative design approach vs the traditional
feasibility
AWW’s performance
driven design approach
redefines sustainability,
offering our clients
measurable and tangible
benefits that are specific
to their priorities.
Utilising the latest
environmental modelling
software, linked to our
BIM workflow, we are
able to explore a range
of cost effective and
appropriate opportunities
to secure effective
sustainable solutions
that are tailored to our
client’s needs. Only then
are robust renewable
technologies considered
as part of the scheme to
further reduce emissions,
if necessary.
project delivery
performance driven, always
Our BIM Futures team
is currently researching
57
and promoting BIM Level
3. This level of BIM will
utilise 4D construction
sequencing, 5D cost
and 6D project lifecycle
management information.
We are recognised
leaders in BIM and our
project 66 Queen Square
(see pages 22-25) won
BIM project application
of the year award at
the British Construction
Industry Awards (BCI)
2014.
Clients
Richard Francis
Practice Director
“We shape our buildings;
thereafter they shape us.”
Winston Churchill
leisure
energy
MoD
David Perkin
Philip Bevan
Project Director
mixed use
residential
Project Director
healthcare
masterplanning
urban design
Chris Mitchell
Project Director
government
industrial
Support Services
Finance/Facilities
IT/CAD
Marketing/HR/Admin
QA/BMS
Ian Jenkins
Project Director
Mark Alker Stone
Project Director
“This is not the end. It is not
even the beginning of the end.
It is, perhaps, the end of the
beginning…”
education
retail
office
Nicholas Mulholland
Project Director
London
Masterplanning/
Urban Design
Ian Sanders
Project Director
Plymouth
Richard Francis
Space Planning/
Move Management
Managers
Assistants
Interior Design
Head of Interior Design
Senior Interior Designer
Junior Interior Designer
Technologists
Architecture
Project Architects
Assistant Architects
Architectural Assistants
58
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