ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

Austin-Smith:Lord is a creative collective of design professionals with decades of experience and an impressive track record. From design concept to project completion we provide complete solutions which are informed by innovation, creativity and responsibility.

We believe in the power of good design to raise the spirit by transforming and enhancing environments. We are driven by a passion for creating exciting, contextual and life-affirming buildings, places and spaces. Our philosophy is underpinned by a commitment to listen to our clients and, through collaboration, surpass their expectations. Every logistical difficulty represents a chance to be creative. There is an art to being practical.

OUR MISSION

To Enhance Life & Environments By Design

OUR VISION

We are a Creative Collective designing buildings and spaces with passion and expertise to create a legacy of enduring quality, which enriches lives and respects people, place and our planet.

OUR PRINCIPLES

To address the urgencies of our time, and inspired by our founders’ guiding principles, we are committed to promoting, and motivated by, the following core values/guiding principles;

Design Excellence

Applying innovation, expertise and creativity to elegantly solve problems and contribute ideas that have positive impacts and enrich our lives, culture and environment.

Sustainability

Respecting people, place and the planet for the benefit of future generations by integrating circular and sustainable design

Health + Wellbeing

Promoting improved quality of life, and positive mental and physical health and wellbeing for those who engage with our work; clients, end-users, colleagues + our team

Collaboration

Teamwork is fundamental to our success. Working together, with humility and without ego, enriches our collective creativity.

Integrity + Professionalism

We are committed to conducting our business ethically and we expect high standards of professionalism in everything we do, every time.

Knowledge Sharing + Life-Long Learning

Championing knowledge sharing, mentoring and career-long learning towards continuous improvement, research and development

TIMELINE

Inette and Mike Austin-Smith met in 1946 as they resumed architectural studies that had been interrupted by the war. Two years later they were married, and in 1949 JM Austin-Smith and Partner was founded. Later Mike Austin-Smith would cite how teamworking and esprit de corps were an integral part of his war experience with the Royal Horse Artillery (he was awarded the Military Cross), and how he had learned the meaning of professional responsibility the hard way. The ethos of teamwork and professional responsibility became engrained in the practice that bore his name, and have remained ever since.

The other key tenet of the Practice from the start was the insistence on the attention given to the client. The couple quickly learned the importance of involving clients closely throughout the process. Learning to access and understand what clients wanted meant they were able to provide it. This generated repeat business. The Practice grew on the back of it. Here is a chronological timeline of our development as one of the leading architecture firms.

2019
2019

Moved from LLP to Ltd

2015
2015

Relaunch of our London studio

2015

Opening of our Bristol studio

2011
2011

Manchester studio combined with, and relocated to, the Liverpool studio

2010
2010

AJ practice of the Year

2010

Studio set up in Abu Dhabi to service a major project. This studio closed on completion of our involvement

2005
2005

Partnership becomes LLP

2005

Warrington office relocates to Liverpool

2003
2003

New office opens in Manchester

2003

Dixon Hughes, a London-based Practice with experience in retail and commercial development, become part of Austin-Smith:Lord

2003

Wren Rutherford A-S:L and TPS Dangerfield become fully integrated into the Practice and now offer their services as Austin-Smith:Lord

1999
1999

Wren Rutherford A-S:L becomes Austin-Smith:Lord (Glasgow office)

1999

TPS Dangerfield (museum and exhibition design specialists), who had been responsible for major projects in the UK and overseas, join the practice. The combined skills and widened client base have enable the Practice to further develop this specialist area

1998
1998

Joint venture between Austin-Smith:Lord and former members of the Irvine Development Corporation Technical Department in 1998 at 222 Bath Street, Glasgow to form Wren Rutherford A-S:L

1995
1995

New office opens in Cardiff (Mold office is closed three years later)

1989
1989

Practice merges with Chamberlin Powell Bon and Woods (CPBW) who had been responsible for the Barbican Arts Centre in London, Chelsea Harbour and the Japanese Embassy

1989 – 92

Series of mergers takes place, including Chamberlin Powell Bon and Woods in 1989 and North-West Water in 1992

1987
1987

First major application of CAD system in designs for Barclays Bank’s public areas upgrade in 1987

1983
1983

One of the first practices to invest in a CAD system with workstations installed in London and Warrington and connected by a kilostream telephone line

1981
1981

Mike and Inette Austin-Smith retire

1975
1975

Practice moves London office to 40-42 Lexington Street, Soho as part of expansion

1969
1969

New studio opens in Warrington, Cheshire

1969

New studio opens in Mold, Wales

1969

Practice is renamed Austin-Smith:Lord. Peter Lord made President of the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers (now the Chartered Society of Designers)

1965
1965

Mike Austin-Smith awarded CBE for services to architecture

1963
1963

Practice is renamed Austin-Smith/Salmon/Lord

1962
1962

Mike Austin-Smith co-writes industry-changing survey: The Architect and his Office

1961
1961 – 1962

Mike Austin-Smith is President of the Architectural Association

1956
1956

Peter Lord and Geoffrey Salmon become partners

1953
1953

Nominated Architects of the Year by Architects’ Journal

1953

1953 - Peter Lord joined the practice, becoming a Partner in 1956

1949
1949

Austin Smith:Lord is established as a professional architectural practice in London and operated as a partnership by J M Austin Smith (Mike) and I L E Austin Smith

1947
1947

JM Austin-Smith is established by Mike and Inette Austin-Smith in London