We’ve been caught up in the excitement since the V&A Storehouse opened at the end of May and it’s clear we aren’t alone. It was a privilege to collaborate with Diller Scofidio + Renfro on a project that puts culture, conservation, and curiosity at its core; a bold new space offering behind-the-scenes access to the V&A’s incredible collections.

Another big congratulations to everyone who helped bring it to life.

Victoria and Albert Museum
Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Arup
Gardiner & Theobald LLP
Colliers Project Leaders | Canada
Jon Williams
ORSA
Hoare Lea
McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd

Our work in placemaking, urban renewal and blue/green infrastructure continues to grow and we are delighted to welcome Madhu Babu to the practice, to further strengthen the Landscape and Urban Design team.

Madhu is a lively and talented Landscape Architect with experience in a wide range of sectors and scale of project.

Madhu, based in our Liverpool studio, is working with teams across the practice on masterplanning, regeneration, residential, transport, active travel and life sciences.

Great to have you on board Madhu. We are excited to see what the future holds!

We are excited to introduce our new Company Board as part of the continued and successful evolution of the practice over the past 75 years. Significantly, our new board structure introduces an External Advisory role and a Board Level Staff Representative alongside two Executive Directors.

The board is chaired by Executive Director, Neil Chapman, a landscape architect, who has been with the practice for over 30 years. Neil has held a number of senior management roles within the practice and combined with his deep understanding of the company’s ethos, is focused on ensuring that the values of the practice are maintained as the business evolves.

The new External Advisory role is fulfilled by Laura Stuffins, a partner at BDO LLP, specialising in the provision of accounting, compliance and outsourcing support. Laura also works with a variety of clients on areas such as strategic planning and KPIs, forecasting, cash flow management and funding requirements to support them in achieving their longer-term goals. As such Laura will bring a valuable external perspective and ability to challenge around strategic decision making.

Associate Director, Victoria Slater has been appointed as Board Level Employee Representative. A talented architect with over 10 years’ experience, Victoria provides a fresh perspective on Board level decisions, bringing the voice of all members of staff to strategic governance deliberations. The role also provides the highest level of transparency and communication across the practice, with direct feedback from the Board to staff and vice versa.

The Board is completed by Executive Director, Martin Roe, an architect with over 35 years of experience across the widest range of public and private sectors, including 25 years with the practice. In addition to delivering many award-winning projects, Martin has successfully held positions covering both studio and sector leadership, business development and marketing, quality management and health and safety.

The diversity, depth and quality of experience and expertise held by the Board will enable it to work collaboratively and effectively with CEO, Graham Ross and Chief Operating Officer, Richard Cronin to ensure the practice continues to evolve and respond to a continuously and rapidly changing industry within a wider and challenging economic, social and environmental context.

Our Practice Vision and Values remain central to our evolution, together with our Mission:

To Enhance Life & Environments by Design

 

We’re delighted to hear that The School of Healthcare Sciences retrofit project we recently completed for Cardiff University has been shortlisted for the Fitout / Refurbishment of the Year Category at this year’s Insider Property Awards Wales. We’re really looking forward to the event on the evening of 12th June to find out if it’s won….. fingers crossed! 

Director Kate Thomas delivered a talk this afternoon on how to raise a greater sense of ‘Cynefin’ for staff and learners in education buildings. It’s an important theme in the Welsh Curriculum and a beneficial concept to building users both in Wales and beyond…. Interested to know more? Get in touch with Kate and she’ll fill you in! Thanks to those who came and thanks to Orangebox for hosting the talk.

Works have officially commenced on the first phase of renovations to the University of Liverpool’s Eleanor Rathbone Building. Part of a broader campus masterplan, the aim is to transform the site into the flagship hub for the Faculty of Health & Life Science. The project will maximise the potential of the existing building stock across the campus, delivering quality improvements both aesthetically and technically.

The improvements are designed to significantly reduce the building’s energy requirements for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting, enhancing its sustainability and functionality. Once complete, the revamped Eleanor Rathbone Building will support cutting-edge research and learning spaces that reflect the University’s commitment to providing a world-class environment for students, faculty, and staff.

This first phase marks a substantial step toward the future of the campus and the University’s continued dedication to sustainable growth and academic excellence.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council as 2024 Client of the Year winner for their ambitious community regeneration project Shakespeare North in Prescot.

The project, by Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith:Lord, was completed in 2022 for Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council. The Playhouse has been lauded for its dedication to promoting ‘learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of Shakespeare.’ Situated in Prescot’s Conservation area, the building features a main auditorium, a studio theatre, a dramatic performance garden, a public piazza, learning spaces, and foyers that house a café and bar.

Stephanie Macdonald, Founding Director, 6a Architects, said: “Pursuing cultural excellence and local needs with equal ambition, Shakespeare North has successfully revitalized the community, transforming one of England’s most deprived boroughs and making Prescot a new cultural destination in the UK. By inviting the local youth theatre group as the main resident at the outset, and appointing 30 community coordinators, they fostered genuine engagement and addressed the needs of the wider region. 3000 people attended the opening parade with floats from each community group.”

Congratulations to everyone involved!

You can find more information on the project here: https://www.austinsmithlord.com/projects/shakespeare-north-prescot/

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https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/awards/riba-client-of-the-year

Today marked the official topping out ceremony for the £110M Fairwater Campus project in Cardiff.

Austin-Smith:Lord are working in collaboration with ISG and HLM Architects to transform the existing Cantonian High School site into a state-of-the-art, multi-school campus. Once completed, the innovative facility will educate over 1,450 secondary and sixth form students, alongside more than 380 pupils with special educational needs, aged 4 to 19. The campus, designed with a focus on sustainability, will achieve Net Zero Carbon in operation and feature on-site energy generation, outdoor learning spaces, and enhanced biodiversity.

Tim Young, Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “The Fairwater Campus is a truly transformative project, not just for education in Cardiff, but for sustainability and inclusivity. We are proud to be part of a development that will provide world-class facilities for students of all abilities while meeting Net Zero Carbon goals. This project demonstrates our commitment to creating spaces that foster learning, play, and growth in harmony with the environment.”

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Header image courtesy of HLM

We are pleased to share that Fitzalan High School has been shortlisted in the Project of the Year (Schools) category at the Education Estates Awards. These prestigious awards celebrate excellence and achievement in the education sector.

Fitzalan High School has already had a remarkable year, with multiple award nominations and wins. So far it has won the RICS Wales Award, followed by Project of the Year (Schools) at the Education Buildings Wales Awards. It was also shortlisted in the Constructing Excellence Wales Awards.

Winners will be announced on 15th October in Manchester. Congratulations to the fantastic TeamFitz, and fingers crossed!

You can view the full shortlist here. Well done all.

It was an incredibly successful evening for Austin-Smith:Lord at the recent Education Buildings Wales Awards, winning the following four accolades:

• • Inspiring Learning Spaces Award, Cardiff University School of Healthcare Sciences
  • Refurbishment of the Year Award, Cardiff University School of Healthcare Sciences
  • Project of the Year Award (Schools), Fitzalan High School
  • Project of the Year Award (Colleges & Universities) Sports Centre of Excellence, Nantgarw

Congratulations to the teams who worked on these projects.

Tim Young, Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “We are delighted to have secured four Education Buildings Wales Awards. This achievement is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication, and our ongoing commitment to designing and creating inspiring educational spaces.”