Congratulations to Tom Clarke on passing his Level 2 Accounting qualification with Distinction.

Tom Joined Austin-Smith:Lord as Finance Apprentice in September 2021 and has been an integral member of the Finance Team ever since.

“I’m delighted to have completed my Level 2 and I can’t wait to start Level 3 with the support of Austin-Smith:Lord” Tom Clarke, Finance Apprentice.

“Tom is a fantastic team member and this achievement is well deserved. Enjoy your journey to Level 3, Tom. Keep calm and carry on!” Allan Chan, Finance Director.

We are delighted to welcome three new RIBA Part II Architectural Assistants to our Practice:

Eleanor Kemp
Eleanor joined Austin-Smith:Lord’s Liverpool studio in August, having studied at Liverpool John Moores University. Before she joined us, Eleanor spent the summer working as a researcher at the same University, developing sustainable refurbishment research that focuses on the needs of cultural institutions within Liverpool.

Omkar Deshmankar
Omkar also joined us in August, and is based in our Glasgow studio. He completed his Architecture Degree at the University of Pune in India, and his Masters at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Omkar is passionate about nature and the environment, and loves travelling, hillwalking and photography.

Abbi Wallace
Abbi studied at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, before joining Austin-Smith:Lord at the end of August. Our one-studio approach enabled Abbi to relocate from Glasgow to Cardiff, where she is now based.

Executive Director, Martin Roe commented, “We are delighted to welcome Eleanor, Omkar and Abbi to the Austin-Smith:Lord team. Our upcoming Annual Staff Conference in Liverpool will be an ideal event for them to meet all of their colleagues in person and an early opportunity for them to influence the future shape of the practice as we focus this year on Telling Stories……”

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Austin-Smith:Lord Annual Conference, Liverpool 2022 – Telling Stories…………

We are really excited to share our proposals for the regeneration of Rother District Council’s Town Hall in Bexhill-on-Sea.

In 2019, Rother District Council declared a climate emergency and pledged for the Council to be net zero carbon by 2030. The Town Hall, which is the Council’s main administrative building is inefficient in terms of spatial logistics and energy performance emitting over 107tonnes of CO2 every year. The current facilities also provide an uninspiring work environment for a 21st Century civic and office building; this project seeks to address these issues.

The ambition is to deliver a high-quality facilities that: lead the way in demonstrating the Council’s pledge to be net zero carbon by 2030; provides a civic heart for Rother District; provides a befitting and inspiring civic space for local organisations in a central and accessible location; rethinks the workspace post-COVID-19 and provides a modern community services hub.

The main core of the Town Hall, which is over 120 years old and an asset of historical significance, will be retained and refurbished to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, provide a modern and attractive workplace that promotes accessibility, health and wellbeing and provides adaptability as working practices change and evolve. The development will also include a new extension, to the west of the main Town Hall, with an inviting flexible public-facing space on the ground floor, adaptable workspaces, breakout spaces and an attractively landscaped courtyard dealing with levels across the site and focussing on improving social engagement opportunities.

Austin-Smith:Lord, in collaboration with RXA, was appointed, through the South East Consortium Framework, by Rother District Council to provide architecture, interior and landscape design services.

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Many thanks to all the team:

Client: Rother District Council
Supporting Architects: RXA
Project Management and Cost Consultants: MGAC | RLF
Civil and Structural Engineers: Ingleton Wood
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Sustainability Leads: Delap & Waller
Planning Consultant: Dowsett Mayhew
Framework Client: South East Consortium
CGIs and Animation: Infinite3D
Acoustic Consultants: AAD Acoustics
Fire Engineers: Marshall Fire
Transport Planner: GTA

The Porthcawl Terminus, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord, forms part of the metro enhancement framework for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, which is seeking to develop improved links between Maesteg, Bridgend, Porthcawl and Cardiff as part of a pipeline of future transport projects.

Plans for a Metro-link development have been accepted as part of the ongoing development in Porthcawl.

The Metrolink – which will form part of the South Wales Metro, was recently included as part of the council’s new vision for the Salt Lake regeneration site. The proposed bus terminus put forward by Bridgend Borough Council will be built along The Portway, Porthcawl, next to Salt Lake car park.

The building will have 4 bays and a fully enclosed canopy and concourse – space for a small kiosk and various environmental enhancements including a green roof, rain garden and outdoor seating areas. The plans also include space for a future cycle hire facility.

Iain Wylie
BArch (Hons), DipArch, FRIAS, RIBA

Iain Wylie, architect and Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord died suddenly on 13 May 2022, aged 58.

Iain was a very highly respected and prolific architect with a reputation as a talented and versatile designer, a business leader and an advocate for design quality. Iain was a great friend to many within and beyond the design and construction professions in Scotland and further afield, respected for his kindness, integrity and professionalism.

Iain was instrumental in establishing and leading Austin-Smith:Lord in Scotland as well as being responsible for many of the Practice’s signature projects, especially north of the Border.

In recognition of his contribution to the profession Iain became a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland in 2014. Iain’s design work was recognised with national design awards throughout his career. He was also a Partner when Austin-Smith:Lord were awarded the prestigious Architects’ Journal’s AJ100 Practice of the Year in 2010.

Iain studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. His talent was apparent from the outset, winning a Scholarship in 1986, the first of many accolades in a career characterised by enduring excellence.

During his studies he completed his first professional training period at the acclaimed Irvine Development Corporation Architects Department, whose work Iain admired greatly. After completing his studies at Edinburgh College of Art, Iain continued his path to professional accreditation working at the Property Services Agency, initially with the flagship Design Standards Office in London before returning to Scotland to work on Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Iain then returned to Irvine Development Corporation in the early 1990s and was Project Architect on several award-winning projects within Irvine New Town, notably at Irvine Harbourside.

Initially as a secondee from Irvine Development Corporation, Iain joined Scottish Enterprise and Locate in Scotland responsible for numerous Inward Investment projects for major companies. Iain then progressed to becoming an Associate with TPS Consult, responsible for the development of their Glasgow office and designing electronics and advanced manufacturing facilities for blue-chip clients.

Having had two highly successful spells at Irvine Development Corporation, Iain had impressed colleagues and won the admiration of his future business partners. He had forged a strong personal and professional bond that endured for the rest of Iain’s life with his great friends and mentors; George Wren, Roan Rutherford and George Reynolds with whom Iain established a new practice; Wren Rutherford Austin-Smith:Lord in 1998 with studios in Ayr and then, from 1999, in Glasgow.

Not only was Iain thrilled to be in business with his mentors he was also delighted that the new joint venture was with Austin-Smith:Lord whose work he had long admired. Iain thrived in this new venture and became a Partner with Austin-Smith:Lord when Wren Rutherford fully merged into the wider practice in 2003.

Iain led the Austin-Smith:Lord team in Glasgow to grow to more than 25 strong within a decade, doing fine work across the country. Iain took great satisfaction in growing the practice, giving young and talented designers a chance and fostering great camaraderie within a creative studio environment.

Iain’s career and stature in the practice progressed rapidly as he not only delivered signature projects but also elevated the profile of Austin-Smith:Lord, especially in Scotland, and took on significant roles in leading the business, notably as a characteristically prudent and shrewd Finance Partner.

Iain was instrumental in guiding the business through a difficult period in the wake of the economic crisis in the late 2000s providing a steady resolve and unwavering commitment to the Practice, before becoming Chair of Austin-Smith:Lord in 2014; a role he fulfilled until 2020.

Iain was self-effacing and modest, and whilst he characteristically played down his skill and ability it shone through in his work, time and again. Iain led and was involved in designing award-winning housing and regeneration schemes, and flagship industrial projects as well as relishing the opportunity when at Austin-Smith:Lord to deliver education buildings (from pre-school nurseries and primary schools to university projects), and develop a deep knowledge and a passion for healthcare design.

In each decade of Iain’s career his work won national award recognition including from the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the British Council of Offices, the British Urban Regeneration Awards, the Saltire Society, Scottish Design Awards, Building Better Healthcare Awards, NHS Scotland Design Awards and the Glasgow Institute of Architects.

These awards were given for a diverse array of projects. In Irvine, whilst with the New Town’s Development Corporation, Iain created a careful composition of new housing skilfully linking the contemporary and the historic parts of the Harbourside masterplan. In Kilwinning, also in Ayrshire, a crisply detailed contemporary office pavilion secured a prestigious BCO Award.

A landmark super-distillery at Roseisle in Moray in 2010 pioneered integrated sustainable design and process engineering which has inspired a subsequent renaissance in distillery design, winning numerous accolades including RICS Project of the Year.

Iain’s design for Girvan Community Hospital skilfully nestles a substantial new healthcare facility into the South Ayrshire landscape to provide a positive gateway to the town by carefully modulating scale and materials appropriate to the setting. Migdale Community Hospital at Bonar Bridge deftly responds to a beautiful hillside setting, overlooking the sea loch, to sensitively integrate with the rugged, rural landscape of the Scottish Highlands.

In addition Iain was also involved in masterplanning hospitals and enterprise zones, waterfront masterplans on the Rivers Clyde and Forth, developing a vision for the Crichton campus in Dumfries, Wellington School campus in Ayr, historic buildings at Gartnavel, numerous projects at Quarriers care village, local health centres from Dalkeith to Drongan, a pioneering health and community hub in Kilmarnock, schools in Glasgow and Ayrshire, new workplace environments for Hewlett Packard, a University Library in Dundee, a massive energy centre at Severnside near Bristol, light industrial units near Galashiels and even designing a space-port facility and more besides.

Iain’s final project was for Ayrshire Hospice. It was the perfect job for him; to design a beautiful, caring environment for people in the area he loved. He was thrilled to be leading that project and it is hoped that, when realised, it will be a fitting legacy for a kind and caring man and a very talented architect.

Iain had the skill and humility necessary to collaborate with others to deliver designs and buildings of enduring quality. He had the compassion, tact and keen sense of fairness to be a natural and supportive leader. He had the integrity, commitment and determination to earn the respect and trust of his colleagues, peers and clients.

Iain had an easy charm, quick wit and keen interest in others. Iain’s easy-to-like and affable demeanour meant he was equally at ease in the company of anyone, from any walk of life. Iain simply enjoyed being with other folk and designing great buildings for them; taking the greatest pleasure in seeing great designs well built, having a positive impact and being enjoyed in use.

Beyond his skill and talent as an architect and designer Iain was also an accomplished sportsman, playing football semi-professionally and enjoying many other sports as a participant or spectator. A proud Scot he had a love of international travel but was always happiest at home in Ayrshire enjoying life as a great family man with his beloved wife Janet, their daughter Jemma and son Ross, amongst his wider family and many friends.

Iain William Wylie, architect

1 December 1963 – 13 May 2022

 

Obituary by Graham Ross

We are delighted to announce that Austin-Smith:Lord is an accredited Living Wage Employer, with every member of staff working for Austin-Smith:Lord earning a real Living Wage. Importantly this commitment applies not only to directly employed staff but also to our third party contracted staff.

The real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum, or National Living Wage, and is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated each year and is announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week.

Over 9000 organisations, including Austin-Smith:Lord, voluntarily choose to pay the real Living Wage because we believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. You can find other organisations who pay the Living Wage here: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-map

“Whilst we’ve informally ensured the Practice complied with the real Living Wage for our staff over the years we are delighted to have secured formal accreditation by encouraging support and buy-in of our 3^rd party suppliers and service providers. We’re pleased to advocate for the real Living Wage and hope that we, and others, can help make a positive difference.” (Graham Ross, Chief Executive, Austin-Smith:Lord)

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You can find more information on the real Living Wage at this link: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/

We are delighted to announce that our Glasgow Science Centre ‘Outer Space’ project has been shortlisted for two prestigious design awards.

The ‘Outer Space’ project is part of the £4 million Connect programme to renovate the Centre’s exhibition spaces, improve the visitor experience and support outreach programmes. Funded through the Inspiring Science Fund (a partnership between UK Research and Innovation and Wellcome Trust) and Sustrans Scotland the project promotes active travel, enhances biodiversity, improves accessibility and encourages interaction with new external science exhibits and interpretation.

Austin-Smith:Lord (A-S:L), alongside WAVEParticle, were appointed to engage with Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) visitors, staff, passers-by, local communities and key stakeholders to help develop the brief, business case and secure Sustrans funding. A multi-disciplinary project team, led by A-S:L, collaborated with GSC, Sustrans and local community groups to deliver the first phase of a wider masterplan ambition to transform the surrounding quaysides.

The project has been shortlisted in the 2022 Pineapples Awards ‘Public Space’ category. The live presentations are taking place from 23-27 May at the Festival of Place, with Austin-Smith:Lord’s slot being on Thursday 26th May (between 10am and 11.10am). Anyone can register free to watch the live presentations. Registration link here.

It has also been shortlisted in the 2022 Scottish Design Awards in the ‘Landscaping/Public Realm’ category. The list of shortlisted projects can be viewed here, with winners being announced at the awards ceremony in June.

Our congratulations go to the project team:

Glasgow Science Centre
WAVEParticle
Neilson Partnership
Civic Engineers
Atelier Ten
Transport Planning Limited
ITPEnergised
Luddon Construction Limited
WATER GEMS (ALBA) LIMITED
Timberplay Scotland

It is with the deepest sadness we announce that Iain Wylie passed away suddenly on Friday afternoon. Iain was a very highly respected designer and a great friend to many within and beyond the design and construction professions in Scotland, across the UK and further afield.

His contribution to Austin-Smith:Lord over the past 24 years has been immense as a leader, a talented designer and mentor to many. He was instrumental in establishing Austin-Smith:Lord’s Glasgow studio, before going on to become a Partner and then Chair of the practice. He designed many signature, award-winning projects for the practice, becoming a Fellow of the RIAS in a great career spanning over 3 decades.

Iain’s kindness, companionship and sense of humour will be greatly missed by very many people though his legacy lives on through the things he loved; his work, the Practice and most importantly a wonderful family with whom we grieve and offer our heartfelt condolences.

Iain’s funeral will take place at Portland Parish Church in Troon on Thursday 9th June at 10.15am, then to the South Beach Hotel, nearby, afterwards. All are welcome to attend.

Feel free to contact graham.ross@austinsmithlord.com to indicate your attendance, as this will assist Iain’s family to gauge numbers. Many thanks.

We are delighted to confirm a number of promotions within the business as we enter an exciting new financial year.

As the practice continues to grow we have reorganised our Operational Board to comprise representation from each of our core Discipline Heads under the leadership of our Chief Operating Officer, Richard Cronin. This structure confirms our over-arching approach to act as a single studio across our five current locations, providing our clients with the very best national expertise, delivered locally. We are pleased to confirm our new Operational Board structure as follows;

Chief Operating Officer, Richard Cronin commented, “I am really looking forward to working with such an experienced and talented Board as we enter this next financial year with a very strong order book of exciting projects that will call upon our collective skills and expertise to deliver innovative and sustainable design solutions, consistent with our Mission to Enhance Lives and Environments by Design.”

In parallel, we have appointed new local Studio Leaders and Deputy Leaders as follows;

Chief Executive, Graham Ross commented, “Our new Studio Leadership teams will provide a crucial energy and focus to reinforce and steer our commitment to continued professional development, health and wellbeing as we expand in all of our regions, alongside our integration into and contribution to our wider local communities.

“I would also take this opportunity to express the practice’s thanks to all of our staff for their continued commitment and brilliance as we enter a new year with exciting prospects ahead of us.”

Austin-Smith:Lord have been appointed by Jehu Group to complete the technical design for delivery of 41 Independent Living Apartments for Cardiff Council. Previously designed by the practice to RIBA Stage 3, the project follows the successful delivery of two phases of regenerative development of the former Maelfa Shopping Centre and will bring together residents of the recently refurbished Maelfa Tower and residents of the new homes.

The new 6 storey development on the site of a former police station is linked to the existing residential tower by new communal facilities and an elevated garden. This vibrant new hub space will provide a place to meet and relax with a focus on nature and wellbeing. The scheme adopts HAPPI design principles and actively promotes interaction and inclusion which was a main theme emerging from extensive community engagement workshops.

Executive Director Martin Roe commented “We have been involved in the regeneration of the Maelfa Centre for 12 years now and it is dear to our hearts. We take a huge amount of pride and satisfaction from the transformation and positive impact that has been achieved to date in partnership with Cardiff Council, CCHA and Jehu. We are hugely excited to see this third phase of development take another step forward and look forward to meeting with the residents in the roof garden to celebrate its conclusion in the near future.” 

Simon Jehu, Jehu Group CEO of Development added, “Following the immense success of the regeneration in Maelfa already achieved, we are delighted to be working with Austin-Smith:Lord again to continue the fantastic development of this community and we too are excited to see this next phase making a further positive impact for the residents.”