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.”

Frank joined our successful Soho based London office in 1989, bringing with him a much needed team of architects from the successful practice of Chamberlin Powell Bon & Woods (CPBW).  As the sole remaining Partner at CPBW, Frank was free to bring his whole team and portfolio of work with him. This was a great benefit to both firms as A-S:L’s London office had an over reliance on office interior fit-out work at that time and needed to grow and diversify its Architectural work.  Frank played a pivotal role in achieving this with the other London Partners and his most notable projects were New Hall Cambridge and Bousfield Nursery School for the Royal Borough Kensington & Chelsea.

Chamberlin Powell Bon & Woods were very successful in the late 60’s through 70’s and into the late 80’s with the renowned Barbican Centre in the City of London being their best known project.

Frank was architect for the Kaetsu Centre at Cambridge University which was one of Austin-Smith:Lord’s signature projects of that era that became synonymous with the practice as it featured on our letterhead and marketing material in the 1990s and early 2000s. This project secured recognition with a Civic Trust Award and Frank’s career portfolio received further recognition with other RIBA and Civic Trust Awards.

Frank also served as Chairman for the RIBA Journal and the Association of Consultant Architects. He taught at London South Bank University in Professional Practice and Dispute Resolution and was an external examiner at Westminster and Bath Universities.

Frank was a talented, gentle and even tempered architect who was highly respected by his clients, partners and staff. Aside from his passion for architecture he was an accomplished photographer with a keen interest in both music and art. He is fondly remembered by those of us fortunate enough to have met or worked with him.

 

Frank Woods: Oct 1933 – Dec 2021

Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord 1989 to 2000

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Obituary written by Richard Pullen, former Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord

Austin-Smith:Lord’s proposals for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Ayrshire Hospice have now been formally submitted for planning permission to South Ayrshire Council.

The plans to redevelop the existing site will help ‘future proof’ the hospice for generations to come – and enhance the care it gives.

Plans include:

• • A new inpatient unit with 18 single, en-suite rooms
  • Two patient and family respite rooms with en-suite facilities
  • Direct physical link between the inpatient unit and day services
  • Disparate clinical and community nursing hubs brought together within one building
  • Dedicated social space for patients’ families and children
  • A “discreet, respectful and separate” entrance for patients and their families allowing a “private and dignified” admittance into the inpatient unit
  • A new day services centre
  • A dedicated spa and occupational therapy space and gym
  • Conference space for up to 75 people
  • New sensory garden
  • Library/educational space
  • Hospice Hub and cafe.

Carla MacEwan, Chief Executive at The Ayrshire Hospice, said: “This planning application represents a huge step forward in the provision of specialist palliative and end-of-life care for Ayrshire.”

Iain Wylie, Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “we are delighted to be working on this incredibly significant project for the Ayrshire Hospice and the wider Ayrshire community. The project provides us with a unique opportunity to utilise our complementary design skills; incorporating both new-build and conservation architecture with sustainability, landscape architecture and interior design. Through this integrated design approach, working side-by-side with the hospice, we aim to make a real difference for patients, their families and staff; whilst further embedding the fantastic work of the Hospice within the local community.”

Huge congratulations to Oliver Goddard, who has recently achieved his RIAS Conservation Accreditation.

A certified Passivhaus designer, Oliver joined Austin-Smith:Lord in 2020. His recent projects include external fabric repairs to a collection of Grade A listed buildings at Aberdeen station, a feasibility study for reviving the former Bangour Church in Livingston, and a project to preserve and convert a former school in Alloa into a mixed residential development.

“I achieved RIAS Conservation Accreditation as I believe it is essential to work responsibly with historic buildings to enable future generations to benefit from a rich cultural heritage.  This knowledge is also fundamental if we are to address today’s challenges and preserve our existing buildings by delivering low carbon solutions with appropriate retrofit” (Oliver Goddard, Architect, Austin-Smith:Lord).

“I am delighted to congratulate Oliver on achieving his RIAS Conservation Accreditation. Already a Certified Passive House Designer, Oliver’s passion for sustainable conservation further augments Austin-Smith:Lord’s heritage expertise and our ability to respond to complex issues regarding building conservation in the context of a sustainable agenda” (Matthew Dyer, Head of Conservation, Austin-Smith:Lord).

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You can view our conservation projects here

As more clients look to remodel, refit and repurpose existing space in response to post-Covid working, low energy and zero carbon strategies, our specialist Interior Design team is playing a key role and their services are in increasing demand. In response, we are delighted to announce that Amy Hart has joined our team. Graduating with a first class honours degree, and having worked previously for a commercial interiors company, Amy brings a focus on the strategic use of space and how this supports the health and wellbeing of occupants.

We are also pleased to announce the promotion of Olivia Laxton to the role of Senior Interior Designer. Olivia has been successfully leading key refurbishment projects, including projects for Cardiff Metropolitan University and Coleg Y Cymoedd, as well as research led projects to develop new ways of working and flexible use of space as a result of the pandemic. This new role will allow her to continue leading on projects, as well as helping drive the continued growth and quality of our Interiors offer.