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

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