Neil Orpwood

We are an Employee-Owned architectural practice with a proud 58-year history of producing places and spaces that improve people’s lives. With a design philosophy that puts people at its centre, it is our mission to delight clients and users, making memorable places which evoke positive emotional responses. We strive to create buildings that respond to their context and climate, as well as our client’s budget, and we consequently don’t have a ‘signature-style’. Every design evolves as a solution to a unique set of challenges that we approach with ‘signature-thinking’ – this is a creative, thoughtful, and fun process that allows the character and ideas of each project to flourish in their own delightful way - we call this ‘Thoughtful Design’. We have received broad and far-reaching accolades for our designs, including: ◽️ RSUA Design Award 2022 ◽️ AJ100 Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2022 ◽️ Four Glasgow Institute of Architects 2021 ◽️ Offsite Awards Education Project of the Year 2021 ◽️ Building Magazine’s Architectural Practice of the Year 2020 Our true reward is knowing that we can improve wellbeing - not only in our design approach, but inside and outside of the business too. We pride ourselves on a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, promoted at board level by our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Group and enhanced by our connect day activities. Reflective of our culture, we received the AJ100 Employer of the Year Award 2020 and 2021, and are recognized as a three-star accredited, ‘world-class’ Best Company Employer. We are passionate about improving social mobility, opening new avenues into the profession and encouraging younger generations to pursue their ambitions. Our teams are regularly involved in outreach programs, we have teamed up with Speakers for Schools and RIBA Learning, and signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge, the Lord Mayor of London Pledge, See-It-Be-It Sheffield and DYW Glasgow.