• Re-inventing the London Plan

    Date posted: Wednesday 10 February 2016

    In November, Director Rupert Cook attended ‘Re-inventing the London Plan: A charrette on the capital’s future’ run by New London Architecture, facilitated by ARUP. This intensive full-day session brought together professionals from across the built environment industry to address London’s key development issues and help inform thinking around the next iteration of the London Plan before the Mayoral elections in May. Findings from the day in the form of a report and policy recommendations for the next London Mayor can be found here.

  • Student accommodation granted planning

    Date posted: Wednesday 6 January 2016

    Planning permission has been received for a new Student Accommodation scheme close to Andover Road in Winchester. Our client, Osborne is seeking to capitalise on the success of the ArchitecturePLB designed development at University of Winchester’s Burma Road with this new 257 room project.A key aspect of the project is its position within the Station Approach masterplan area. The scheme is the first development to come forward and therefore design quality and contribution to the public realm were key considerations for the planning authority. At committee, the design was commended for setting a high quality precedent for the area.

     

  • Southampton Student Accommodation

    Date posted: Friday 11 December 2015

    ArchitecturePLB have been granted planning approval for a new student accommodation scheme in central Southampton. The scheme for Victoria Halls Management will turn a run down former nightclub and retail site into homes for 283 students with views across Houndwell Park. The scheme at Vincent’s Walk is the latest addition to ArchitecturePLB’s growing portfolio of student accommodation projects, which includes Stapleton House, an 850 bedroom scheme in Islington that is currently on site and due for completion in 2016.

  • Exploring Architecture

    Date posted: Monday 7 December 2015

    At ArchitecturePLB we understand how important it is to consider buildings within their wider context. Vision from above, use drones to provide low level aerial photography, a technique which best conveys the issues involved in this aspect of urbanism and placemaking. They recently completed this shoot of our recently completed West Hill Green Student Accommodation scheme in Winchester, which sets the scheme in its wooded site and shows how the design breaks down the bulk of the development, whilst retaining the long distance views between the individual blocks. View fly-through here.

  • Triumph at the Brick Awards 2015

    Date posted: Friday 27 November 2015

    Richmond Adult Community Centre’s new build and refurbishment project triumphed at the Brick Awards 2015 this week winning ‘Best Public & Education Building’ and ‘Best Refurbishment’. The awards, held annually, celebrate excellence in design and construction using brick and attract hundreds of submissions each year. As part of our active programme of collaboration, Architecture PLB developed this project from stage D designs by Duggan Morris, taking the project through to completion on site.

  • The Beginning of History

    Date posted: Tuesday 24 November 2015

    Following the successful completion of the Design Centre at Merchant Taylors’ School, work has begun on converting the previous D&T building into a new facility for the History Department. The conversion will provide five classrooms, a new history library and ancillary spaces, including an observation room that will be used for staff training and assessment. The work will be completed by April 2016 in time for the summer term.

  • Royal opening for new Design Centre

    Date posted: Tuesday 24 November 2015

    On 12th of November, Director Nick Mirchandani and Project Architect Stephen Belcher were delighted to attend the opening of the new Design Centre at Merchant Taylors’ School in Middlesex. The building, part of ArchitecturePLB’s wider 15-20 year masterplan for the campus, is designed to provide 21st century learning environments whilst respecting the historic context. The building was opened by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester who enjoyed a tour of the new Design Centre while talking to the students about their current projects.

  • Mike Skilton to speak at ECN-RCN conference

    Date posted: Thursday 5 November 2015

    ArchitecturePLB Director Mike Skilton will be speaking at the ECN-RCN Conference in a few weeks time on 26th November. Mixed use developments and residential education projects form the the focus for Day 2 of the conference, Mike will talk about current and potential future thinking in the design of student residences and how they relate to our idea of ‘home’.

  • Portswood Road Planning Approval

    Date posted: Wednesday 4 November 2015

    Portswood Road Student Residences received planning approval following a unanimous committee vote in Southampton last week. The project, which will provide 435 student bedrooms, is a ’straight to market’ scheme, aimed at mature and overseas students.The site, a former bus depot, was purchased by developer Orchard Homes from Sainsbury’s, following construction of a new superstore on the adjacent plot. The design addresses a challenging site context, at the transition of a busy district centre to a quiet suburban streetscene. In response, the building steps in height and mass, moving from a tall corner element next to the supermarket to the west, down to a residential scale ‘terrace’ to the east.

  • Darren Wilson shortlisted for Inspiring Graduate Prize

    Date posted: Wednesday 14 October 2015

    ArchitecturePLB team member Darren Wilson has been shortlisted for the inaugural AJ/Curtins Inspiring Graduate Prize. The prize recognises graduates working towards their professional qualifications who have made a significant contribution to their practice. After spending his ‘year out‘ at ArchitecturePLB, Darren returned in 2013 following completion of his University studies. Since then Darren has become an important member of our team, leading a number of education projects, receiving glowing client feedback and instigating team building events within the practice. We are delighted that his contribution has been recognised through shortlisting for this Prize. Read more here.

  • Cromwell Road housing completed

    Date posted: Tuesday 6 October 2015

    Tenants are moving in to our recently completed scheme in Stanmore, Winchester. The development of 9 homes for Radian is situated on a former allotment site and required a sensitive approach to fit within the distinctive Stanmore context.

    The design had to contend with a large bank of protected trees to the rear of the site, which restricted access and form. Despite the constraints, the successful design minimises overlooking to neighbouring properties, includes off-street parking and some public amenity space, whilst still achieving a density of 30 dwellings per hectare. The development has achieved Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and Lifetime Homes Standards.

  • University of Portsmouth Sustainability Prize

    Date posted: Wednesday 5 August 2015

    University of Portsmouth graduate Martyn Webb (centre left) has been awarded the ArchitecturePLB sponsored Sustainability prize. The celebration event was led by Pam Cole (left), Head of School of Architecture with Dan Blott (right centre), Principal Lecturer and MArch Course Leader. The award was given by Rupert Cook (right) Director of ArchitecturePLB at the event held within the School of Architecture prior to the Graduation ceremony.

    Read More

  • Summer Practice Day 2015

    Date posted: Friday 24 July 2015

    This year our annual practice study day took place in East London. We began with a boat cruise from Westminster to Greenwich, an opportunity to observe the capital’s diverse architectural styles from a unique vantage point. Unconventional views continued with a trip to the top of the Orbit tower in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Lunch was followed by an urban design tour of the new housing developments of East Village and Chobham Manor, as well as the more familiar sporting arenas. The day concluded with discussion of all we had seen over delicious pizzas and craft ales in the arts quarter of Hackney Wick.

  • New starters graduate!

    Date posted: Wednesday 22 July 2015

    Three new starters graduated on Friday from Portsmouth University. Paul Moss, Liam Whitfield and Anna Osborne. Paul completed his BA Hons. His project investigated how the power of good architecture can have a real social impact on the lives of people from vastly different social groups, creating a place of unity and giving through an interpretation of the Food bank.

    Read More

  • LSE Library exhibition space opens

    Date posted: Wednesday 8 July 2015

    The latest phase of our refurbishment project for the London School of Economics library has opened. The new publicly accessible exhibition space gives the library a dynamic showcase for their historic collections. Sophisticated environmental controls and discretely integrated security measures to meet the requirements of the Government Indemnity Scheme mean that the library will be able to borrow and display artefacts from other institutions, giving them the opportunity to curate exciting exhibitions in the future.

  • City of Westminster College Student Awards

    Date posted: Thursday 2 July 2015

    Senior Architect Michael de Nobrega recently attended the City of Westminster College Annual Student Awards Ceremony to present an achievement award sponsored by ArchitecturePLB. We are currently working with the College on a project to refurbish their Maida Vale campus. The project  is now on site, due for completion in 2016.

    Click here to read more about our refurbishment project for the City of Westminster College Maida Vale campus.

  • ArchitecturePLB in AJ120

    Date posted: Thursday 25 June 2015

    ArchitecturePLB has been named in the Architect’s Journal list of the top 120 architectural practices in the country. ArchitecturePLB are delighted to be ranked amongst the top practices again this year, reflecting continued success across all sectors.

  • Promotions and welcomes

    Date posted: Wednesday 10 June 2015

    With new commissions and bid successes we are welcoming a number of new staff to the practice. A new Senior Architect will expand the skills and experience of our London team, while in Winchester we have appointed three Architectural Assistant and an Architect, and welcomed back Architectural Technician Chris Nash. We have also recognised staff development through two promotions; Stephen Belcher has been promoted to Senior Architect and we have acknowledged the growing management role of our Finance Manager Alison Taylor through promotion and expansion of her remit to Company Secretary.

  • Touch Rugby Tournament

    Date posted: Tuesday 9 June 2015

    Congratulations to ArchitecturePLB’s touch rugby team that took part in this year’s Southampton Commercial Property Mixed Rugby Tournament.

    After a slow start, the team rallied with strong wins against Clarke Willmott LLP and AECOM and narrowly missed out on the semi-finals.

  • University of Portsmouth Masterplan

    Date posted: Tuesday 2 June 2015

    ArchitecturePLB has been appointed by the University of Portsmouth to develop a 15-20 year campus masterplan to support the University’s strategic vision. The main campus is situated in the civic heart of Portsmouth and the strong relationship between the City and University creates a focus for their future plans. Our team will work collaboratively with the University to assess their current facilities, develop the strategic brief, find potential for expansion, and develop options for meeting future requirements.

    Read More

  • Paragraph 55 house submitted for planning

    Date posted: Tuesday 2 June 2015

    ArchitecturePLB have just submitted a planning application for their first NPPF Paragraph 55 house to Test Valley Borough Council.

    The 3 bedroom home is being developed by a private client near to the Hampshire village of Over Wallop and is clad in wrinkly zinc and burnt cedar, reminiscent of the local agricultural vernacular.

    It aims to be one of the first buildings in the country to be constructed to the new Passivhaus Premium standard.

  • Future Schools: Innovative Design for Existing and New Buildings

    Date posted: Monday 1 June 2015

    ArchitecturePLB director, Nick Mirchandani and independent Educationalist, Sharon Wright have co-edited a new book; ‘Future Schools: Innovative Design for Existing and New Buildings’ for RIBA Publishing.

    The book provides design guidance on themes in school architecture and features a wealth of recent innovative projects from around the UK.

    The book is available to purchase from the RIBA Bookshop.

  • Quebec Park shortlisted for Housing Design Award

    Date posted: Tuesday 12 May 2015

    Quebec Park has been shortlisted in the Project Schemes category for a Housing Design Award, 2015.

    The scheme incorporates 100 sustainable homes and an employment hub formed from two existing former Ministry of Defence barracks. The project is expected to begin on site in Autumn 2015, with completion Spring 2017.

    You can view our listing and other schemes in the competition on the HDA website here.

  • Eastleigh College Redevelopment submitted for planning

    Date posted: Monday 11 May 2015

    ArchitecturePLB have submitted their proposal for Eastleigh College’s new Block F to Eastleigh Borough Council. The new building, formed in brick and copper with a curtain of perforated solar shading to the southern façade, creates new Art & Design, Finance & Business and Hair & Beauty teaching facilities. The proposals also include the re-modeling of the existing entrance area to include external social spaces and improved connections to the new building, all enclosed by a bespoke boundary fence incorporating signage and artwork.

  • The Mayflower Gym, University of Southampton

    Date posted: Tuesday 5 May 2015

    Last week marked the official opening of ArchitecturePLB’s latest sports facility. The Mayflower Gym is a new fitness facility for the University of Southampton that includes high quality facilities with state of the art fitness equipment. The Gym and studio cover a wide range of programmed activities and services with over 80 pieces of dedicated fitness equipment.

    Chinese yachting Olympic gold-medalist, Xu Lijia, who is currently studying at the University of Southampton, officially opened the new facility.

  • The Handle Bar Cafe – A SPUD Youth Project

    Date posted: Thursday 9 April 2015

    This week our Winchester studio has provided workshop space for the SPUD Youth Group, as they finalise designs for their proposed Cycle Cafe project. The SPUD Youth Group was set up by Mark Drury with the intention of providing an opportunity for budding new designers to engage in real life design projects.  The proposed design will re-appropriate a decommissioned train carriage situated on a national cycle route to provide refreshments, seating and a cycle repair shop to the passing crowd.

    Read More

  • AJ Article – PSBP Challenges

    Date posted: Thursday 2 April 2015

    ArchitecturePLB director, Nick Mirchandani and educationalist Sharon Wright have co-written an article for the Architect’s Journal on the challenges of the Priority Schools Building Programme.

    You can read the full article on the AJ’s website here if you are a subscriber.

  • Spring Practice Day 2015

    Date posted: Monday 23 March 2015

    This year’s spring practice day was hosted by our London studio. Important practice wide messages were shared throughout the day, including pension scheme updates, business development opportunities and presentations from project architects working across our Schools, Housing, HE and Student Residence sectors. The weather was on our side, and we were able to take advantage of the sun and deck chairs on the roof terrace outside. The day ended with every member of staff sharing an image they’d captured of an architectural detail, building or curiosity that had caught their attention recently.

  • Place Shaping Event, Winchester

    Date posted: Thursday 12 March 2015

    Director Ian Deans was invited to facilitate a training day for local councillors and officers, to provide an insight into the way the design of the built environment needs to be considered to ensure that it enhances quality of life. This training is a response to the Farrell Review, which concluded that places across the country would be greatly improved if the people who make decisions about our built environment, were empowered by an understanding of what makes places work for people. It is a joint project between Winchester City Council and Eastleigh Borough Council, supported by the Urban Design Group and Feria Urbanism.

  • Civic Trust Award for Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park

    Date posted: Monday 9 March 2015

    Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park has been awarded a Civic Trust Award Commendation. The Civic Trust Awards were established in 1959 and recognise the very best in architecture, urban design, planning, landscape, public realm and public art. The scheme was praised by the judges;  “The Aveling Centre is a simple but beautiful building that has turned the obvious constraints of small park buildings into an opportunity for creative thinking that delights.”

    Click here to view further details about our award winning project in Waltham Forest.

  • Parkstone Yacht Club submitted for planning

    Date posted: Tuesday 24 February 2015

    Parkstone Yacht Club was submitted for planning approval on 20th February. The scheme has been developed over the last 12 months with close engagement with members of the Club in Poole. The club has a membership of approximately 2,800, the majority of whom are local residents. The Members vary from children to the elderly, with a particularly strong youth fleet. Consultation opportunities were provided to both club members and the local community throughout the design process.

    Read More

  • First Passivhaus complete

    Date posted: Friday 20 February 2015

    In June 2012 ArchitecturePLB received planning approval for a house designed to Passivhaus standards. The scheme encountered a lengthy process of design and construction, overcoming significant planning challenges and heritage concerns due to it’s city centre location. The house reached completion a few weeks ago and is now home to two happy owners. The building is cut in to the hill side, featuring flat green roofs, ample north facing glazing and a generous balcony benefiting from the late afternoon light. APLB’s project architect has since been certified as a Passivhaus designer and is pursuing other low carbon residential projects.

  • Refurbishment of City of Westminster College Maida Vale campus starts on site

    Date posted: Tuesday 17 February 2015

    Work has started on site on the refurbishment of the City of Westminster College Maida Vale Campus. The whole site, including buildings ranging in age from the 1890s to the 1960s will be refurbished to support modern teaching and learning. The project focuses on creating contemporary learning spaces for mainly adult learners undertaking a variety of courses. In addition the refurbishment will provide the college with a dedicated centre with specialist facilities to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

  • CIH South East Exhibition and Conference 2015

    Date posted: Tuesday 17 February 2015

    Our Housing team will be heading down to the south coast in early March for the annual CIH South East Conference & Exhibition at The Brighton Centre. ArchitecturePLB are sponsoring the 3 day event starting on Tuesday 3rd March. There will be a full programme of presentations, masterclasses and think tanks. One of the ArchitecturePLB team will be present throughout to digest and discuss recent innovations and best practice within the sector.

    Visit the CIH website to view a list of confirmed speakers and the detailed programme of events.

  • Building 4 Education Article

    Date posted: Tuesday 10 February 2015

    The thoughts of Rupert Cook have been featured in a Sustainability special of the latest issue of Building 4 Education. The article questions whether universities are committed to strategies to enhance the environment or whether it’s simply recycling proven technologies. Rupert believes some Higher Education Institutions are discounting BREEAM in favour of alternative energy models such as SKA and Passivhaus due to high assessment costs. Rupert believes it’s important that more knowledge of refurbishing 1960s and 1970s university estates are shared via organisations as HEDQF, of which he is joint-convenor.

  • The CASS, London Met

    Date posted: Monday 9 February 2015

    Following the successful completion of the first phase of the refurbishment and fit out for The CASS at Central House, Aldgate, we are delighted to have been awarded the commission to continue the renewal of the facilities in Calcutta House, Nr Aldgate East tube a few hundred meters from the previous commission for the Faculty of Arts and Architecture.

    Read More

  • Representational Techniques in Architecture

    Date posted: Friday 30 January 2015

    One of ArchitecturePLB’s projects has been featured in the second edition of ‘Representational Techniques for Architecture’, as part of the Basics Architecture series, written by Lorraine Farrelly and Nicola Crowson.

    Page 48-49 features a cross section drawing of The Eco-Station which encourages the public to engage with sustainability. The project was designed as a series of frames that could be easily taken apart at a range of locations. It was then clad with panels using materials from recycled mobiles phones to old plastic pipes.

  • RIBA Small Project Handbook

    Date posted: Monday 26 January 2015

    ArchitecturePLB Towers 1&2 project for the London School of Economics  has been featured in a new RIBA publication, the Small Projects Handbook. A hands-on guide to running smaller projects, fully-aligned to the RIBA Plan of Work 2013, the book is interspersed with case material illustrating ‘real world’ problems and solutions from practice.

    Small Projects Handbook by Nigel Ostime

    RIBA Publishing

  • Eastleigh College Redevelopment

    Date posted: Wednesday 21 January 2015

    ArchitecturePLB have recently begun work on the first phase of redevelopment proposals for Eastleigh College in Hampshire. The proposals include a new specialist teaching facility for training both young people and adults to accommodate Hair & Beauty and Art & Design as well as improvements to the college entrance and public realm. The scheme is scheduled for completion in September 2016 and forms a welcome addition to APLB’s growing experience in designing Further Education facilities.

  • Members of HCA Framework

    Date posted: Wednesday 21 January 2015

    We are delighted to be selected, as a member of the Tibbalds CampbellReith Joint Venture, to be part of the Homes and Communities Agency’s new multidisciplinary panel. The Joint Venture is supported by a team of consultants covering a range specialisms that can be tailored to bring together the best skills to suit each individual project. ArchitecturePLB will be supplying architectural services, particularly in the education and housing sectors. The HCA panel is available as a means for public sector bodies to conveniently obtain high quality multidisciplinary design services.

  • Certified PassivHaus Designer

    Date posted: Friday 19 December 2014

    Having completed his training course in October this year, Paul Phasey has now been officially designated as a Certified PassivHaus Designer by the Passivhaus Institute. Paul will soon be featured on the list of Certified PassivHaus Designers and Consultants found on the PHI’s website www.passivehouse-designer.org

    Read More

  • JLL – Trading space for height in student residences

    Date posted: Tuesday 9 December 2014

    ArchitecturePLB were invited by JLL as part of a series of presentations to consider the future of purpose-designed student residences. The talks covered a variety of topics: a brief history of student housing, small and shared, shared social space, size vs quality and our subject – trading space for height.

    Read More

  • Ascot Road Free School

    Date posted: Thursday 4 December 2014

    Ascot Road Free School reached it’s topping out point last week and a ceremony took place on site on Wednesday 3rd December. The new build primary school will accommodate 420 pupils and 35 nursery children on a former derelict site in Watford. The event provided an opportunity for a number of pupils to add their mark by laying a brick on the North facade. The event was well attended by members of the school as well as the Vice Chancellor of Hertfordshire University and the Mayoress of Watford. The construction programme is on schedule, with the school set to open in May 2015.

  • RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards

    Date posted: Friday 28 November 2014

    Congratulations to Architectural Assistant Tom Hayes in our Winchester office who was recently awarded an RIBA Student Award for his Part II project, ‘Branching Out’.

    His project seeks to explore the role of Botanic Gardens in society through developing abandoned housing sites in Estepona, Spain. The project aims to integrate the existing economies of agriculture and tourism in order to revitalise this area of the Andalusian coast.

    You can read more about the project here.

  • Merchant Taylors School – Site Progress

    Date posted: Thursday 27 November 2014

    The new Design and Technology and Art building for Merchant Taylors’ School is progressing well on site, managed by main contractor Borras Construction. Works in the ground and the superstructure are now complete, current works include completing the external envelope and first fix for mechanical and electrical services. The programme is on schedule for completion next Summer. Many thanks to Borras for allowing us to host this time lapse video showing progress thus far.

  • RIBA Student Award

    Date posted: Wednesday 26 November 2014

    Congratulations to Architectural Assistant Dan Trenholme in our London studio who has been awarded the prestigious RIBA London Student Award for his RIBA Part I work. His work focused on the redevelopment of the Heygate Estate in Southwark; relocating the adjacent shopping centre and combining with residential units and city farms to create an alternative, self-sufficient community. Dan presented his work to the office on Friday afternoon, followed by lively debate amongst all staff about the concept and admiration of the intricate hand drawn plans.

  • Kisharon Day School

    Date posted: Monday 24 November 2014

    We are delighted to announce that ArchitecturePLB has been selected to work with the Kisharon Charitable Trust in preparing redevelopment and expansion proposals for the Kisharon Day School. Located on Finchley Road in Golders Green, the Kisharon Day School is the only Jewish special needs school in North West London. The school can currently accommodate 45 children between the ages of 4 and 19 and caters for a wide range of educational needs, from moderate learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders to more severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.

  • Heron Hall Academy Update

    Date posted: Thursday 20 November 2014

    On Tuesday 18th November the Planning Committee of Enfield Council voted unanimously to approve our proposals for converting the Grade II listed Broadbent building off Queensway into a new Free School for 1680 students aged 11-19. The project will rescue these fine 1930′s buildings from increasing dilapidation, securing for them a long-term sustainable future in an Educational use, for which they were originally designed. The buildings will be returned close to their original form through the sensitive removal of subsequent additions. Two new extensions will accommodate specialist teaching, dining and sports facilities.

  • ECN Conference Day 1 Speaker Presentations

    Date posted: Tuesday 11 November 2014

    Director Nick Mirchandani is to be one of the opening speakers on the first day of the Education Construction Network conference to be held at The Building Centre in Store Street, London on 26th and 27th November 2014.

    Nick is due to respond to the question ‘What Makes an Education Building Exemplar?’ followed by a Q&A panel. Further information and tickets are available from the ECN website at www.educonnet.co.uk

  • Civic Society Design Award

    Date posted: Thursday 6 November 2014

    Samuel Ryder Academy has been selected as the winner of the St Albans Civic Society Award.

    The award judges said: “The simplicity, clean lines and suitable, pupil-friendly scale of the primary school unit and the linking reception and administrative facilities enhance the existing school buildings admirably. 

    Read More

  • Autumn Practice Day 2014

    Date posted: Friday 24 October 2014

    Autumn Practice Day took place in our Winchester studio again this year. A summary of the last 6 months, current business development activity and objectives for the future was provided from the directors. Project architects presented the status of the various projects within our current diverse sector spread, from Schools and Housing to Commercial and Colleges and Universities. A delicious spread of savoury and sweet supplements were provided by willing staff from both studios. There was time at the end of the day for a team photograph and a chance to share images which we found particularly inspiring.

  • Merchant Taylors’ School Site Visit

    Date posted: Monday 20 October 2014

    Last week our London studio traveled to Moor Park to view site progress of the new Design and Technology building at Merchant Taylors’ School. The new facility will provide classrooms, workshop and flexible ‘breakout’ spaces, whilst also improving pedestrian access across the site. The building incorporates cross laminated timber (CLT) panels within the structure allowing the building fabric to be used as a teaching tool for the school, as detailed in the original brief. The visit provided a valuable learning opportunity for some of our new recruits, introducing them to some of the modern construction methods.

  • Conference Sponsorship: NLA Londons Education Estates

    Date posted: Wednesday 15 October 2014

    ArchitecturePLB enjoy delivering a diverse range of projects that provide settings for education from early years to adulthood. We are also currently working with a range of clients across the education sector, supporting them in carrying out strategic appraisals of their estates to ensure that they will support rapidly changing future provision. This gives us a distinct perspective on education estates; sponsorship of an NLA education conference was an exciting opportunity to use our experience to assist in developing a rich programme covering the wide diversity education estates in London.

    Read More

  • Solent Design Award Shortlisting

    Date posted: Friday 10 October 2014

    One of ArchitecturePLB’s latest student residences’, West Hill Green, otherwise known as Burma Road Student Village in Winchester has been shortlisted for a Solent Design Award. The scheme will be assessed on Thursday 16th October and the results will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth on 20th November.

    Click here to view further details of our project. You can vote for our project to win one of three awards on the Solent Design Award website here.

  • Monksbrook Estate Phase I complete

    Date posted: Thursday 9 October 2014

    The first phase of the Monksbrook Estate Regeneration is now complete, seeing the delivery of the first 83 homes of the 238 units scheduled to replace the outmoded 1960’s estate. The first phase comprises a range of mixed tenures units, from large 5 bed family houses to 1 bed accessible units all to CfSH Code Level 4. These are arranged around new streets and spaces that have completely restructured the estate, to provide family homes with gardens and a much greater emphasis on the public realm. Work is well underway on the next phase with overall completion set for 2016. Click here to view the project in full.

  • NLA Education Conference

    Date posted: Tuesday 30 September 2014

    ArchitecturePLB are sponsoring a half day NLA conference, “London’s Education Estate  – schools, colleges and universities in the capital”.

    The conference will look at the changing face of education at all levels with presentations that we hope will stimulate some lively debate about the future shape and form of the “education estate”.

    The conference takes place on Friday 10th October at NLA HQ – Store Street, WC1 7BT. Should you wish to attend, you can book a place here

  • Queens Keep and Latimer House, Southampton

    Date posted: Friday 26 September 2014

    ArchitecturePLB have recently begun work on a number of projects with commercial property developer, the Ashville Group. Design proposals have been produced for regenerating Queens Keep, a 12 storey 1960’s office building in central Southampton. The scheme also includes refurbishment of the adjacent Latimer House, a fine terrace of listed town-houses converted to commercial use.

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  • Cromwell Road nearing completion

    Date posted: Monday 15 September 2014

    Building the 9 new homes on a narrow and heavily wooded site has required a tightly programed construction sequence to manage ecological seasons and archaeological digs. This constricted site has required bespoke construction solutions, including smaller panels of timber frame to reduce transport loads on the root protection zones and to avoid the need for high vehicles under the trees.

    Read More

  • APLB join the Residential Construction Network

    Date posted: Thursday 11 September 2014

    ArchitecturePLB have become one of the founding members of the Residential Construction Network. Already members of the Education Construction Network, the practice are keen to join the current debate on the housing crisis – the lack of provision, sustainability, the planning process, affordability, the use of the greenbelt and the ageing population. Alongside our other memberships and initiatives in this sector, we value this opportunity to explore the future of our industry and look forward to contributing with new research and innovative design solutions to address these issues.

  • Waverley Borough Council Framework

    Date posted: Wednesday 10 September 2014

    ArchitecturePLB are pleased to have been added to a select list of practices to provide architectural services for Waverley Borough Council. The council recently gave the go ahead to start consultation of building nearly 8,500 new homes within this area of Surrey. ArchitecturePLB look forward to building upon their existing housing portfolio and spread the geographical net of projects in this sector.

  • Mayflower Halls Official Opening

    Date posted: Friday 29 August 2014

    Mayflower Halls was officially opened on 28th August, the event was marked by a ceremony conducted by local MP John Denham who was joined by University of Southampton Vice Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam, Mayor of Southampton Sue Blatchford and the Chairman of Osborne, Andrew Osborne.

    Read More

  • Marlborough Primary School

    Date posted: Tuesday 26 August 2014

    Architecture PLB are delighted to build on our recent work with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and are appointed as Client Design Advisor for RIBA workstages 3-7 for the New Marlborough Primary School.

    A new two-form entry school is proposed on the site of the current Marlborough Primary School and will also provide a 26 full time equivalent nursery for 3-4 year olds and a specialist Autism Centre for 12 pupils.

    Read More

  • ISO 14001 Renewal

    Date posted: Wednesday 13 August 2014

    Our Green Office Group are delighted that their hard work and achievements have been recognised in a glowing report from the auditor who undertook our ISO14001 Audit in July. Our ISO14001 certification was renewed and the following comments made in the auditors report: “Excellent management of the systems documents and records [….] All equipment to be purchased has energy saving attributes and there is good recycling being conducted. Top Management are proactive in their approach to environmental management. The way the system is managed makes it easy to follow and a pleasure to audit.”

  • Heron Hall Academy

    Date posted: Wednesday 30 July 2014

    We are delighted to report that our client Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd has been appointed ‘Selected Panel Member’ for a batch of four new Free Schools in London and Chichester. The initial project entails the redevelopment of a redundant Middlesex University site in Enfield for the new 1680-place Heron Hall Academy.

    The proposals seek to rescue the Grade II listed 1930’s buildings from increasing dilapidation, securing for them a long-term…

    Read More

  • Southwark Design Panel

    Date posted: Tuesday 29 July 2014

    ArchitecturePLB Director Rachel Shaw has been invited to continue her membership of Southwark Design Review Panel. Rachel has been a member of the panel since its inception in 2006 when it was one of the first local authority design review panels in London. The past 8 years have seen major changes in the built environment in Southwark, giving the opportunity to be involved in the review of  a range of interesting development proposals.

  • Gliding Heritage Centre

    Date posted: Monday 28 July 2014

    We have been asked by The Gliding Heritage Centre to help develop a brief for a new museum building for the Heritage Lottery Fund applications. The new museum is to sit alongside the recently completed hangar at Lasham Airfield in Hampshire – home of Lasham Gliding, one of the biggest gliding clubs in the world.

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  • Architects of the future

    Date posted: Tuesday 22 July 2014

    It is the time of year when we invest time and energy in the possible architects of the future. We have enjoyed having four Year 11 and year 12 students from various schools with us for work experience placements. As well as taking the students to meetings and site visits we set each student a mini design project which they undertake with guidance from a mentor. Director Rupert Cook took part in an careers event at his old school to give year 12 students an outline of Architecture as a career.

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  • Quebec Park receives planning approval

    Date posted: Monday 21 July 2014

    Quebec Park was granted unanimous planning approval yesterday evening by East Hampshire District Council. The scheme will provide 100 homes and a community/business hub in the first phase of the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration project. The first major housing development to replace empty Ministry of Defense buildings, it is to be an exemplar sustainable community that will set the standard for future phases.

  • Practice Day – Hayling Island

    Date posted: Friday 11 July 2014

    This years Practice summer study trip was held at Hayling Island Sailing Club; an appropriate destination as a result of the recent design competition win for Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole. As well as a visit around the club facilities, the day involved team building activities of windsurfing and dinghy sailing, including an introduction to racing. The two studios enjoyed a barbecue lunch together on the balcony, with the whole day providing a great opportunity to catch up and share project progress on a beautiful day on the south coast.

  • City of Westminster College

    Date posted: Friday 4 July 2014

    ArchitecturePLB are pleased to have been selected through an invited design competition to work with City of Westminster College on the refurbishment of their Maida Vale campus. The project will refurbish the whole campus, which is currently vacant. The buildings, which range in age from the 1890s to the 1960s will be brought up to date to support modern teaching and learning, the design will bring a fresh, contemporary feel to the spaces allowing the campus to once again become part of “London’s top vocational FE college” .

  • Designing for the Third Age

    Date posted: Monday 23 June 2014

    The challenges of providing housing for an ageing generation have been a concern of the practice for some years. Following on from several other publications, practice Director Ian Deans was instrumental in commissioning this edition of AD magazine which was to consider the issues, analyse case studies and propose innovative solutions for different locations and cultures across the world.

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  • NLA Awards Expert Assessor

    Date posted: Tuesday 17 June 2014

    Rachel Shaw, Director at ArchitecturePLB was recently invited to be Expert Assessor for the Education buildings category for the 2014 New London Architecture Awards. Rachel brings experience of designing a diverse range of education buildings for all ages,  from nurseries to University buildings to the role.

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  • Live Work Play Workshop

    Date posted: Monday 16 June 2014

    On Monday 16th June ArchitecturePLB directors, Nick Mirchandani and Rupert Cook delivered a model making workshop for two Hampshire primary schools on the theme of ‘Workspaces’.

    It was delivered in conjunction with as part of the Live Work Play initiative, alongside the exhibition currently being held at the Discovery Centre in Winchester. The exhibition is an RIBA initiative to showcase recent work by Hampshire based architects.

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  • Unanimous planning approval for Victoria House

    Date posted: Friday 13 June 2014

    The Victoria House project, a scheme for 27 down-sizer and shared equity dwellings in the Hyde conservation area of Winchester, won unanimous planning approval at Committee yesterday. Councillors praised it as an “excellent design” and particularly praised the WCC Housing Team for selecting this site for the down-sizer units, in the heart of the City with all facilities close at hand. Work will begin shortly on the production phase of the project, with all the challenges on working on a constricted inner city site. Demolition and archaeology will commence later in the year, before construction starts in earnest.

  • ‘Learning Environments’ conference

    Date posted: Tuesday 10 June 2014

    ArchitecturePLB, Director Rupert Cook will be delivering a presentation as part of the ‘Learning Environments: Future-Proofing our Education Spaces’ conference on Tuesday 1st July at the new Central St Martins facility in Granary Square.

    Rupert will explore key themes of the conference using the Teaching and Resource Centre, Royal Veterinary College as a case study.

    Follow this link for further details.

  • RIBA Journal Article – June 2014

    Date posted: Sunday 1 June 2014

    Rupert Cook recently wrote an introductory piece about architecture in the South for RIBA Journal’s Awards edition. He commented upon the high proportion of architectural practices based in Hampshire and some of the changes that have taken place in the region over the last 40 years.

  • ArchitecturePLB in AJ100

    Date posted: Thursday 29 May 2014

    This year’s AJ100 rankings have been published, with ArchitecturePLB placed 94th in the top 100 architectural practices in the UK. For more detailed information visit the AJ website here

  • London South Bank University

    Date posted: Wednesday 7 May 2014

    ArchitecturePLB have been working with London South Bank University in the preparation of strategic studies to inform the development of their Southwark campus over the next 10-15 years. Our work will inform the emerging Estate Strategy which places educational outcomes and improved student experience at the centre, whilst also ensuring that LSBU continues to play a pivotal role in this rapidly changing part of the city. Following detailed analysis of the physical fabric and organisation of the campus, potential development scenarios have been tested with the University to begin giving shape to an exciting future campus.

  • Green Sky Thinking Week

    Date posted: Friday 2 May 2014

    ArchitecturePLB’s Green Sky Thinking Week event ‘Skeleton Safari – Adding Value Through Passive Retrofit’ at the Royal Veterinary College was well attended despite the tube strike. The event was held in the Social Learning Space designed by ArchitecturePLB.  Along with other design team members and the client we presented how the project was developed to bring maximum value to the campus in the most sustainable way. Themes included lean materials and engineering, passive ventilation design and design to maximise natural daylight.

  • Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole

    Date posted: Thursday 1 May 2014

    ArchitecturePLB have been appointed to develop the designs for the site masterplan and replacement clubhouse for Parkstone Yacht Club on Poole Harbour, up to planning. The project was won through competition, including design ideas and interview, against five other architects. The consultant team is made up of DBK, Hoare Lea and WSP.

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  • AUDE 2014

    Date posted: Wednesday 16 April 2014

    This year’s AUDE conference took place at Roehampton University attended by a mixture of ArchitecturePLB directors and associates. Our custom designed stand was well received, attracting both fellow exhibitors and delegates. Our team met with a range of directors of estates, contractors and fellow consultants, engaging in conversations about the state of the Higher Education sector and potential development opportunities.

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  • Green Sky Thinking Week

    Date posted: Thursday 10 April 2014

    As part of this years’s Green Sky Thinking Week, ArchitecturePLB will be hosting an event; ‘Skeleton Safari: Adding Value Through Passive Retrofit’ – This is a great opportunity to visit the Lightwell Cafe at the Royal Veterinary College. The sustainable and innovative project created a vibrant, new space on the campus by enclosing an underused courtyard below an ETFE roof. The design team focused on a low energy, passive approach which they will talk more about at the event. You can book a ticket by following this link.

    We look forward to seeing you there!

  • Mayflower Halls – Topping Out

    Date posted: Friday 4 April 2014

    Construction of Mayflower Halls has now reached its maximum height of 17 storeys. This important milestone was marked by a topping-out ceremony in March 2014. ArchitecturePLB were delighted to receive a special mention in the speeches, singled out for our contribution to the project and our excellent working relationship with the team.

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  • CIC South BIM Hub

    Date posted: Wednesday 2 April 2014

    ArchitecturePLB’s William Bond, was recently invited to give a presentation at the CIC South BIM Hub. William, who has a Masters in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, focused on the contractual risks and responsibilities of BIM protocols, particularly the new CIC BIM Pro (2013).

  • Stapleton House, Holloway Road, Islington

    Date posted: Friday 28 March 2014

    ArchitecturePLB are delighted to announce that following 15 months of negotiations with the London Borough of Islington, planning approval has been granted for a new student accommodation scheme containing 862 study bedrooms for the Unite Group and London Metropolitan University.

    The ten storey development will help regenerate the area through the provision of community space and commercial units for local businesses on the ground floor, with a mix of cluster flats and studios above.  It is situated in a highly desirable location with excellent transport routes to London’s top universities.

  • Learning Spaces Article

    Date posted: Thursday 27 March 2014

    In an article published in Learning Spaces magazine ArchitecturePLB director Rachel Shaw reflects on designing social learning spaces for Higher Education. The magazine is available here

  • HEDQF Meeting and Design Competition Masterclass

    Date posted: Wednesday 26 March 2014

    As part of the annual programme of events hosted by HEDQF, ArchitecturePLB director, Rupert Cook attended the spring meeting at LSE’s new Saw Swee Hock Student Centre on Wednesday 26th March. The day included informative presentations from a number of Directors of Estates, Joanne Wallis, RIBA Competitions Consultant and Peter Murray, NLA Chairman concerning design competitions within the Higher Education sector.

  • Spring Practice Day 2014

    Date posted: Thursday 20 March 2014

    This year it was the turn of our London studio to host the whole ArchitecturePLB team for our Spring Practice Day. Directors and Associates gave a number of forward looking presentations including future business development strategies. Project progress was shared with everyone showing one image and saying a few words about their current project. London office staff provided a magnificent feast of home cooked food for lunch (hoping to reap the reward when they visit the Winchester office for our Autumn Practice Day in October!)

  • CIH South East Conference

    Date posted: Thursday 6 March 2014

    This week, we made our annual pilgrimage to Brighton for the CIH South East Conference, the largest event in the sector’s calendar and a valuable venue for catching up on the latest thinking, and networking with friends and colleagues from the housing industry. Typically, the event attracts hundreds of housing professionals who come for the conference and associated exhibition on all aspects of the challenges facing us in the delivery and management of affordable housing.

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  • HEDQF: Estates Matter

    Date posted: Monday 17 February 2014

    Estates Matter  – HEDQF Report on Survey of Students’ views of their universities’ estates 2013

    ArchitecturePLB have co-sponsored the publication of the Research led by LSE, seeking to understand whether the University Estate has an impact on the Student Experience. The research carried out by ZZA Ltd for the Estate team at LSE and was first launched at the AUDE conference in 2013 through an interactive workshop delivered by HEDQF.

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  • Merchant Taylors School Update

    Date posted: Monday 10 February 2014

    Following a competitive tender process, Borras Construction have been selected to deliver the new Design & Technology Building for Merchant Taylor’s School in Moor Park. The project was originally won through a RIBA-managed invited competition and is being delivered in two separate construction contracts. The initial contract provided a new access road around the perimeter of the campus, resolving existing pedestrian / vehicle conflicts and allowing discrete and safe access for the new works. Construction of the new building is due to start in March this year for occupation the following September.

  • Student Accommodation, Hastings

    Date posted: Tuesday 4 February 2014

    A seven storey student accommodation scheme in the centre of Hastings was submitted for planning by ArchitecturePLB in January 2014.  The project is to be built upon the existing basement car park next to Sussex Coast College and will provide accommodation for up to 223 students of the University of Brighton.

  • Hertfordshire Primary Expansion Programme

    Date posted: Monday 27 January 2014

    Planning applications have recently been submitted for the latest six projects under Hertfordshire’ County Council’s Primary Expansion Programme. Four of the schemes are for 1 Form Entry expansions of existing primary schools while two are entirely new 2 Form Entry ‘Free Schools’. ArchitecturePLB have now been commissioned for 14 different projects by the Hertfordshire Schools Building Partnership (HSBP), five of which have already been handed over, two are under construction and the other seven at different stages of design development. The new projects are due for completion by Summer 2015.

  • NLQ Winter 2014 Article

    Date posted: Thursday 23 January 2014

    Directors Ian Deans and Rupert Cook were invited by the team at NLQ to write a piece which captures ongoing research at the practice into new and emerging types of homes and houses. In this particular piece they consider the benefits of designing places and buildings for the combined use of  ‘active-agers’ and students.

  • Woodside Avenue Planning Consent

    Date posted: Friday 17 January 2014

    ArchitecturePLB have just obtained Outline Approval for 100 houses in the centre of Eastleigh. The Planning Committee were unanimous in their approval, and the scheme was passed in just 6 weeks after submission, in part due to a close working relationship between APLB, the Clients and Eastleigh Planning. The project is being designed to the new BREEAM Communities Standard, and is set to achieve BREEAM Excellent standard. The project sees Eastleigh embark on a new phase of Council Housing, with the scheme delivering a range of homes to meet a variety of needs.

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  • SPUD Group – Final Presentation

    Date posted: Thursday 16 January 2014

    Bringing to a close our support for the Winchester SPUD Youth Group, the young participants gave their final presentations an invited audience. The guests included Winchester City Counsellors, Officers, local artists, parents and other invited guests. The young people, who are mostly in their final GCSE years, presented confidently with ideas which challenged decision makers with the designs for their Cycle Cafes, in locations around the City which frankly need greater activity. The group were invited to present to the Town Forum, a group of the City Council to consider whether any ideas could be taken forwards.

  • Mayflower Halls obtains BREEAM Excellent rating

    Date posted: Tuesday 14 January 2014

    Mayflower Halls Student Accommodation for the University of Southampton designed by ArchitecturePLB has received BREEAM EXCELLENT rating at the design stage.  The high-rise scheme for 1000 plus students is progressing at pace on site and due to open its door to students in September 2014.

  • The Women’s Library at LSE

    Date posted: Monday 13 January 2014

    Construction of a new Reading Room for LSE Library has now commenced. The Reading Room will provide a high quality, secure environment where Library users can access The Women’s Library at LSE, the oldest and most extensive collection of women’s history in Europe.

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  • Student Accommodation Conference 2013

    Date posted: Thursday 5 December 2013

    On 4 December 2013 Paul Conway, Associate, attended the prestigious Student Accommodation Conference at Westminster Park Plaza, London. The event was organised by Property Week and supported by a number of sector leaders including CRM Students, Collegiate Student Accommodation, Balfour Beatty, Campus Living Villages, Campus Development Management, Jones Lang LaSalle, Unite and many others.

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  • NLA – Panel Discussion

    Date posted: Friday 29 November 2013

    Rupert Cook Director of ArchitecturePLB was invited to join the panel discussion at the recent NLA breakfast talk – ‘How do we deal with the legacy of 1960s university buildings?’ The debate was focussed on addressing problems with buildings created during the sector’s booming period through the 1960-1970s, loosely based about the extremes of demolish or retro-fit. The panel also included: Julian Robinson – LSE, Bill Hunt – London Met, Carol Lelliot – Nick Hare, James Dunnett, Past Chair – DOCOMOMO-UK and Peter Murray, Chairman, NLA (Chair). Full NLA news article.