• Warren Andrew Drive Official Opening

    Date posted: Monday 9 October 2023

    We were delighted to attend the official opening of Warren Andrew Drive, a Rural Exception Site in the parish of North Warnborough last week. The event was hosted by Lindy Morgan, Chair of Hastoe’s Board, with speeches and ‘ribbon cutting’ by Cllr Peter Wildsmith, Cahir of Hart District Council, Cllr Pamela Verdon, Vice Chair of Odiham Parish Council and Andrew May, the former landowner.

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  • Southbrook cottages: Micheldever’s Newest Passivhaus flats aims for Zero Carbon footprint

    Date posted: Wednesday 15 February 2023

    Following the planning approval of Southbrook Cottages, we are delighted to share that the works for the homes have commenced.​

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  • Planning permission secured for Woodcote Road and Beddington Lane

    Date posted: Wednesday 14 December 2022

    ArchitecturePLB has achieved planning permission for the London Borough of Sutton for 20 Passivhaus residential units across two sites at Woodcote Road and Beddington Lane. The scheme provides 1, 2 and 3-bedroom local authority homes for Sutton residents.

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  • Affordable housing scheme at 37-39 Salisbury Road submitted for planning

    Date posted: Wednesday 7 December 2022

    A redevelopment of 20 affordable homes has been submitted for planning at 37-39 Salisbury Road for New Forest District Council.

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  • Looking to the future: Planning submission for a New mixed use development on High Street, Winchester

    Date posted: Tuesday 22 November 2022

    A planning application has been submitted on behalf of PPR Estates to redevelop 149-150 High Street, Winchester. The design proposes a part new build/part office to residential conversion scheme comprised of 16 one, two and three-bed apartments and commercial space on the ground floor.

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  • Hythe Hospital Housing Receives Planning Approval

    Date posted: Wednesday 16 November 2022

    Planning permission has been granted for over 20 affordable homes adjacent to the site of our Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital. The scheme rationalises this part of the NHS estate, combining essential healthcare facilities with much-needed housing.

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  • Bolt Tightening Ceremony marks a new milestone for Worthing Integrated Care

    Date posted: Tuesday 25 October 2022

    We are delighted to have marked another milestone for the Worthing Integrated Care Centre by commemorating the completion of the structural frame with a Bolt Tightening Ceremony!

     

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  • Planning Submission for Hythe Hospital Housing

    Date posted: Friday 2 September 2022

    ArchitecturePLB has been supporting New Forest District Council with the planning submission for over 20 affordable homes on the site of the Hythe Health Centre.

    The site is part of a larger area owned by the NHS, which was home to the original Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital and the associated Health Centre. The replacement War Memorial Hospital, also designed by ArchitecturePLB is due to open later this year. The entire development rationalises the estate and releases a large area for much-needed housing.

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  • Worthing ICC Breaks Ground

    Date posted: Wednesday 16 February 2022

    Work has officially begun on the Worthing Integrated Care Centre.

    Senior Architect Andy Joyce and Director Paul Conway made the most of the winter sunshine, taking part in the ground-breaking ceremony for this £34m scheme. The size of the event was testament to the importance of this great project, and the number of people and organisations it takes to get something like this off the ground.

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  • Pilot Zero Carbon scheme for Winchester City Council granted planning permission

    Date posted: Friday 20 August 2021

    A pilot Zero Carbon scheme, designed by ArchitecturePLB for Winchester City Council, has been granted planning permission this week.  The project, predicted to have an annual net zero energy demand by meeting the Passivhaus Plus standards, will create six affordable flats for local residents and help to address the shortage of affordable housing in the village of Micheldever.

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  • Emstead Place: Townhouse Style Student Accommodation

    Date posted: Tuesday 27 July 2021

    ArchitecturePLB have recently completed a new student village on the doorstep of the University of Essex. The client, student housing developer Osborne recognised that students often look to move out of traditional halls for their second and third years of study and commissioned ArchitecturePLB to develop a new ‘town house’ model which would combine the benefits of purpose-built student accommodation with the ‘family’ feel of a student’ house, offering friendship groups an alternative to the traditional HMO offering.

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  • Work starts on site at Alleyn’s Junior School

    Date posted: Thursday 8 July 2021

    A new development at Alleyn’s Junior School in Dulwich has recently started on site. We were appointed via a design competition to help the school increase the capacity of their infant and reception classes and redevelop their existing facilities.

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  • TRADA Casestudy: Handlebar Cafe

    Date posted: Wednesday 7 April 2021

    We recently worked with TRADA (The Timber Research and Development Association) to create a case study on the Handlebar Café, which can be downloaded via the TRADA website. The project was the brainchild of a group of local teenagers supported by ArchitecturePLB and other built environment professionals through the spudYOUTH programme.

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  • RIBA Plan for Use Guide

    Date posted: Thursday 1 April 2021

    We are proud to see Quebec Park featured as a case study in the new Plan for Use guide from the RIBA which was released on the 25th March The guide, which sits alongside the Architects Plan of Work 2020 was created to encourage a more outcome-based approach to the design and construction process with the aim, of achieving greater client or occupant satisfaction.

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  • St Mark’s School under construction

    Date posted: Tuesday 9 March 2021

    Construction is underway on Southampton’s first all through school for 1346 pupils aged 3-16. The project forms part of Southampton City Council’s drive to meet the need of its growing population by creating a further 1,500 new secondary spaces in the central region on the city by 2023. Offering young people in Southampton “fantastic facilities and an educational environment in which they can thrive.”

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  • ArchitecturePLB awarded a place on the new Abri Framework

    Date posted: Thursday 21 January 2021

    ArchitecturePLB have been awarded a place on Abri’s new four-year Architect’s framework. Abri was formed In October 2020 when Housing Association Radian Group was joined by the Yarlington Housing Group.

    This is the third iteration of the Radian framework that ArchitecturePLB have been part of, an ongoing relationship which has led to a number of award-winning housing projects. These include Quebec Park, a mixed use Zero Carbon development which established the standard for future phases of Hampshire’s Green Town at Whitehill and Bordon.

    Abri are one of the largest housing associations in the South of England with plans to build 10,000 new homes over the next 10 years. We look forward to continuing to working with this great team in the coming years.

  • Southern Grove housing development granted planning permission

    Date posted: Tuesday 13 October 2020

    A new residential development in Tower hamlets has been granted unanimous planning approval this week. The project will create 78 new homes for the local area. New build affordable apartments will sit alongside a former Victorian workhouse building which will be sensitively converted to create 36 private sale apartments.

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  • Planning granted for Odiham rural exception site

    Date posted: Tuesday 22 September 2020

    ArchitecturePLB have recently achieved planning consent for 12 homes on a rural exception site near in Odiham in Hampshire. The project, for Hastoe Housing Association will provide much needed affordable housing for the local community. The homes will be designed to the Hastoe Environmental Standard to create energy efficient homes which will help reduce fuel poverty.

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  • Worthing Integrated Care Centre granted planning permission

    Date posted: Thursday 27 August 2020

    A new Integrated Care Centre for Worthing has been granted planning permission by Worthing Borough Council this week. The new centre will bring together a range of healthcare services and multi-storey car park onto a single site. The decision was unanimous, and the planning committee praised how well this complex scheme fits within the town’s ‘Civic Quarter’, alongside important heritage assets including the listed Assembly Halls.

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  • Procure Partnerships Framework Professional Services Agreement

    Date posted: Thursday 20 August 2020

    ArchitecturePLB has been awarded a place on the new Procure Partnerships Framework Professional Services Agreement. Having successfully demonstrated our ability to deliver a wide range of public sector projects, we have been appointed for Architectural Services in both London and South East regions.

    The framework will run alongside Procure Partnerships’ established national contractor frameworks and will offer our public sector clients an efficient way to appoint us either through direct appointment or further competition.

    We are looking forward to working with Procure Partnerships and other appointed consultants over the next 4 years. If you would like to know more about working with us through Procure Partnerships please get in touch with director Rachel Shaw, rachelshaw@architectureplb.com

  • Alleyn’s Junior School development granted planning

    Date posted: Tuesday 14 July 2020

    A new development at Alleyn’s Junior School in Dulwich, designed by ArchitecturePLB, has been granted planning permission this week. We were appointed via a design competition to help the school increase the capacity of their infant and reception classes and redevelop their existing facilities.

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  • Harbour School granted planning permission

    Date posted: Wednesday 10 June 2020

    Planning permission has been granted for a new purpose built special school in Bovington for 160 pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs or Autistic Spectrum Condition. Dorset has an urgent need for additional SEN school places and the school, operated by The Delta Group will cater for primary, secondary and post 16 students and will have a strong emphasis on vocational subjects.

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  • New housing for London Borough of Tower Hamlets

    Date posted: Tuesday 12 May 2020

    ArchitecturePLB has been working with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on plans for a new housing development which will create 78 homes for the local area. The proposals include new build affordable apartments sitting alongside a former Victorian workhouse building which will be sensitively converted to create 36 private rent apartments. The project was submitted for planning approval in April.

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  • Eastleigh College achieve excellent student achievement rankings

    Date posted: Monday 30 March 2020

    Our client Eastleigh College has been ranked the top further education college in Hampshire and 10th nationally for student achievement. The figures come from the government’s national rankings which are released annually and look at numbers attending and the percentage of the learners who go on to achieve their qualification. This is a great achievement and reflects the college’s commitment to supporting its students and creating an exceptional learning environment.

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  • New Integrated Care Centre for Worthing

    Date posted: Thursday 26 March 2020

    ArchitecturePLB have been working with Worthing Borough Council and GB Partnerships to design a new Integrated Care Centre, bringing together a range of healthcare services and multi-storey car park onto a single site. The building will sit alongside the town’s key public buildings, including important heritage assets, completing the ‘Civic Quarter’.

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  • Redevelopment for St Mark’s School

    Date posted: Wednesday 12 February 2020

    Planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of St Mark’s School in Southampton. The scheme will replace an existing outdated Victorian primary school building with a new purpose-built all-through school for 1,346 pupils aged 3-16.

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  • Portswood House shortlisted for Student Accommodation Award

    Date posted: Friday 25 October 2019

    Portswood House, home to 435 students studying in Southampton has been shortlisted for ‘Private Halls of Residence of the Year’ at the Student Accommodation Awards 2019. Our client and Portswood’s Operator Vita Student has also been shortlisted for Operator of the Year.

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  • ArchitecturePLB is now a member of the Passivhaus Trust

    Date posted: Tuesday 8 October 2019

    ArchitecturePLB is now a member of the Passivhaus Trust, an independent, non-profit organisation that aims to promote Passivhaus as an effective way to reduce energy use and carbon emissions from buildings, as well as creating comfortable conditions for their occupants.

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  • Planning permission granted for St Paul’s Way development

    Date posted: Monday 22 July 2019

    Planning permission has been granted for a new residential-led, mixed-use scheme which will contribute to the Tower Hamlets Community Plan, a 10 year vision to improve the quality of life in Tower Hamlets. The project, for London Borough of Tower Hamlets will provide 23 mixed-tenure homes for local residents. Generous community spaces on the ground floor will contribute to the area and create an engaging street frontage.

  • Planning granted for Middlesex Street Scheme

    Date posted: Tuesday 2 July 2019

    ArchitecturePLB has recently achieved planning consent for a mixed-use scheme for repeat client, Unite Students. The project will create a home for over 900 students in the ‘City Fringe’, a transitional area where Aldgate meets the city of London.

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  • Planning application submitted for Bristol student accommodation

    Date posted: Monday 3 June 2019

    ArchitecturePLB have recently submitted a planning application for a mixed-use scheme in Bristol, the project sits on a prominent site, at a gateway between two key regeneration areas; the Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh.

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  • Merchant Taylors’ Prep Reception granted planning approval

    Date posted: Thursday 30 May 2019

    Having worked with Merchant Taylors’ School for a number of years, ArchitecturePLB were appointed to work with their Prep School, Merchant Taylor’s Prep to create a new reception building. The project is an example of how careful planning and a modest investment can make a significant impact on a school site. The scheme, which has recently been granted planning approval, will bring together visitor reception, administration and staff facilities to create a welcoming arrival and new entrance into the school. 

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  • Planning permission achieved for Residential Scheme in Southampton

    Date posted: Monday 4 March 2019

    ArchitecturePLB have achieved planning permission for a high-density residential scheme in Southampton’s City Centre which will contribute to the City Centre Action Plan. The 13 storey scheme will provide 39, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments as well as 160sqm of office space on the Ground Floor.

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  • CPD Visit to Solent Sports Building

    Date posted: Friday 2 November 2018

    On Wednesday a group from ArchitecturePLB travelled to Southampton to visit Solent University’s new sports building currently under construction. The £28m project is a key part of an ongoing estates development plan transforming Solent’s East Park Terrace campus. ArchitecturePLB are currently refreshing their 2015-6 Development plan, to create a new 2019 vision.

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  • National Libraries Week: key considerations for successful library design

    Date posted: Thursday 11 October 2018

    To celebrate National Libraries Week, we have looked back at some of the new and refurbished libraries we have designed for a range of clients. The traditional library with rows of book stacks and silent reading rooms has given way to a landscape of different spaces to facilitate a wider range of activities. In an increasingly digital age libraries also act as places to bring communities together, reducing isolation and improving well-being. We have put together ‘Designing Successful Libraries’ which sets out the key design considerations for creating effective and enjoyable libraries that reflect 21st century life.

    Download ‘Designing Successful Libraries’

  • New Hythe Community Hospital granted planning permission

    Date posted: Monday 20 August 2018

    ArchitecturePLB’s Plans to transform Hythe and Dibden Memorial Hospital have been approved by New Forest District Council.

    ArchitecturePLB were appointed by NHS Property Services in early 2017 to help them rationalise health facilities on the Hythe Hospital site in Southampton. Planning permission has been granted for a new community hospital which will be better equipped to deliver local services than the existing buildings.

    Outline planning permission has also been granted to 21 new residential units on the site which will help fund the project and provide additional housing for the local community.

  • Work starts on Kensington Prep School Library

    Date posted: Tuesday 31 July 2018

    The latest phase of work for Kensington Prep School started on site this month. After the success of the explore floor and exemplar classrooms, ArchitecturePLB were appointed to redevelop the school’s library. The project has prompted interesting discussions about the purpose of a library in the digital age. Often these spaces are used as an extension of IT space, however the school wanted to create a mature, calming, IT free environment to engage with books.

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  • ArchitecturePLB appointed to VIVID framework

    Date posted: Monday 30 July 2018

    ArchitecturePLB have been appointed to VIVID Housing Association’s Architectural Services Framework which will deliver a range of new homes across Hampshire and Surrey. ArchitecturePLB have worked with VIVID, (previously First Wessex) on a number of projects and look forward to assisting them to meet their target of delivering 1,200 new dwellings a year until 2020.

    Previous projects with the housing association include; Monksbrook Estate, a phased regeneration programme which replaced an estate of 164 outmoded houses with 237 mixed tenure new homes, and Woodside Avenue, a development of 94 homes for Eastleigh Borough currently under construction.

  • Whitehill & Bordon Energy Centre Granted Planning

    Date posted: Tuesday 24 July 2018

    Planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the Whitehill & Bordon town centre, a new energy centre which will provide district heating to the whole of the Town Centre development. The energy centre sits within a wider masterplan which will include 2,400 new homes and a range of commercial, retail, community and leisure projects.

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  • Private house design inspired by local flint

    Date posted: Friday 15 June 2018

    ArchitecturePLB have recently submitted a planning application for an exciting private house in the Hampshire countryside, sought through Paragraph 55 of the NPPF. One of the key criteria for achieving planning permission under this policy is for proposals to be of ‘exceptional architectural quality’. The design team have therefore worked to create a design which not only meets the needs of the family but will significantly enhance its setting. The landscape context has been the key driver for the design, which includes the use of locally ubiquitous flint.

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  • Promotions, Welcomes and Achievements

    Date posted: Wednesday 13 June 2018

    ArchitecturePLB have recently made a number of promotions across the practice. Paul Conway, has taken up the role of Associate Director, while Matthew Gibbs, and Alex Hutchinson, both based in Winchester, have been promoted to Associates. Matthew is currently heading up an exciting student accommodation scheme in central london, and Alex is working on a project in Southampton for repeat client, student housing provider, HOST.

    We are pleased to welcome back Michael de Nobrega, who has re-joined our London studio with promotion to Associate, after a six month stretch in the French Alps.

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  • ‘Town house’ style student housing scheme submitted for planning

    Date posted: Thursday 24 May 2018

    ArchitecturePLB have recently submitted a planning application for a ‘town house’ style, 134 bed student housing scheme in Colchester for repeat client Osborne.

    Located on the doorstep of the University of Essex, the site has a previous planning consent for housing, which has influenced ArchitecturePLB’s design solution. The scheme is made up of an unusual mix of 7 and 9 bed town houses, arranged around a landscaped green. Each unit will house a student ‘family’, with all rooms provided with ensuite shower facilities and access to a large communal kitchen and lounge on the ground floor.

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  • LSE Library project inspires new Autex range

    Date posted: Thursday 1 March 2018

    ArchitecturePLB’s LSE Library redevelopment has inspired the new Cascade range by Autex. The design team approached Autex to help create an acoustic solution for an open plan study space. The product also needed to be an integral, visually interesting part of interiors scheme. Working with ArchitecturePLB, Autex developed an acoustic hanging screen to be suspended between the main space and the book stacks. A laser cut forest motive allows glimpses through to the spaces beyond. Always ready to respond the industry, Autex have since launched their new Cascade range for open plan spaces. Their new ceiling hung acoustic panels are available in a range of colours and laser cut patterns.

  • MTS Geography – latest phase of masterplan starts on site

    Date posted: Tuesday 13 February 2018

    The latest phase of ArchitecturePLB’s masterplan for Merchant Taylors’ School has started on site. Following the construction of a new Design Centre and the refurbishment of accommodation for the history department, this latest phase will provide a purpose-designed building for the geography department as well as a new health centre for the school. The new building has been sensitively designed to respect its historic context. With its simple L shaped form the building will complete the north-west corner of the schools main quad. The design reflects the architecture of the neighbouring 1930s buildings and will use reclaimed bricks from the previous, demolished structure.

  • Women’s Library at LSE

    Date posted: Friday 9 February 2018

    This week marked 100 years since the Representation of the People Act was passed, a first step towards universal suffrage in Britain. In 2013 we were privileged to help create a new home for the Women’s Library, and its suffrage collection which preserves the history of the campaign. The library holds the oldest and most extensive collection of women’s history in Europe, including over 212 designs for suffrage banners, badges and posters as well as personal papers, journals and pamphlets. In 2013 when LSE became the custodians of the Women’s Library, ArchitecturePLB were commissioned to create new reading room for the collection within their library building.

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  • St Paul’s Way Housing

    Date posted: Wednesday 7 February 2018

    ArchitecturePLB are underway with Stage 3 design development for a residential led mixed use scheme for LB Tower Hamlets, due to be submitted for full planning at the end of May. The scheme comprises a mix of 1,2 and 3 bed units, 45 in total, arranged in a nine storey apartment block with other uses at ground and first floor including potential sixth form provision and community use spaces. The scheme will provide a mixed tenure of social and market rented, with a minimum of 35% affordable.

    The site is a former doctor’s surgery on St Paul’s Way and the development forms part of the broader programme of regeneration for the neighbourhood. A feasibility study and viability assessment was completed last year, including a public exhibition to facilitate community engagement. The design optimises the capacity of a constrained site and with associated public realm improvements will serve as a new focal point for the local community.

  • Thoughts towards a future classroom

    Date posted: Thursday 1 February 2018

    Associate Emily Rissom visited the VS Furniture factory and showroom in Germany last week. During her visit she also took in the VS School Museum which charts the history of classroom design from the 1880s to the present day. ArchitecturePLB have always been at the forefront of design for education and we work with many schools to help them provide the best learning environments for their students. In 2015 we worked with Kensington Prep School who wanted to commission a new type of classroom to reflect their new learning ethos, designed to help equip their students for the future.

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  • Demelza House Space to Grow

    Date posted: Friday 26 January 2018

    Osborne’s ‘Space to Grow’ project for Demelza Hospice is now complete and making a significant difference to children, families, staff and volunteers at Demelza’s Eltham Hospice. ArchitecturePLB were pleased to work alongside Osborne to help them build a two-storey extension which will allow seriously ill children the space to grow, develop and live life to the fullest. Over 260 people from 33 companies gave their time for free to work on the project and Osborne have put together a film which highlights some of the people involved, including staff and volunteers at Demelza.

     

  • Kisharon School granted planning consent

    Date posted: Friday 19 January 2018

    Planning consent has recently been granted by The London Borough of Barnet for the new Kisharon School, to be developed in Hendon, North London. The existing, grade II listed building, currently HQ for the Kisharon charity, will be remodeled and extended to provide accommodation for up to 72 pupils aged 4-19 with a range of learning disabilities.

    On a very tight urban site with residential neighbours on all sides, our challenge was to maximize the potential of Kisharon’s existing asset. The listed building will be stripped of its later, poorer quality extensions and refurbished to accommodate the new school’s administrative functions and a series of specialist therapy rooms. A new extension to the rear will provide the main social and teaching spaces, with seven classrooms at ground and first floor and a multipurpose hall and hydrotherapy suite in the basement.

  • Cumberland Place student residence gets planning consent

    Date posted: Wednesday 17 January 2018

    ArchitecturePLB have recently received planning consent for a new student residence scheme in central Southampton. Having completed numerous projects in the area in recent years, ArchitecturePLB have developed a good relationship with Southampton City Council’s planning department. These include three other projects also facing onto the City’s listed Central Parks; landmark Mayflower Halls, Vincent Place student residences and a new sports facility for Southampton Solent University currently under construction.

    ArchitecturePLB were approached by student housing provider, and repeat client HOST to design a scheme for the prominent site. With our in-depth knowledge of the sector and existing understanding of the context ArchitecturePLB were able to maximise capacity for the site whilst creating a well-designed building which responds to the nearby listed park and has an active frontage onto Cumberland Place. The project is due to start on site in early 2018.

  • Support SPUD Youth to realise Handlebar Cafe

    Date posted: Thursday 23 November 2017

    SPUD Youth, an award winning charity, that brings people together, from all walks of life to collaborate on educational, art and architectural projects need your help to realise the vision of a group of Winchester teenagers. These young people, interested in architecture and place-making, developed designs for a new cycle cafe for Winchester supported by ArchitecturePLB and other built environment professionals. After almost 3 years of research, model-making, planning meetings, presentations and consultation, they secured planning permission for the café and are now in the final stages of fundraising. The Charity have raised over £275,000 worth of funding and in-kind support and are having a last push to raise the final £75,000. You can support the charity this week by purchasing a Handlebar Café T-shirt. To find out more about the project and how you can support it, please visit their website.  

  • Whitehill & Bordon Town Centre

    Date posted: Thursday 23 November 2017

    Former ‘garrison town’ Whitehill & Bordon in Hampshire is currently undergoing a major transformation into a £1bn ‘green town’, with multiple partners collaborating to realise the 100-hectare masterplan.

    Having recently completed one of the first new residential schemes at Quebec Park for Radian Homes, ArchitecturePLB were appointed by the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company as part of the design team for another key component of the green town; the new town centre

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  • LSE Library redevelopment, latest phase completed

    Date posted: Monday 20 November 2017

    Since 2012 ArchitecturePLB have been working with the London School of Economics and Political Science to carry out a £12m rolling programme of improvements throughout their Library building. The latest phase, at the lower ground floor was completed before the new term in September and is already proving popular with students.

    The scheme is part of a campus wide project to enhance student experience by offering a greater variety of study spaces. The Lower Ground Floor has been remodeled to create welcoming and flexible work space. The design team worked to ‘bring the outside in’, colours and materials were chosen to bring warmth and promote well-being. Laser cut acoustic panels separate the book stacks from the main study space and flexible modular seating allows for more informal working.

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  • Bloom accredited supplier

    Date posted: Monday 30 October 2017

    We are now an accredited supplier to Bloom, which makes it easier for our clients to appoint us, especially within the public sector. Bloom deliver the Nepro neutral vendor solution, a procurement process that’s fully OJEU compliant and brings together a community of buyers and suppliers to help the public sector buy professional services more efficiently. For more information please visit Bloom’s website.

  • Demelza Children’s Hospice

    Date posted: Thursday 12 October 2017

    ArchitecturePLB, were recently invited by Osborne Construction to assist in a charity project for Demelza Children’s Hospice in Eltham, London. As part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations Osborne will be creating a much needed new extension for the hospice. A team of consultants, contractors and suppliers including ArchitecturePLB are providing their time, labour and materials freely to support the project. ArchitecturePLB have drawn up proposals which will increase the floor space and reconfigure a number of areas internally to create much needed family and staff spaces and a fresh new entrance and reception area. Having received planning permission this week, the project will be constructed as a ‘Big Build’ in just 2-3 weeks.

  • City, University of London Tait refurbishment completes

    Date posted: Tuesday 1 August 2017

    ArchitecturePLB’s refurbishment of the first floor of City, University of London’s Tait building has reached completion. Breathing new life in to the 1960’s building located on Northampton Square, the primary objective was to create a new communal destination for students and staff. The floor plate was opened up to create a hub at the buildings heart, as well as improve circulation around the building. A new fully glazed ‘learning link’ runs along the southside of the courtyard, creating a new connection with the new main entrance on Goswell Road. The learning link feeds into study spaces, multi faith spaces, the Student Union and an open plan cafe hub.

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  • Sustainable Council Housing scheme on site

    Date posted: Tuesday 13 June 2017

    Comprising 94 homes for Eastleigh Borough Council, Woodside Avenue achieves a new standard for environmentally sustainable development and design quality in the town. The sustainability measures were designed in to the scheme at the outset with four dwellings achieving PassivHaus certification and the overall project designed to the meet Excellent under the new BREEAM Communities Standard.

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  • Phase 1 of exemplar sustainable community completes

    Date posted: Friday 5 May 2017

    Phase 1 of Quebec Park, the first major housing development at Whitehill and Bordon – Hampshire’s Green Town, which is set to be an exemplar sustainable community – has completed. It is anticipated that the first phase will be the standard bearer for the remainder of the masterplan, so significant importance has been placed on getting the scheme right in terms of sustainable design, architectural design and its marketability to the general public.

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  • City University Computer Sciences

    Date posted: Tuesday 14 March 2017

    ArchitecturePLB’s upgrade works to the Department of Computer Science at City University London have been completed. The latest result of our framework appointment with the University, the department has been reconfigured to provide students and staff with a defined home and clear identity for the department and encourage collaboration and interaction between academic staff and students.

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  • Sutton High School Masterplan

    Date posted: Wednesday 8 March 2017

    Selected by the Girls’ Day School Trust from its architectural framework, we are currently working with Sutton High School on two concurrent projects. The first is for the renovation and refurbishment of the school’s assembly hall to bring the original 1950’s building up to current standards, including new retractible seating, AV systems and other ancillary facilities.

    Alongside this initial project, which is to be delivered imminently, we are also working with the school and Trust to develop a masterplan for the whole site, including an entirely new Junior School for Girls aged 3-11 and particular new facilities for the Senior School. These will include a new Reception, specialist facilities for Music, Drama and IT, a remodelled library and expanded dining and changing facilities. Underpinning the whole will be a comprehensive site masterplan providing a Synthetic Turf Pitch, hard-surfaced Multi Use Games Area and new amenity landscaping.

  • Stapleton House scheme completes

    Date posted: Tuesday 28 February 2017

    ArchitecturePLB has completed a 10-storey, £40m student accommodation scheme in North London. Sitting opposite the London Metropolitan University campus on Holloway Road, Stapleton House provides 862 study bedrooms for the Unite Group. With the provision of community space and commercial units for local businesses on the ground floor, it will help continue the regeneration of the local area.

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  • Eastleigh College redevelopment

    Date posted: Thursday 23 February 2017

    The first phase of our masterplan and redevelopment of Eastleigh College in Hampshire has completed. A new Creative Skills Centre on Chestnut Avenue campus replaces facilities which were formerly located at Desborough Road, a location which was released for housing to fund the College development. Following a site-wide options appraisal, ArchitecturePLB conceived a revised and more ambitious masterplan, which included the relocation of phase two and a wide reaching rationalisation of the College’s secondary space uses.

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  • Double RICS Awards shortlisting

    Date posted: Tuesday 21 February 2017

    Two of our recently completed projects have been shortlisted in the 2017 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) London Awards.

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  • Heron Hall Academy completes

    Date posted: Friday 17 February 2017

    Heron Hall Academy in Enfield, North London, has reached completion. The project entailed the refurbishment and remodelling of a redundant, partly derelict 1930’s Grade II listed technical college for use as a new secondary Free School.

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  • Gillotts School campus redevelopment

    Date posted: Tuesday 14 February 2017

    Building on our experience of land sale and ‘enabling’ development at The Broxbourne School in Hertfordshire, ArchitecturePLB was recently selected, through an open and highly-competitive OJEU process, to assist Gillotts School in Henley in delivering a comprehensive re-development of their campus.

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  • New £26m building for The Broxbourne School

    Date posted: Friday 3 February 2017

    ArchitecturePLB has been working with The Broxbourne School (TBS), and Cornerstone as ‘broker’, on the comprehensive redevelopment of their site in Hertfordshire. This will provide a brand new £26m school building and new external amenity and sports facilities which will be entirely funded by a residential development on surplus school land.

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  • Hythe Appointment

    Date posted: Thursday 2 February 2017

    ArchitecturePLB have been appointed by NHS Property Services to deliver a new hospital building on the site of Hythe Hospital in Southampton.

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  • BD Architect of the Year nomination

    Date posted: Wednesday 25 January 2017

    We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the BD Architect of the Year Awards, in the Education Architect of the Year (nursery to 6th form) category.

    Organised by Building Design, these awards are distinguished from other architectural awards by virtue of honouring overall achievement within a particular sector.

    The winners will be announced during the Ecobuild exhibition at the Excel Centre in London on 8 March.

  • City University lecture theatre opens

    Date posted: Friday 20 January 2017

    Our 240-seat lecture theatre scheme for City University London has completed. Originally designed and built in the 1970’s, the space has taken on a number of uses over the years including a theatre and graduate centre. Located in the University Building on the Northampton Square campus, our design adopts a ‘Harvard’ model layout, which has proven successful for student interaction and allows everyone to be visible to each other. Envisaged as a fine piece of furniture within the existing brutalist building, a new Ash timber lining forms the enclosure of the main space.

  • SKA Offices Gold rating for LSE LIFE

    Date posted: Wednesday 18 January 2017

    LSE LIFE has achieved a SKA Gold rating – the highest accolade for sustainable fit-outs. Operated by RICS, SKA is an environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for fit-outs, and it scores environmental good practice irrespective of the base building.

    The LSE LIFE scheme is the latest in a programme of works by ArchitecturePLB for LSE, and provides a new academic, personal and professional development centre housed within the school’s library.

    You can read more on our transformation of the space here.

    Photography © Overbury 2016.

  • Sir John Cass School of Art completed

    Date posted: Wednesday 7 December 2016

    The first phase of our renewal of The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design in Aldgate, London is complete.

    The design intentionally builds on the the architectural language developed at other spaces recently refurbished for the faculty by ArchitecturePLB, whilst at the same time working with and enhancing the positive characteristics of this specific building.

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  • LSBU Learning and Creative Design Centre

    Date posted: Friday 25 November 2016

    We were recently shortlisted in the design competition for a new Learning and Creative Design Centre for London South Bank University. Our proposals were developed from two clear starting points. Firstly, the importance of the public realm in expressing the civic role of the London South Bank University within the city. Secondly, the further evolution of a theme that we have previously explored; the creation of a richly varied learning landscape, which places student experience at its heart.

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  • Promega Corporation UK Headquarters

    Date posted: Thursday 24 November 2016

    ArchitecturePLB are working with Promega Corporation to design a new, distinctive and sustainable company headquarters in the south of England. Promega Corporation is a global leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to life scientists, with subsidiaries in 16 countries and employing over 1,400 people globally. ArchitecturePLB’s proposals place a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact, with a design for a high tech office building that is sympathetic to it’s landscaped surroundings. The new HQ will include a modern training and applications laboratory, flexible social and training spaces, a conference facility, high quality offices and a gym and wellness area.

  • Brick Awards recognition for MTS Design Centre

    Date posted: Friday 11 November 2016

    Merchant Taylors’ School Design Centre was awarded a Judge’s Commendation in the Best Education Project category at last night’s Brick Awards. Recognising excellence in brick and brickwork, the annual Brick Awards is one of the longest, most well established and most widely respected design and construction awards in the UK. Brick selection and detailing were important in ensuring that the new Design Centre at Merchant Taylors’ sits comfortably alongside the adjacent Grade II listed, 1930’s school buildings.

     

  • Research: Future Living Spaces

    Date posted: Thursday 10 November 2016

    At ArchitecturePLB we have been working with several clients to explore solutions that provide living spaces more attuned to the specific needs of those trying to get on the housing ladder, and those stepping down from larger dwelling and looking for something more manageable.

    An important personal space for all of us is undoubtedly our home, a place to make our own in a wider neighbourhood of friends and family. But housing is in short supply, with an estimated 300,000 new homes required each year – far outstripping the supply, or indeed the land available to build them.

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  • Handlebar Cafe in for planning

    Date posted: Friday 2 September 2016

    An innovative new cafe, designed by local young people and supported by ArchitecturePLB, has been submitted for planning. Located on the site of a disused railway on the outskirts of Winchester, and just within the South Downs National Park, the Handlebar Cafe has been developed by SPUD Youth, an award winning programme run for young people aged 11 and upwards who are interested in architecture, urban design and public art.

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  • Solent University Masterplan

    Date posted: Thursday 25 August 2016

    ArchitecturePLB have completed a new masterplan for Solent University’s East Park Terrace Campus. The proposals will inform the development of the site over the next twenty years, and will include the delivery of two new sports buildings, a student hub and library and improvements to the public realm.

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  • Design Centre shortlisted for Brick Award

    Date posted: Thursday 4 August 2016

    Merchant Taylors’ School Design Centre has been shortlisted in the Best Education Project category in this years Brick Awards. The Brick Awards is one of the most well established and widely respected design and construction awards in the UK, recognising excellence in brick and brickwork. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted across a range of categories.
    Brick selection and detailing were important in ensuring that the new Design Centre at Merchant Taylors’ sits comfortably alongside the adjacent Grade II listed, 1930’s school buildings. Winners will be announced on 10 November in a ceremony at Hilton Park Lane, London.

  • Merchant Taylor’s School Masterplan

    Date posted: Wednesday 6 July 2016

    The latest phase of ArchitecturePLB’s masterplan for Merchant Taylor’s School in Northwood, Middlesex has completed. The refurbishment of the History department follows in the footsteps of the Design Centre, which opened in September 2015. Having now delivered the first three phases of construction, the masterplan remains a living document, providing a framework for development while adjusting to meet the school’s changing needs and priorities.

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  • Sutton High School

    Date posted: Friday 20 May 2016

    ArchitecturePLB has been appointed by the Girls’ Day School Trust to carry out two projects for Sutton High School. The appointment continues our ongoing relationship with the GDST, with past projects including a new interactive ‘Explore Floor’ for Kensington Prep School, completed in early 2016. The first project for Sutton High School will see the original school hall refurbished with improved access and ancillary facilities, creating a new flexible, modern performance space. The second stage involves a site wide review of the existing school facilities, culminating in a masterplan for its future development.

  • Green light for Technology Block

    Date posted: Friday 22 April 2016

    Plans for a new Advanced Technology Block for Eastleigh College have been given the green light, receiving unanimous planning approval from Eastleigh Borough Council. The project is the second phase of new development designed by ArchitecturePLB (phase 1, the Arts and Hair & Beauty building is currently on site). The buildings form part of a college wide improvement strategy which puts technology at the heart of the college and creates a single campus to enhance the student experience. The new building will house specialist teaching of engineering and IT subjects while encouraging collaborative working.

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  • Moorside Road Granted Planning

    Date posted: Friday 18 March 2016

    Construction of ArchitecturePLB’s 237 bed student accommodation scheme in Winnall, Winchester, commenced on 21 March.The project, due to open in September 2017, provides much needed accommodation for students at University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art, a campus located in the heart of the city which includes a number of buildings also designed by APLB. Planning permission for the site, located on the edge of a SSSI, was won on appeal in July 2015. The planning inspector highlighting that “….the scheme represents good design which would make a positive contribution to the street scene…”

  • Monksbrook Estate shortlisted for RICS Award

    Date posted: Tuesday 15 March 2016

    Phased housing re-development Monksbrook Estate has been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2016, South East. The project replaces 164 outmoded houses with 237 new homes for First Wessex Housing Association. Phase one was completed in 2014 with phase 2 set to complete in 2016. The Award ceremony will take place in Brighton this May.

  • Success for MTS Design Centre

    Date posted: Tuesday 15 March 2016

    The new Design Centre for Merchant Taylors’ School has been selected as a regional finalist in this year’s LABC Building Excellence Awards. The Award aims to celebrate ‘outstanding craftsmanship, technical innovation, sustainability and high performance’. The project, which completed in August 2015, has also been featured in Architecture Today’s winter edition of Inform, which highlights education projects from across the UK. The feature can be viewed here from page 22.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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