Shaping places, inspiring communities: Highlights from 2025

We had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the market which, following a £3.4m transformation, now provides refreshed future-proofed facilities with modern, flexible spaces for business and community use, as well as an enhanced customer experience with upgraded safety and security.

The project is the first phase of the Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration, one of the largest regeneration schemes in Europe. Located on former railway land to the south of Bristol Temple Meads station, we are transforming a previously underused site into a highly visible and welcoming point of arrival for the city. 

To support Together Housing’s commitment to invest in the wellbeing of their residents, our building consultancy team was appointed to oversee, co-ordinate and manage a series of technical reviews of their high-rise building stock.

Targeted to achieve Passivhaus Classic certification, the new, exemplar Caledonia High School will provide a fresh, new learning environment, replacing the outdated Inverkeithing High School, which will better cater to the needs of students.

Due to complete in spring 2026, the project will deliver almost 90,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. Base is set to redefine out-of-town workspace in Edinburgh, offering a modern, sustainable and flexible environment that meets the needs of today’s occupiers.

To ensure the wellbeing of residents living in Harold Wilson Court, a high-rise block of flats in the heart of Huddersfield, we led a circa £4m project on behalf of Kirklees Council Homes and Neighbourhoods.

We submitted plans for a new food store, office building and multi-storey car park at Brabazon in Bristol, marking the next step in the area’s transformation. This latest development will bring together three key elements: a 2,900 sqm supermarket, 16,250 sqm of high quality office space and a 1,640-space multi-storey car park.

Providing a bright, spacious and welcoming place to work for their employees, we led a project to deliver fit-out and refurbishment works for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) at their Coventry office, as part of a wider programme of works to enhance their estate.

Following the announcement of Airedale General Hospital being accepted on to the New Hospital Programme, we’re proud to be in the design team reimagining the space, creating a future-focused healthcare environment focused on wellbeing, safety and comfort for patients, staff and the community.

The new cutting-edge rail infrastructure manufacturing, digital engineering and research and development centre, forms part of a groundbreaking investment into the next generation of Britain’s railway. Kickstarting the next chapter in conventional and digital rail signalling and control systems, the scheme will provide manufacturing and production space, a BREEAM Excellent office, laboratories and testing areas as well as warehouses.

We are working alongside a multidisciplinary team to bring the Grade II* Listed building back to life. A full refurbishment of the main range facing onto St Georges Square, together with extensive demolition and rebuild of the rear wings, whilst retaining the John Williams Street facade, will improve the building’s viability, sustainability and buildability, without compromising on its rich heritage.

To enhance the visitor experience at the popular leisure venue, we were appointed to lead a comprehensive refurbishment and remodelling scheme at Barnsley Metrodome on behalf of Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL). Opened in 1989, the Metrodome is a popular sports and leisure centre and home to the well-loved Calypso Cove Waterpark – a collection of pirate themed slides, flumes, diving boards and interactive features. 

Planning was been granted for our redevelopment of the former Harrison Gibson Building on High Road, Ilford, a step forward in providing 100% affordable, high quality homes for a range of tenants. 

In line with Three Rivers District Council’s aspirations to enhance visitors’ experience at the Aquadrome, we acted as project managers, technical advisors and principal designer for CDM on a scheme to replace the pedestrian bridge at the popular nature reserve. Now at 3m wide, the new bridge is double the width of the old one, making it much easier for families and cyclists to continue to visit the much-loved space for generations to come.

Our annual summer away days are a favourite among our teams. They provide the chance to come together in the sunshine, reconnect, recharge and enjoy time together outside the usual routine. It’s even better when we get to visit one of our own sites, like Chester Market!

We had plenty of opportunities to get out and about this year visiting schools, colleges and other organisations to speak with aspiring students about the value of what we do. We love having the opportunity to share our experiences and support young peoples' career development.

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we proudly highlighted the apprentices across our practice, whose dedication and fresh perspectives enrich our projects and culture. Apprenticeships go beyond being alternative pathways into the industry; they are transformative opportunities that empower individuals to learn, grow and excel within a supportive and inspiring environment.

We have been working with Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College in Leeds since 2000, developing a close working relationship which has supported the delivery of numerous projects, and placed the College in the best possible position for the future.

We kept up our regular social activities to help everyone stay connected, support health and wellbeing and build a sense of friendship across our teams. From bake-offs and site visits to walking trips and our summer and festive celebrations, there was always something to get involved in. 

Across our offices, we welcomed a number of enthusiastic work experience students who got to spend a few days getting a taste of what it’s like to work in our dynamic practice. 

In the summer, we caught up with Matthew James, our 2024 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) AHR Scholar and his mentor, Manisa Mistry. As part of the scholarship, Matthew joined our Leeds office for a four-week paid placement, giving him the chance to gain hands-on experience alongside our team.