Associated Architects is a leading AJ100 architectural firm with offices in Birmingham, Oxford and Leeds, England. Founded in 1968, the practice has a broad portfolio of work including arts, commercial offices, residential, masterplanning and leisure and is particularly known for its work in education. It has received many national awards including over 30 RIBA Awards, together with the RIBA Sustainability Award. For its commercial work it has been awarded nine BCO Awards (British Council for Offices). The practice designed the George Davies Centre, at the University of Leicester, currently the largest (non-domestic) building in the UK to be Passivhaus accredited. It is also responsible for the design and delivery of Bartholomew Barn, the UK's first "multi-comfort" building, a benchmark pioneered by Saint Gobain. The building has set a new bar for sustainable architecture.

History The practice was formed by Malcolm Booth, Richard Slawson and Walter Thomson, who met as teachers at the Birmingham School of Architecture in the 1960s. At that time the School undertook live projects and the founders were encouraged to set up a part-time practice, employing students to undertake the work with appropriate management. The work was soon supplemented with private commissions and the move of the School from Aston University prompted the partners to commit to full-time practice in 1973.

The practice name was conceived as having a life beyond the founders, its name Associated Architects chosen deliberately not to include their surnames. The early workload of housing, industrial buildings and offices expanded and the practice relocated in 1976 to St. Paul's Square, which it used as a base for the regeneration of the Jewellery Quarter. It developed skills in urban regeneration, with listed buildings and in urban housing, anticipating the city living movement by a decade.

Paul Lister joined the practice in 1976, becoming a partner in 1984: Ian Standing joined in 1985 and became a partner in 1989. At this time the practice undertook its first projects with independent schools, developing this into a broad education workload. It won its first RIBA Awards and with the Property Services Agency undertook commissions for Law Courts at Stafford and Worcester, opening a Cyprus office to deliver projects for the Ministry of Defence. University work developed at this time with projects including the Birmingham School of Jewellery and the restoration of the Grade I listed Birmingham School of Art.

As the National Lottery made funds available for Arts projects in the 1990s, the practice won national competitions for projects including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Centre (with Sir Simon Rattle), the Water Hall Gallery and the rebuilding of the Birmingham Hippodrome. Following its work on the first mixed use building at 9 Brindleyplace it built numerous offices and subsequently delivered the largest mixed use building in the UK: the Mailbox.

Matthew Goer joined in 1990 and became a partner in 2001. The founders retired between 1996 and 2002 and Paul Lister retired in 2006. Warren Jukes and Adam Wardle joined in 1996 and with Matthew Goer and Ian Standing became directors of the Limited Liability Partnership in 2003. During 2012 James Hall was promoted to Director and Richard Perry to Director in 2014. Ian Standing retired 2016 having served over 30 years. Adam Wardle died unexpectedly in June 2013, at the age of 42. His obituary appeared in the RIBA Journal.

Associated Architects retains its close relationship with the School of Architecture and has strong links with the cultural and business communities in the city. Although based in Birmingham and deriving much of its work from the region, it also works nationally and internationally.

Architectural work

Education Universities School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton, 2020 Edward Boyle Library, University of Leeds 2017. New Library, University of Birmingham, 2016. Centre for Medicine, University of Leicester, 2016. The Curzon Building, Birmingham City University, 2015. Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University, 2013 (RIBA Award 2014) David Wilson Library, University of Leicester, 2008. (RIBA Award 2009) Health, Design & Technology Centre, Coventry University, 2009 Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, 1995. (RIBA Award 1996) School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University, 1994. (RIBA Award 1995)

Independent schools Bartholomew Barn, Kings Hawford Junior School, Worcester, 2016 Yarm School, Stockton-on-Tees, 2012 (RIBA Award 2013) The Michael Baker Boathouse, The King's School, Worcester, 2012 (RIBA Award 2013) King's School Art School, The King's School, Worcester, 2007 King's School Library, The King's School, Worcester, 2006. (RIBA Award 2008) The British School, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2005 Mary Windsor Boarding House, Bromsgrove School, 2002 Theatre and Hall, Queen Margaret's School, York, 2002. (RIBA White Rose Award for Design Excellence 2004) Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham, 1992

Schools Starbank School All-Through School, 2016 The University of Birmingham School, University of Birmingham, 2015 St Peter's Academy, Stoke BSF, 2013 Birmingham BSF (Building Schools for the Future), 2012 Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, 2010 St. Olave's, St. Peter's School, York, 2009 Charter Primary School & Surestart Centre, Coventry, 2005 Hagley Primary School, Hagley, 2004

Colleges West Midlands Construction UTC, University of Wolverhampton, CITB, 2016 Health Futures UTC (University Technical College), West Midlands Ambulance Service & NHS Foundation, 2015 Campus Redevelopment, University College Birmingham, 2013 Blossomfield Campus, Solihull College, Birmingham, 2010 Progress Centre, Cannock Chase Technology College, Cannock, 2004 Worcester VI Form College, Worcester, 2002

Offices Platform 21, Birmingham, completion expected 2021 6 East Parade, Leeds, 2017 West Bromwich Building Society Headquarters Offices, West Bromwich, 2016 10 Woodcock Street, Birmingham City Council, 2012 (National BCO Award 2013) Operations Centre, Severn Trent Water, Coventry, 2010 One Severn Street Place, Associated Architects, Birmingham, 2009 Project Sunrise, Punch Taverns, Burton, 2009 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, 2004 Interchange Place, Birmingham, 2003

Mixed-use 10 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, completion expected 2022 Post & Mail, Birmingham The Mailbox, Birmingham, 2000 9 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, 1999

Culture Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, 2015 Birmingham Town Hall, 2007 Birmingham Hippodrome, 2001 (in conjunction with Law Dunbar Nasmith). (RIBA Award 2002) The Water Hall, Birmingham, 2001 The CBSO Centre, 1998 and refurbished by Associated Architects in 2014

Residential Tyndal Street, Cardiff, Completion expected 2022 Newhall Square (PRS Development), Spitfire Homes, 2020 Old Union Mill, Birmingham 1 Swallow Street, Birmingham, 2016 Eco Vicarages, Diocese of Worcester, 2012 Cobtun House, Worcester, 2003. (RIBA Award 2005, RIBA Sustainability Award 2005) St Crispin's Manor, Northampton, 2008 Crown Lofts, Walsall, 2003 Washington Wharf, Birmingham, 2001

Other University railway station 2024 Jaguar Land Rover Manufacturing Building, i54 Business Park, 2017 Southwater One, Telford, 2014 (Triple RIBA Award Winner 2014) Birmingham Dogs' Home Rescue and Welfare Centre, 2015 Bristol Civil Justice Centre, Bristol, 2010 Acorn's Children's Hospice, Worcester, 2005 Wapping Wharf Masterplan, Bristol Stafford Combined Court, Stafford, 1991 Lee Bank Health Centre, Birmingham, 1990. (RIBA Award 1990)

Awards 2016 RIBA West Midlands Award, McIntyre House, University College Birmingham 2015 RIBA West Midlands Award, Southwater One, Telford & Wrekin Council 2014 RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year Award, College Court, University of Leicester 2014 RIBA East Midlands Award, College Court, University of Leicester 2014 RIBA East Midlands Conservation Award, College Court, University of Leicester 2014 RIBA West Midlands Award, The Parkside Building, Birmingham City University 2014 RIBA West Midlands Award, The Lighthouse, Birmingham Youth Services 2013 RIBA North East Award: Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm independent school 2013 RIBA West Midlands Award: The Michael Baker Boathouse, The King's School Worcester 2009 RIBA Award: David Wilson Library, University of Leicester 2008 RIBA East Midlands Award: David Wilson Library, University of Leicester 2008 RIBA Award: The King's School Library, Worcester 2005 RIBA Sustainability Award: Cobtun House, Worcester 2005 RIBA Award: Cobtun House, Worcester 2004 RIBA White Rose Award for Design Excellence: Queen Margaret's School, York 2002 RIBA Award: Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham 1998 RIBA Housing Design Award: City Heights, Birmingham 1997 RIBA Housing Design Award: Berkley Court, Birmingham 1996 RIBA Award: College of Art, Birmingham 1995 RIBA Award: School of Jewellery, Birmingham 1993 RIBA Award: 30 St. Paul's Square, Birmingham 1993 RIBA Housing Design Award: Malt Mill Lane, Alcester 1992 RIBA Award: Clayton Hall, Lilleshall NSC 1990 RIBA Award: The Walled Garden, Brockhampton 1989 RIBA Award: Lee Bank Health Centre, Birmingham 1986 RIBA Award: Malt Mill Lane, Alcester 1983 RIBA Housing Design Award: Steven's Terrace, Birmingham 1983 RIBA Award: Brown's Restaurant, Worcester 1982 RIBA Award: Pleck Orchard, Hartlebury 1979 RIBA Housing Design Award: Bishop's Court, Northfield, Birmingham

Publications XL, Associated Architects Publishing, 2008 Buildings that Feel Good, Ziona Strelitz, RIBA Publishing, 2008 Birmingham: Shaping the City, Ben Flatman, RIBA Publishing, 2008 Birmingham (Pevsner Architectural Guide), Andy Foster, Yale University Press, 2005

References

External links Associated Architects Official Website