We are experts in masterplanning, design, and delivery. We believe that the foundation for good architecture and design is built on the long-term relationships we have with clients.

SGP Autumn Conference

We are thrilled to have hosted another successful Autumn Conference, and this year we continued the theme ‘Design.’

The morning session, led by Partner Richard Smyth and Studio Director Tariq Khan, opened with presentations from Richard, Tariq, James, and Alan, showcasing SGP’s vast experience in masterplanning. The presentations featured inspiring projects by former Partners Stuart Richardson and Ian Yallop, as well as several large-scale masterplans we have designed and developed over the past 30+ years.

Masterplanning is a fundamental part of SGP’s daily operations, and the goal of the conference was to emphasise our expertise, place-making strategies, and design principles.

We believe that everyone has the potential to create something remarkable, whether individually or as part of a team, regardless of professional background or skill set. After the presentations, attendees participated in a masterplanning-themed team-building activity, where each group designed their own masterplan. In a pleasant surprise, when all the plans were combined, they formed the SGP logo.

The day concluded with a team quiz, featuring the much-loved ‘cheese or motorway service station’ round.

We are delighted that everyone thoroughly enjoyed and engaged with the day. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success!

SGP Spring Conference

The morning began with presentations from the SGP Digital Team which focused on ‘Digitally Enabled Architecture’ and highlighted how data will unlock huge potential in our industry and our profession.

James Blood, as head of SGP Digital, provided an introduction then presented a high-level strategic overview and explored the digital burden/burnout and highlighted the way out of the current tech saturated ‘digital storm.’

Simon Matthews highlighted the unique and valuable relationship between digital and sustainability and explored concepts like early energy modelling, digital twins and focusing on delivering value across the lifecycle of the asset, not just at handover.

Joe Marlow presented about the changes in the information we are delivering, its use cases and associated value proposition; the need for good information management and explored current industry drivers like sustainability and the BSA.

Shitel Nathu talked about the expected future growth in the CGI market, the value it can provide our clients, and opportunities ‘SGP CGI’ service and what support they need to make it happen.

Ben Rodell presented current SGP initiatives in Automation & AI using tools like Dynamo, Rhino & Grasshopper, and provided some insight into what direction all this might take in the next 5 years.

James Blood then presented about IT and the current ‘in progress’ change of supplier for our IT managed services and the goal of delivering better performance to our end users via upgrades to our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

The afternoon’s interactive content creation session, organised by SGP’s Social Group, was well received. The enthusiasm, engagement and teamwork demonstrated by all was wonderful to be a part of.

SGP Partners

From Left to Right:

Richard Smyth, Alistair Branch, James Nicholls, Luke Abbott, Justine Chamberlain, Marcus Madden-Smith

Luke Abbott Promoted to Partner

To be celebrating 50 years of exemplary masterplanning and architecture against the background of a global health crisis and massive economic turbulence is not quite what we originally envisaged.

Yet within current events there is a curious circularity with the past; an echo of how national and global challenges have continued to shape, sharpen and strengthen the business we know today.

When City Architect Stephen George resigned from his post at Leicester City Council to set up his own practice at 31 Bowling Green Street in Leicester, the 1970s had just begun and the UK was about to enter a period of unprecedented political and economic turmoil. In the 50 years since, much has changed in the wonderful and diverse world of architecture, but SGP’s core values have remained the same. We Care + We Challenge + We Deliver.

By facing and learning from economic recessions, embracing the unimaginable impact of new technology and investing in the most talented and committed staff, Stephen George + Partners (SGP) has overcome many challenges to become the award-winning AJ100 architectural practice it is today. With offices across the UK, an enviable portfolio of high quality, commercially sound projects and an impressive list of new and long-standing clients in diverse sectors, SGP remains at the forefront of outstanding masterplanning, of exceptional architectural design and of efficient delivery, always looking forward but never forgetting the lessons of the past.

Michael Barker, our senior Partner says: “SGP is a remarkable practice, filled with remarkable people working in a remarkable profession. Our 50 years has taught us many things, not least that people – our staff, our clients and our colleagues – are the heartbeat of SGP and I, along with the rest of the management team, are incredibly excited to start SGP on the road to the next 50 years of positive relationships and outstanding projects.”

Ian Yallop Retires as Chairman

Ian Yallop, SGP Chairman, will be retiring as Partner and stepping back from day-to-day duties at the AJ100 architectural practice at the end of 2023. He will remain involved in supporting the Partners on key legacy projects, primarily in front-end masterplanning.

Ian joined SGP in 1993 as an Architectural Assistant, whilst still at Leicester Polytechnic studying part time for his Part 2 accreditation. SGP’s office was in London Road, much smaller then and run along traditional lines with tea breaks, drawing boards and CAD in its infancy. The scope of work was similar to today, with a variety of projects in residential, retail, leisure and commercial sectors.

Ian was primarily responsible for SGP’s commercial and masterplanning projects, managing a team with considerable experience in designing and delivering complex schemes from office buildings to large regional business parks, amongst others.

Says Ian: “It has been an honour and privilege to work at SGP and to help build an incredible business that we can all be proud of. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of the SGP journey and, whilst there will be challenges ahead, I am confident that the practice will continue to evolve and thrive.

Whilst change is natural, I see SGP as the constant, the rock-solid foundation and framework through which committed, talented and passionate people are enabled to move up through the practice and take on the challenges of the future.”

James Nicholls, Managing Partner at SGP, said: ‘Ian has been an inspiration to many at SGP including his ability to find positive outcomes in the most challenging of circumstances. His boundless energy will be missed. He has provided support and mentorship to us all during the last 30 years and he and his team have masterplanned, designed and delivered many exemplar schemes of which we can be proud. Whilst Ian won’t be leaving us entirely, I would like to thank him for his support, friendship, leadership and unwavering commitment to, and custodianship of, SGP which has helped make it the flourishing practice that it is today.’

Concludes Ian: “I have spent the majority of my working life at SGP and it will be a huge wrench to step away from my day-to-day involvement. I will miss the people – colleagues and clients – who have made my career at SGP such a positive experience in an open and supportive environment. I started as an architectural assistant and became Partner and Chairman of a strong and successful practice which is a testament to the open culture at the centre of SGP’s ethos. As a Partner, I have been involved in developing the business, driving the growth in both income, diversity of work and staff. As a custodian of SGP, I am immensely proud to be leaving the practice in the steady and capable hands of my successors whom I have worked with for many years. SGP will face challenges ahead, as we have done in the past, but has the staff, management and passion to keep SGP moving onward for another 30 years – at least.”

SGP Autumn Conference

An opportunity for a whole gathering of the Practice bringing together our four geographic office locations: Leicester, London, Leeds and Birmingham. The event focussed on the emerging design challenges that we face as an industry. How can we collectively respond? How are we doing now? The session began with presentations from each office that reflected on current and recent projects, which focused on the innovation and collaboration that fuels the Practice in all of the sectors that we work in.

An invited guest speaker, Rob Purdy, offered us some illuminating messages on the importance of considering materials, fabrication and making in all of our design decisions.

The conference ended with a light-hearted and fun award celebration organised by SGP’s Social Group. There was a range of awards from the Interior Decorator Award to the Green Thumb Award.

We then had the opportunity to catch up with one and another from all our offices during a BBQ. The people and culture of SGP make us who we are, and we are proud of all the achievements we make together.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience whilst we closed our offices for the day.

SGP London Office Launch Event

We had a fantastic time at our London Office Event on Thursday 28th September. Not only was the venue at Laurel’s on The Roof amazing, the food was good and so was the company; it was wonderful to catch up with new and existing contacts and we’re delighted our guests joined us in the celebrations.

It’s astonishing that it’s been two years ago since we opened our London office at Worship Street. The strides we have made, the projects we have undertaken, and the reputation we have built in the heart of a great city are nothing more than remarkable – it’s a testament to our team’s dedication and support of our partners, colleagues in other offices, and our clients. Success is not just about the destination, it’s about the journey and the people you share it with.

Building Materials Guide v.3.1 Released

A new and completely revised third edition of the RIBA award-winning Guide to Building Materials and the Environment has been launched by Stephen George + Partners in collaboration with the GreenSpec website in response to the building industry’s push towards Net Zero Carbon and the perceived lack of clear, independent, rational information on how to achieve it.

Authored by Chris Halligan, Chartered Architectural Technologist at NPS Leeds, the latest and extensively re-written edition of the Guide is available free of charge and provides built environment professionals, self-builders and interested students with a transparently sourced, consistent and fully explained road map to various material options, from the traditional to the cutting-edge, and lays out how sustainable some “green” materials really are in their production, use and eventual disposal.

The push for Net Zero Carbon has seen increased momentum in the last few years with governments, companies and individuals looking to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint, reduce carbon emissions and keep global warming to 1.5˚ C or below. When it comes to Net Zero Carbon buildings, the focus from the industry has primarily been on reducing operational energy, mainly from heating, cooling and electricity use.

The new edition of the Guide has seen almost all the original materials re-assessed. The construction industry has changed significantly in the thirteen years since the original Guide was published, with some of the materials that were expected to have a great future failing to make a mark and new materials – and new ways of making old materials – coming into the spotlight.

SGP Autumn Conference

The morning began with an overview of the challenges we face in the profession, our recent successes and plans for the future. This was followed by presentations in the importance of design and our expertise and experience in all our sectors. In addition, our Social Responsibility, SGP Digital, SGP ID and Futures Groups all showcased some of the important work with which they are involved.

The conference ended with an emotional journey from our Senior Partner, Michael Barker, who took us through our 53 year history in a presentation entitled, ‘SGP: Past and Present’.

Our people and our culture make us who we are, and we are proud of all the achievements we have made together.

James Blood Appointed as SGP's Digital Director

James Blood has been promoted to Director at SGP, focusing on SGP’s drive to integrate digital services throughout the practice and facilitating greater collaboration within the practice as well as externally with clients, stakeholders and industry professionals.

Says James: “It is very satisfying to finally bag my promotion to ‘Digital Director’, bringing together all the interdependent functions of BIM, IT, Visualisation and Automation under one strategic plan. In creating this role, the partner group has shown their trust in me as well as their understanding of the strategic importance of these elements and a willingness to commit resources to continue to develop SGP for the digital demands of the current and future architectural landscape.”

Coming soon after achieving industry certification against ISO 19650-2:2018, the new Director role gives SGP’s digital sector access to the same management structures and representations as the design services, driving SGP’s implementation more effectively and at a greater pace. In his new role, James will be constantly reviewing the efficiency of the digital resources and making sure all the elements are converging appropriately. By sitting on the Operational Board, he will be able to ensure the practice’s digital capacity and its interdependencies is represented, understood and planned for in the decision making process.

Concludes James: “It’s been a huge effort across several years from myself and some amazing support from my Partner in Charge Richard Smyth, to develop the foundations for this role and a recognition of the importance of SGP’s digital offer. I am incredibly proud to reach this status within a business like SGP, a nationally recognised AJ100 practice, operating in many strategically important sectors here in the UK.”

Michael Barker Retires as Senior Partner

Michael joined SGP in 1979 as a year out student to complete his professional qualifications. Michael at first worked in a small group on the refurbishment and conversion of Victorian housing in Leicester. He worked with the practice founder Stephen George, who believed that good architecture could have a positive impact on society and individuals’ lives.

Michael comments: “The values I experienced then were not written down, but fairness, service and integrity were certainly part of the ethos and that continues today in SGP’s core values.

During his time at SGP Michael has seen many notable developments, from the design and construction of SGP’s first logistics building (a field in which they are now industry leaders), the creation of the first big blue ‘shed’, the evolution of standardised warehouse models and building one of the first million square foot logistics facilities, to the development of SGP’s skills in masterplanning and supporting early research into sustainable building solutions. He worked on the first commercial projects for developer Wilson Bowden way back in 1987, and the fact that their relationship survives to this day is testament to the values of service and quality SGP continue to provide for their clients.

Michael continues: “I have always been interested in the business of architecture, not just the design of buildings, and that made me something of a rarity. In the 1980s I took an evening class to learn BASIC programming and introduced the first computer to SGP to streamline the production of estimates and schedules and I’m still fascinated by the applications of IT and its impact on design and the efficient production of information.”

Michael steered the practice through tough times during the Great Recession from 2009 and was instrumental in transforming the practice into an LLP in 2010, opening new offices in Longbridge and London in addition to the existing studios in Leicester, Leeds and Solihull.

He has been an active member of the AFMG (Architects Financial Management Group) at a national level and more recently of the Built Environment Leaders Group. He recently started SGP’s Futures Group who investigate the challenges and changes that may transform the industry over the next decade and more.

James Nicholls, Managing Partner at SGP, said: “Michael has championed SGP’s values for many years, taking the ethos he saw working with Stephen George and encouraging the practice over many decades, combining sound business practice with client focused architectural design. Michael won’t be leaving us entirely, as he will be providing advice and guidance in his new consultancy role, but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his ambition, fortitude, support, and mentoring that have helped make SGP into the flourishing AJ100 practice it is today.”

Michael concludes: “Those founding values that Stephen George brought to us have continued for over 50 years now and I feel genuinely proud of our achievements over the 32 years I have been a partner here. I look forward to seeing the next generation taking the business forward and overcome the exciting and significant changes that will face us in the future.”

SGP Expands the Longbridge Office to Support Growth in West Midlands

We expanded our Longbridge office to accommodate the extra staff recruited to meet the practice’s business growth in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

At home in the Innovation Centre at Longbridge Technology Park, SGP knocked through two offices to create an extended, open plan workspace, three times the floorspace of the original. The layout focuses on creating a friendly, flexible environment that provides all the facilities expected in a fully-fledged studio, particularly the ability to collaborate as a team and with clients and project stakeholders.

Tariq Khan Promoted to Studio Director

The West Midlands region has seen substantial growth in staff numbers during the past 24 months to cater for new and existing project demands. We are proud of the relationships we have with existing clients and excited with regards to the new opportunities. The promotions of Tariq is thoroughly deserved. His contribution, commitment and expertise has played a large part in our recent growth and continued success.

Geoff Ward Retires as Partner

Expansion Prompts SGP London Office Relation to Shoreditch

Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) is excited to be moving its existing London office to new premises in Shoreditch. Prompted by the AJ100 practice’s expanding workload in the capital and south-east, SGP is taking premises at 87 Worship Street, London, building on an established track record of innovation and pragmatic problem solving in logistics, healthcare and commercial sectors, as well as developing new areas such as data centres and biomedical projects.

Michael Barker, Senior Partner at SGP, explains: “The practicality of remote working and video meetings has been proven by the pandemic, but we feel it’s still important to have a physical base from which to work, bringing together our team experience and sharing knowledge. Here we can draw upon the creative energy of London to evolve and push the boundaries across all SGP’s services, including BIM applications, master planning and interior design.”

Directors Muhammad Khan and Kevin Kelly lead the London studio with a focus on supporting existing clients as well as developing key new sectors and driving sector-focused innovation.

Says Muhammad: “London and the south-east is an extremely competitive market and the development of SGP’s London office is a mark of our complete commitment to the area. I’ve been supporting established sectors such as logistics and, drawing on the experience and knowledge from across the business, have been able to access growth sectors, such as science and biomedical projects, as well as data centre design and delivery, which has seen demand rise hugely with the increased need for IT during the pandemic.”

At a time when digital design is accelerating towards new ideas and applications, the London office will benefit from SGP’s independent in-house BIM strategic team, to deliver quality assured openBIM outputs. It will also include an established interiors division, which will be collaborating with the architectural team to develop bespoke fit-out solutions across all sectors.

Drawing on his experience working on landmark London healthcare schemes, such as a new signature building for Great Ormond Street Hospital and the military field hospital NHS Nightingale, Kevin reflects on the practice’s embrace of digital tools and software and their ability to increase efficiency and accuracy in project delivery: “The pandemic has changed a lot of things, including highlighting the importance of having the right healthcare facilities in the right place at the right time. Digitisation, automation and modern methods of construction will be key to delivering the healthcare infrastructure that society needs now and in the future. At SGP we have not only embraced the digital realm but have been exploring emerging manufacturing and construction techniques to promote sophisticated approaches to problem solving that will benefit both design team and client.”

SGP places great value on mentoring young architectural students and investing in future talent. In addition to long-standing collaborations with universities across the UK, including mentoring students from LSBU and Kingston University in London, the practice maintains further strong links with UCL and UCA Canterbury, where Kevin lectures and examines.

Nicola Pettman Promoted to Studio Director

The Partner Group constantly assess SGP’s aspirations for the future and exploring methods to grow, maintain and diversify the Practice. As embodied in our business plan, part of this process has been to grow our key sectors, set challenging targets for profitability in all sectors, and improve quality and efficiency including design and delivery of projects. We have set targets for the use of Revit to make the most of the opportunity it presents to improve the quality of output.

Our Residential team has responded to this challenge, and we are delighted to announce the Promotion of Nicola’s achievements. Embracing Revit has led to far better output and improved methods of working. Most importantly, developing stronger relationships with clients has offered greater opportunity to grow the sector within SGP.

Arshad Khan Promoted to Studio Director

SGP is pleased to announce that Arshad Khan has been promoted to Studio Director. Previously an Associate in the practice, Arshad joined SGP in 2016 as part of a team working in masterplanning, distribution, commercial, retail and mixed-use schemes.

Marcus Madden-Smith, Partner at SGP, “We are delighted to offer Ash this well-deserved promotion. Ash has delivered numerous significant projects for SGP with a number of our key clients. Ash constantly performs at a high level embracing new technology with extraordinary calmness, winning new work and clients through the quality of his service and positive approach to work.

Arshad comments: “It is a privilege to be recognised and promoted to the position of Director. Personally, it means that this is where the hard work starts and the added responsibility will encourage me to excel in this field.

I have always been intrigued by the application of new technologies in our profession, both on site as well as in the office. Exploring more efficient ways of building using technology and different materials, as well as using software that enables us to push the limits further and further, has always been of interest. I will encourage and develop SGP’s attitude of challenging with care within our team.”

Arshad has worked on Magna Park, Lutterworth, recently handing over the first of four units, as well as delivering three units at Panattoni Park, Northampton, with an approximate area of 2,500,000 sq ft. Encouragingly, five of these units have had leases signed and SGP is currently working with potential tenants for the two remaining units. Arshad is also working on a temperature-controlled unit at Felixstowe which is scheduled for completion in April, as well as Phase 2 at Panattoni Park, which is currently onsite and where two of the three units are making good progress and the instruction to proceed on the third unit imminent.

Arshad’s previous experience includes a wide range of projects from commercial, education and religious developments and he has worked in different regions in Africa and in the Middle East.

Chris Webster Promoted to Studio Director

Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) is pleased to announce that Chris Webster has been promoted to Studio Director.

Chris joined SGP in 1997 and was promoted to Associate in 2006 before being appointed Studio Director in 2021.

Chris manages a team of Architects and Technicians in the Leicester office, liaising with clients and overseeing internal processes and project co-ordination, from feasibility through technical delivery, on a range of developments.

Working in a range of sectors including distribution, industrial, retail, residential and mixed-use schemes, Chris excels at masterplanning complex brownfield sites with onerous physical and ecological constraints.

Says Chris: “I am delighted at being promoted to Studio Director and am looking forward to developing my team and continuing to deliver flexible, sustainable and resilient schemes across many sectors and markets.”

Says James Nicholls, Managing Partner at SGP: “Chris has shown excellent team management and development skills in addition to deep technical knowledge and design acumen. His support of SGP and the Partners has been rightly recognised and we are delighted to be able to promote him to Studio Director and continue the consolidation of our core management team as we continue to expand and diversify our practice.”

Richard Smyth Promoted to Partner

Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) is delighted to announce that Richard Smyth has been promoted to Partner, effective from 1st January 2021. Richard has been Studio Director at the AJ100 practice’s Solihull office since 2014 and will continue to focus on long-standing clients as well as developing SGP’s West Midlands offer.

Says Richard: “I am delighted to become a Partner at SGP. My primary focus will continue to be on maintaining a long-standing client relationship. I am looking forward to developing our staff and leading growth for SGP across the West Midlands. I have been – and will continue to be – a champion for challenging our design ambitions as well as expanding the design processes used to deliver high standards.”

In 2014, Richard returned to SGP following 10 years project leading multi-disciplinary design teams on developments specialising in complex industrial facility design, manufacturing and infrastructure.

Continues Richard: “The Partnership would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of my colleagues, particularly the mentoring and guidance from the existing Partners.”

Concludes James Nicholls, Managing Partner at SGP: “Richard’s promotion is very well-deserved and will not only strengthen our West Midlands offices, both at Solihull and Birmingham, but also add a passionate new voice to our senior management team. His appointment will allow SGP to strengthen our front end and delivery team capability. We look forward to seeing Richard maintaining existing relationships and developing new ones in the years to come.”

Alistair Branch Promoted to Partner

We are delighted to announce that Alistair Branch is to be promoted to Partner at Stephen George + Partners’ Leeds office, effective from 1st January 2021.

Since joining in 2016 to spearhead SGP’s transportation sector development, Alistair and his team have won significant public sector projects, securing over £150 million worth of transport schemes, including SGP’s first major transport commission – a prestigious £9m Rail Training Centre for Nexus in South Shields. Current transportation sector projects include a new Bus Interchange in Stevenage, Broadmarsh Bus station and MSCP in Nottingham, Halifax Bus station, Halifax Railway Station Gateway, and the latest win – the Dudley Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre.

Says Alistair: “I am absolutely delighted to be asked to become a Partner at SGP and continue the drive to both grow our transport architecture offer and develop the Leeds office as a whole. SGP’s willingness to co-operate across sector specialisms and offices has helped us to deliver successful public and private sector Air, Bus and Rail projects and I am confident that growth in transport and the wider Leeds office sectors will continue.”

In addition to developing the Transport team, Alistair has been instrumental in the development of internal procedures which encourage all staff to engage with QA, Budgeting and Resourcing, improving efficiency and quality throughout a project’s design and delivery.

Geoff Ward Partner at SGP said: “We are delighted to promote Alistair to the role of Partner at SGP. His expertise and passion have seen him win remarkable projects and contribute hugely to the internal strength of the whole SGP offer. With his promotion, we are strengthening our existing Leeds office team for the future and reinforcing our wider vision for SGP, delivering our ethos of we care, we challenge, we deliver to a broad range of public sector projects.”

50th Birthday

To be celebrating 50 years of exemplary masterplanning and architecture against the background of a global health crisis and massive economic turbulence is not quite what we originally envisaged.

Yet within current events there is a curious circularity with the past; an echo of how national and global challenges have continued to shape, sharpen and strengthen the business we know today.

When City Architect Stephen George resigned from his post at Leicester City Council to set up his own practice at 31 Bowling Green Street in Leicester, the 1970s had just begun and the UK was about to enter a period of unprecedented political and economic turmoil. In the 50 years since, much has changed in the wonderful and diverse world of architecture, but SGP’s core values have remained the same. We Care + We Challenge + We Deliver.

By facing and learning from economic recessions, embracing the unimaginable impact of new technology and investing in the most talented and committed staff, Stephen George + Partners (SGP) has overcome many challenges to become the award-winning AJ100 architectural practice it is today. With offices across the UK, an enviable portfolio of high quality, commercially sound projects and an impressive list of new and long-standing clients in diverse sectors, SGP remains at the forefront of outstanding masterplanning, of exceptional architectural design and of efficient delivery, always looking forward but never forgetting the lessons of the past.

Michael Barker, our senior Partner says: “SGP is a remarkable practice, filled with remarkable people working in a remarkable profession. Our 50 years has taught us many things, not least that people – our staff, our clients and our colleagues – are the heartbeat of SGP and I, along with the rest of the management team, are incredibly excited to start SGP on the road to the next 50 years of positive relationships and outstanding projects.”

Luke Abbott Appointed as Studio Director

SGP appointed Luke Abbott as Studio Director, based at their Leicester office.

Luke will be working with Partner Marcus Madden-Smith in SGP’s industrial and logistics sector group. In addition to managing a team, Luke will be involved in client liaison, feasibility studies, concept design, and plans of works.

Luke brings years of management and technical expertise to SGP. Industrial and logistics is a core sector for us, and one where we are well-known for our ability to deliver client requirements, from a range of building sizes and complexities.

John Morfey Retires as Partner

SGP Partners

From Left to Right:

John Morfey
Justine Chamberlain
Michael Barker
Marcus Madden-Smith
Ian Yallop
Geoff Ward
James Nicholls

Stephen George + Partners Move into New Leicester Office

We moved into our new Leicester Office building has reached practical completion and we now occupy 2a Waterfront House.

Designed and delivered by us, the new office showcases our capabilities in design and sustainability to create a light and vibrant new workspace for our employees.

We feel privileged that we, as architects, were able to design our own office which are located in a fantastic setting overlooking the lake in the landscaped south-east corner of Grove Park Business Park. On the ground floor we have meeting rooms and a welcoming café that opens on to a lakeside terrace for staff and clients alike and a dramatic first-floor design studio.

SGP Backs Future Growth with Senior Management Promotions

We are delighted to announce a series of internal promotions to our senior management team, with effect from 1st January 2018. Current Managing Partner Michael Barker will take up a new role as Senior Partner and will be actively involved in developing our London office. James Nicholls will replace him as Managing Partner, focusing on day-to-day management of the business. Ian Yallop will take on a new role as Chairman, focusing on strategic development of the Partnership. Justine Chamberlain, currently Finance Director, will become Finance Partner.

Explains Michael Barker: “These promotions will put in place the knowledge and experience to strengthen SGP’s strategic focus across the wider senior management team. This will deliver further growth and expansion both geographically and across new sectors, whilst retaining our focus on client service and delivery.”

The changes will further complement SGP’s recent strategic appointments in the Transport, Education, Health and Residential teams as well as growth in the Logistics, Commercial and Retail sectors.

Having joined Stephen George + Partners in 1979, Michael Barker became the practice’s first Managing Partner in 2010, focusing on strategic development and maintaining SGP’s forward looking philosophy. His new Senior Partner role will use this experience and enthusiasm to continue to develop SGP’s London office in a competitive and turbulent market.

Previously working predominantly in the commercial sector, James Nicholls joined Stephen George + Partners in 1998, becoming a Partner in 2010. James will be applying his client and contractor liaison skills and business development acumen on day-to-day management matters across the entire practice.

Ian Yallop joined Stephen George + Partners in 1993 and became a partner in 2004. His previous role saw him taking responsibility for a team of Architects and Technicians in SGP’s Leicester and Birmingham offices. As Chairman, Ian will use his years of industry and management experience to develop a dynamic and practical strategy for SGP’s continuing development.

Justine Chamberlain is a chartered accountant who joined Stephen George + Partners as their Financial Controller in 2005, becoming Finance Director in 2015. Her new post as Finance Partner will see Justine providing financial, commercial and strategic expertise at the highest level of the business.

Chris Wicks Retires as Partner

SGP Merges with Leeds Healthcare Specialists

Leeds-based specialist healthcare architects, Enable by Design, has become an integral part of one of Stephen George + Partners’ (SGP).

The merger of the two companies gives additional momentum to SGP’s expansion plans, as well as enhancing their current expertise with specialist design advice and client support in all sectors.

Enable by Design has a proven track record in creating high quality healthcare and social care environments for NHS Trusts, Framework Partners, developers and aged care providers across the UK. Led by Director Steve Batson, all of Enable by Design’s team have become part of the SGP team, based at the Leeds office. They bring with them decades of specialist healthcare knowledge and expertise including working with various forms of contracts and procurement routes.

The merger brings additional BIM skills to the SGP team, as the healthcare sector is more advanced than much of the private sector when it comes to the adoption and implementation of BIM.

We were impressed by Steve and his team’s experience and their nation-wide portfolio of healthcare projects. We felt they were a perfect fit with the skills base we already have and I’m looking forward to putting into action our ambitious plans for growth in the healthcare sector in northern England and throughout the UK.

Recent Enable by Design schemes include the state-of-the-art Fieldhead Hospital non secure project and the Bagwell House Health & Wellbeing Centre at Pontefract, which won a Pontefract Civic Society blue plaque award earlier this year.

Stephen George + Partners will continue to offer clients expertise in masterplanning, industrial, distribution, office, mixed-use and private residential sectors. Together with SGP’s geographical positioning, wide-ranging resources, scale and reputation for exemplary service delivery, the expanded SGP will offer significant benefits to the combined client base.

Birmingham Office Relocates to Longbridge

The Birmingham office relocated to larger premises at Longbridge Technology Park following a recent merger with Birmingham-based MKguru Architect Ltd. The move marks a significant expansion of Stephen George + Partners in the West Midlands and has also seen the appointment to the practice of Juma Chipeta as Project Architect to boost its already significant technical and BIM expertise. The news comes on the back of the practice’s Birmingham office submitting planning applications for two notable schemes in the region.

Marcus Madden-Smith is Promoted to Partner

Stephen George & Partners is delighted to announce that as of Monday 1st January 2016 Marcus Madden-Smith has become a member of the LLP.

Marcus joined the practice on 6th January 1997 as an Architectural Assistant and has progressed through the roles of Architect, Associate and Director.

Managing Partner Michael Barker said, “Marcus has established excellent relationships with some of our key clients and he has done this by delivering a first class service, going the extra mile for clients and through his skill and ability in particular in the distribution sector, where he has become widely known for his knowledge and expertise.

Marcus exemplifies our core values of service and professionalism and is well liked by clients and colleagues alike and the Partners are delighted that he has agreed to join the business”.

Pratibha Gadhi Retired

Pratibha Gadhi, SGPs longest serving Accounts Administrator, retired after 43 years of service.

Richard Smyth is Appointed as Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Smyth as a Director in our Solihull Office as part of plans to grow the business in the West Midlands.

Working directly with client Prologis UK Ltd and SGP’s other West Midlands team members, he will be working on some of the biggest logistics projects in the country, including the next phases of Prologis RFI DIRFT.

“It’s very exciting to be joining the team at this time,” he says. “Working as closely as we do with Prologis is a unique experience. Communication between the client and ourselves is excellent, meaning decisions can be made quickly, which is important when working on complex and ground-breaking projects such as DIRFT.”

Prologis is the global leader in industrial real estate. In the UK, the company owns and manages a portfolio of 23 million square feet of logistics and distribution space.

Richard’s first job after graduating from De Montfort University with a Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice was with SGP and after some years working for a number of other practices, he has returned to the fold.

“We’ve known Richard for a long time,” explains Michael Barker, SGP’s Managing Partner. “We have kept in touch, and when this new position came up we knew he’d be an excellent candidate. The Solihull office will benefit hugely from his extensive experience managing teams on complex industrial projects in former roles.”

The Solihull team is expanding in order to deliver more projects from start to finish.

Russell Vernum Retires as Partner

Stephen George & Partners LLP are delighted to announce that JSP Architecture Merger

Stephen George & Partners LLP are delighted to announce that JSP Architecture has become an integral part of the Stephen George & Partners Group operating from our Leicester office at 170 London Road.

LLP and new Partners

Senior Partner, David Taylor, retired from the practice in 2009 and Stephen George & Partners became a Limited Liability Partnership and will be known as Stephen George & Partners LLP. Our members are: Stuart Richardson, Mick Barker (Managing), Geoff Ward, Ian Yallop, John Morfey, Chris Wicks, Russell Vernum, Hugh Owens and James Nicholls.

First Volunteers Have Gone to South Africa

The first group of volunteers went to Eshowe in South Africa for one week in June. They were working on a house for a local family together with two local builders and local volunteers.

SGP Wins Best Small Companies Award

Stephen George + Partners were awarded the best small companies to work for by The Sunday Times, we were delighted to not only be the only East Midlands practice to win the award but also first architectural practice ever.

Sheffield Millennium Winter Garden Hosts Unique Initiative In The Midlands and The North

On the 5^th October 2007 eminent designers, artists and architects assembled at the Sheffield Millennium Winter Garden to adjudicate an inclusive charrette, where the delegates of invited students, architects and other design professionals including artists collaborated in an exercise of creative exchange, and participate in a forum to discuss and debate collaboration in design.

The Charrette, sponsored by Stephen George + Partners and introduced by Paul Atkinson of Atkinson Design Associates called for delegates to re-interpret and question the pre-conceptions of the design of a generic piece of furniture, and were challenged to consider the nature and intent of their designs as informed by its placement.

The winning design, created by Stuart Richardson, Daniel Ratcliffe, Mark Macmanard and Billie Yao, was a reclining chair called the Body Map.  Stuart commented “Our chair was conceived as a work of art, to sit in the corner of a gallery, or large sitting room, and to be admired as much for its concept as its practicality.  We were inspired to create a form using a series of random length tubular metal rods to define the negative space of a reclining body; the rods would coincide with the nodal points of the human figure.   The resulting matrix of rods then became the support zone of the recliner, over this would be stretched an elastic membrane or skin.   The point of contact would then be sprung loaded.  Some of the key components in the matrix would be extended to provide a means of support”. Stuart and his team won a trip to Vitra Design Museum, Basel, Switzerland.

Commenting on the event and Charrette, David Gloster, Director of Education RIBA, said, “Events like this should be applauded because they remind us of that which is very obvious and sometimes taken for granted; artefacts of everyday life can be key signifiers of who and what we are”.

The keynote lecture which directed the afternoon’s forum dialogue was delivered by Irena Bauman, founding Director of Bauman Lyons Architects, discussing the influence of design across multiple disciplines, noting the four major pathways of the creative process and collective collaboration. She highlighted that exercises such as these are beneficial for connecting into creativity in an united, productive manner.

Members of the general public were invited to attend the event and were engaged with the nature and process of design.

Judges included David Gloster, John Thorpe, Dr Renee Tobe and Dr Popovic Larsen.

Refurbishment Leonard Cheshire Homes

Stephen George & Partners launched their Social Responsibility programme to their staff by organising a one day refurbishment of Leonard Cheshire Disability’s residential home in Cheltenham.

One hundred professionals, including architects, descended on Leonard Cheshire Disability with hammers and paintbrushes to give up their time to assist in a transformation which could have come out of a television reality show.

David Taylor, Senior Partner, described why the practice decided to involve their staff on a practical level: “We need to move towards a challenging measure of social responsibility, where we judge our biasness not just by normal business standards, but by the difference we make to the world which we live in and the contribution we make to other people’s lives. The refurbishment of Leonard Cheshire’s Disability in Cheltenham provided an opportunity for us to engage our staff in a real life experience that demonstrated that each and every one of us has the ability to contribute to making other people’s lives better.”

The refurbishment was completed in one day and the living area was changed beyond recognition with freshly painted walls, new furniture and the installation of a 42 inch plasma TV, while the gardens were also spruced up with new plants, wood chips, decking an a new area for their BBQ.

Leeds Office Moved from No. 4 to 33 Park Place

Inspiring Trip to Berlin

Staff from Stephen George + Partners were treated to a weekend in Berlin ‘to inspire and excite’. In total, 100 members of staff from Leicester, Nottingham and Solihull offices enjoyed the trip.

Senior Partner David Taylor said that we had dreamt of bringing all the staff together on the architectural tour of Berlin, but never imagined that it would be as enlightening and successful as it has been.

Stephen George Retires from the Practice

London Office

The practice grew slowly and during the 1970’s acquired a new partner in Leeds – William Houghton-Evans known to us as Bill who was an architect and lecturer in the engineering department at Leeds University and Chris Whittaker who worked for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in London and founded the London office at Dryden Street in Covent Garden.

Stephen George Establishes the Practice

Leicester City Chief Architect, Stephen George, at the age of 55, leaves local government to set up his own practice at 31 Bowling Green Street in Leicester. He is joined by two young architects from the City Architects Department, David Taylor and Robin Brazier with Stephen’s wife, Mildred, running the practice.

The work is public sector, schools, healthcare, and social housing.