Associated Architects is a leading architectural firm based in Birmingham, England. The practice has a broad portfolio of work including arts, commercial offices, housing and leisure and is particularly known for its work in education. It has received many national awards including 28 RIBA Awards, together with the RIBA Sustainability Award.
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, Paul Lister 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 in 2012 and Richard Perry to Associate Director in 2013.
Adam Wardle unexpectedly died 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.
UniversitiesThe Curzon Building, Birmingham City University, completion expected 2015New Library, University of Birmingham, completion expected 2015Medical Teaching Building, University of Leicester, completion expected 2015Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University, 2013 (RIBA Award 2014)Gisbert Kapp, University of Birmingham, 2011The Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton, 2010Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham, 2009David Wilson Library, University of Leicester, 2008. (RIBA Award 2009)Health, Design & Technology Centre, Coventry University, 2009Greenbank Building, University of Central Lancashire, 1998Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, 1995. (RIBA Award 1996)School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University, 1994. (RIBA Award 1995)Independent SchoolsYarm 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, 2007King's School Library, The King's School, Worcester, 2006. (RIBA Award 2008)The British School, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2005Mary Windsor Boarding House, Bromsgrove School, 2002Theatre and Hall, Queen Margaret's School, York, 2002. (RIBA White Rose Award for Design Excellence 2004)Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham, 1992State SchoolsBirmingham BSF (Building Schools for the Future), 2012Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, 2010St. Olave's, St. Peter's School, York, 2009Charter Primary School & Surestart Centre, Coventry, 2005Hagley Primary School, Hagley, 2004CollegesCampus Redevelopment, University College Birmingham, 2013Blossomfield Campus, Solihull College, Birmingham, 2010Progress Centre, Cannock Chase Technology College, Cannock, 2004Worcester VI Form College, Worcester, 200210 Woodcock Street, Birmingham City Council, 2012 (National BCO Award 2013)Operations Centre, Severn Trent Water, Coventry, 2010One Severn Street Place, Associated Architects, Birmingham, 2009Project Sunrise, Punch Taverns, Burton, 2009Westgate Civic Offices, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Barnsley, 2006134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, 2004Interchange Place, Birmingham, 2003Newhall Square, Birmingham, completion expected 2012The Mailbox, Birmingham, 20009 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, 1999Birmingham Town Hall, 2007Birmingham Hippodrome, 2001 (in conjunction with Law Dunbar Nasmith). (RIBA Award 2002)The Water Hall, Birmingham, 2001The CBSO Centre, 1998Eco Vicarages, Diocese of Worcester, 2012Cobtun House, Worcester, 2003. (RIBA Award 2005, RIBA Sustainability Award 2005)St Crispin's Manor, Northampton, 2008Crown Lofts, Walsall, 2003Washington Wharf, Birmingham, 2001Bristol Civil Justice Centre, Bristol, 2010Acorn's Children's Hospice, Worcester, 2005Wapping Wharf Masterplan, Bristol, Planning Application 2004Stafford Combined Court, Stafford, 1991Lee Bank Health Centre, Birmingham, 1990. (RIBA Award 1990)2014 RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year Award, College Court, University of Leicester2014 RIBA East Midlands Award, College Court, University of Leicester2014 RIBA East Midlands Conservation Award, College Court, University of Leicester2014 RIBA West Midlands Award, The Parkside Building, Birmingham City University2014 RIBA West Midlands Award, The Lighthouse, Birmingham Youth Services2013 RIBA North East Award: Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm Independent School2013 RIBA West Midlands Award: The Michael Baker Boathouse, The King's School Worcester2009 RIBA Award: David Wilson Library, University of Leicester2008 RIBA East Midlands Award: David Wilson Library, University of Leicester2008 RIBA Award: The King's School Library, Worcester2005 RIBA Sustainability Award: Cobtun House, Worcester2005 RIBA Award: Cobtun House, Worcester2004 RIBA White Rose Award for Design Excellence: Queen Margaret's School, York2002 RIBA Award: Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham1998 RIBA Housing Design Award: City Heights, Birmingham1997 RIBA Housing Design Award: Berkley Court, Birmingham1996 RIBA Award: College of Art, Birmingham1995 RIBA Award: School of Jewellery, Birmingham1993 RIBA Award: 30 St. Paul's Square, Birmingham1993 RIBA Housing Design Award: Malt Mill Lane, Alcester1992 RIBA Award: Clayton Hall, Lilleshall NSC1990 RIBA Award: The Walled Garden, Brockhampton1989 RIBA Award: Lee Bank Health Centre, Birmingham1986 RIBA Award: Malt Mill Lane, Alcester1983 RIBA Housing Design Award: Steven's Terrace, Birmingham1983 RIBA Award: Brown's Restaurant, Worcester1982 RIBA Award: Pleck Orchard, Hartlebury1979 RIBA Housing Design Award: Bishop's Court, Northfield, BirminghamXL, Associated Architects Publishing, 2008Buildings that Feel Good, Ziona Strelitz, RIBA Publishing, 2008Birmingham: Shaping the City, Ben Flatman, RIBA Publishing, 2008Birmingham (Pevsner Architectural Guide), Andy Foster, Yale University Press, 2005
