It is a pleasure for Associated Architects to be collaborating with Architectural Technology at Birmingham City University on the launch of Architectural Design Studio 2 (Year 1) as a live project.

The studio is centred on the Mott Street & Nightingale Works residential redevelopment in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, a build-to-rent scheme designed by Associated Architects for Cordia UK.

As part of the project launch, our team introduced the site, client brief, design expectations and real-world constraints, offering students insight into how the scheme operates in practice. Across the semester, students will develop proposals from early concept through to construction-level thinking, supported by regular reviews, formative feedback and a mid-semester site visit.

The project will culminate at the Architectural Degree Show during Innovation Fest 2026, where final outcomes will be reviewed by industry representatives.

We look forward to seeing how the students reimagine the site and respond to the challenges of a live, practice-led brief.

Thanks to Senior Associate Alex Slatter, Architects Jason Trickett and Jack Francis, alongside Alexa van Heerden, for launching the project, and to Birmingham City University staff Dr Heba Iskandarani, Nick Irvin SFHEA and Milad Mohtadi for their continued collaboration and support.