Replacing the existing 1950s school, the new building will include a dedicated on-site nursery and specialist SEND provision, designed to create flexible, welcoming spaces where every child can learn, grow and thrive.

The proposals have been shaped through extensive engagement with the school, local residents and the planning authority, ensuring the new school reflects the needs of its community. Associated Architects is providing both architectural and landscape design services, working closely with Tilbury Douglas, Q&A Planning, and the wider project team to deliver a high-quality learning environment.

Designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon in Operation, the school combines a high-performance building fabric with efficient building services, rooftop photovoltaic panels and passive ventilation, discreetly integrated behind the roof parapets. The landscape design further supports climate resilience through rainwater harvesting, floodwater attenuation and enhanced biodiversity across the site.

A carefully considered construction strategy will allow the existing school to remain operational throughout the build, maintaining continuity of education, retaining access to sports facilities and avoiding the need for temporary classrooms or multiple pupil relocations. The project is being delivered through the Department for Education’s CF21 Framework.

The post Planning approval secured for new Stow Heath Primary School appeared first on Associated Architects.

Pupils enjoyed a week of getting to grips with the realities of life in practice, taking part in a design challenge culminating in a design crit. They also undertook masterclasses in architectural drawing, sustainable architecture, architectural photography, software, and visualising. In Birmingham, pupils visited Hill West Primary, the University of Birmingham, and 19 Cornwall with project architects, allowing pupils to see the practice’s work in the flesh, a guided walk around Birmingham prompted lively discussions about the city’s architecture. Similarly in Leeds guided walks around the University including the fd enabled pupils to understand more about working on site and the practice’s multiple projects on campus.

Part II Architectural Apprentice Harvey Farren who co-led the programme with Social Value Lead Beth Astington said:

“This has been an incredibly rewarding week. We designed the timetable to maximise opportunities for the pupils, hoping to offer genuine insight into the industry and inspire them to pursue a career in architecture. This year’s group has been outstanding, being highly engaged and overall a real pleasure to work with.”

Feedback from the pupils included:

• “You didn’t just meet expectations, you exceeded. I can’t stress enough how amazing everyone was! Everyone we spoke to was incredible, kind, encouraging, and had clearly put so much effort into their presentations. It was an honour to learn from all of you. Thank you so much for the opportunity!”
• “This work experience is a great opportunity to see the inner workings of architecture and get advice from people at different stages in their career.”
• “A really transformative experience. I’d highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in architecture.”
• “Architecture is a long journey, which makes the experience gained along the way a long worthwhile.”
• “It was way beyond my expectations so I’m grateful that I was able to do work experience at AA for a whole week. Thank you.”
• “Best experience ever”

Dates for the 2027 programme will be announced on this page in January: Careers – Associated Architects, with applications opening Spring 2027.

The post Associated Architects Work Experience Programme 2026 appeared first on Associated Architects.

We’re proud to be included in this year’s AJ100 at a time when our practice is stronger than ever. We’ve grown to become the largest team in our history, with colleagues across our Birmingham, Leeds and Oxford studios working together to deliver projects that make a lasting difference to people and places.

Over the past year, we’ve celebrated the completion of projects that reflect the way we like to work, combining creativity, technical expertise and close collaboration with our clients. Among them is London South East Colleges’ Greenwich Future Campus, which achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating and sets a new benchmark for sustainable education design.

It’s also been a year of industry recognition, with success at both the RIBA and BCO Awards. While awards are never the reason we do what we do, they’re a welcome acknowledgement of the care, collaboration and commitment that goes into every project.

As an Employee Ownership Trust, our people remain at the heart of everything we do. Employee ownership gives everyone a genuine stake in our future and strengthens the collaborative culture that has shaped Associated Architects for more than 50 years. By investing in our people, we’re creating an environment where individuals can develop, ideas can flourish and great design can thrive.

Being part of the AJ100 isn’t simply about a place in a ranking. It’s recognition of the talented people who make our practice what it is and the trusted relationships we’ve built with clients, collaborators and communities over many years.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of that journey. We’re looking forward to building on another successful year and continuing to create places that have a positive and lasting impact.

The post AJ 100 2026 appeared first on Associated Architects.

The project will see the refurbishment of Levels 5, 6 and 8, creating high-quality research environments that support the University’s ambitions for world-leading scientific discovery and interdisciplinary collaboration. Sensitive interventions will enhance the historic building while delivering contemporary laboratory and research facilities designed to meet the evolving needs of researchers and academics.

Building on the success of the recently completed Cheney Biomedical Accelerator, the next phase continues the University’s long-term investment in its Discovery Science programme. Together, these projects are helping to create an integrated research environment that attracts leading talent, encourages collaboration across disciplines and supports research with real-world impact.

With Planning and Listed Building Consent now in place, the project moves into the delivery phase. Main contractor Overbury, appointed through the SCAPE framework, has commenced work on site in partnership with the wider design team.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the University of Leeds and our project partners as this exciting next chapter of the Discovery Science Masterplan takes shape.

The post Discovery Science Masterplan Approved for University appeared first on Associated Architects.

That’s the BREEAM Official OUTSTANDING score achieved by the new London South East Colleges Future Greenwich Campus.

It now officially becomes one of the only Further Education buildings in the UK to achieve this standard, the project shows what can be achieved when sustainability is embedded into the design process from the outset.

Environmental performance was a key consideration throughout the development of the scheme, informing decisions around building fabric, energy systems and passive design strategies. The completed campus incorporates air source heat pumps, an ambient loop heating and cooling system, a bio-solar roof and intelligent building controls, all contributing to a low-carbon learning environment for students and staff.

For us, the result reinforces one of the core pillars of the practice and our commitment to Climate Action: the strongest sustainability outcomes are not achieved through individual technologies alone. They come from setting clear performance targets early and allowing them to shape the design from day one.

A great achievement for London South East Colleges and the wider project team.

Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greater London Authority, L&Q, KIER Construction, Box Clever Consulting, Curtins Stace  CPW

Thomas Cotton | Lauren Francis | Josh Dudley | Sara Hurley | Michael Witherwick | Sarish Younis | Antoine Le Gouyer

The post 91.9%! Outstanding! appeared first on Associated Architects.

Building on the themes of Mental Health Awareness Week, we extend the conversation across the entire month, creating more opportunities for our staff to connect, reflect and support one another through a programme of activities across the practice.

We enjoyed numerous group activities including “Freddo Friday”, Wear It Green Day, Pot Luck Lunches, trips to Helios at The Exchange in Birmingham and Ikon Gallery, greening our offices with new plants, football matches, badminton, and webinars from Westfield Health, who provide the practice’s private health insurance.

Mental health is not something that can be addressed in a single week. By dedicating a full month to wellbeing, we aim to create lasting conversations, strengthen connections between colleagues, and reinforce a culture where people feel supported both professionally and personally.

A huge thank you to everyone who organised, participated in and supported this year’s activities and those we have partnered with – Birmingham Architectural Association, Building Equality, Galliford Try Martin House Children’s Hospice Interface

The enthusiasm across the practice once again demonstrated the importance of community, connection and taking time to look after ourselves and each other.

The post Mental Health Month appeared first on Associated Architects.

Originally opened in 1978 to accommodate around 700,000 journeys per year, the station now serves up to 3.5 million passengers annually and has been designed to support future growth of up to 7.2 million users each year. The redevelopment delivers a significantly improved passenger experience through new bridges spanning the live railway and canal, wider entrances and circulation spaces, step free access to all platforms, and enhanced connections to the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust campus. The project demonstrates how transport infrastructure can combine civic presence, accessibility and long term community benefit.

The post RIBA Award Win for University Station appeared first on Associated Architects.

Designed by Associated Architects for Kier Property, the project brought together a wider consultant and delivery team including Cundall, Willmott Dixon, Briggs & Forrester, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield and Gardiner & Theobald LLP.

Located within Birmingham’s Colmore Business District, the scheme reworks a dated 1990s office building into 139,000 sq ft of contemporary Grade A workspace through a retrofit strategy focused on reuse, performance and long-term adaptability.

A key principle of the project was retaining existing materials and structure wherever possible. The original concrete frame and significant elements of the façade were preserved, helping to reduce embodied carbon while extending the life of the building. Existing raised access flooring reclaimed from Canary Wharf was also carefully processed on site and integrated back into the scheme, demonstrating how circular economy principles can be applied at scale within commercial retrofit projects.

Environmental performance has been driven through a fabric-first approach, upgraded airtightness and the introduction of all-electric building services. Combined with approximately 4,000 sq ft of rooftop photovoltaic panels, the building is predicted to operate at around 66% better than the current UK office average for energy use.

The completed development targets EPC A, BREEAM Excellent, NABERS UK 5.0 Design Reviewed, WELL Gold and WiredScore Gold certifications.

Internally, the workplace experience has been transformed through the creation of a dramatic 32m-high reception atrium, collaborative breakout spaces, flexible studio environments and a fifth-floor roof terrace overlooking the city. Occupier wellbeing is further supported through biophilic design principles, generous cycle facilities and flexible work settings designed around contemporary patterns of use.

The project also champions local manufacturing and reclaimed materials throughout the interior design. Bespoke joinery crafted from reclaimed timber floorboards sits alongside PET felt wall panels manufactured from recycled plastic, reinforcing the project’s wider sustainability ambitions.

Associated Architects would also like to acknowledge Ikon Gallery for facilitating the commission of bespoke reception artwork by Richard Hughes.

This award is a testament to the collaborative effort of the entire client, consultant and contractor team, and demonstrates the growing potential of retrofit-led workplace design to deliver both environmental and commercial value.

The post BCO Award for 19 Cornwall Street appeared first on Associated Architects.

Delivered for Kier Property, the scheme reimagined a dated 1990s office building as 139,000 sq. ft of high-quality workspace in Birmingham’s Colmore Business District.

The project demonstrates what we can achieve through thoughtful reuse. Here, targeted interventions have helped the building deliver EPC A and BREEAM Official Excellent, with NABERS UK 5.0 Design Reviewed, alongside targets for WELL Building Consulting GOLD and WiredScore GOLD.

A fabric-first approach, all-electric systems and rooftop PV contribute to operational energy performance around 66% better than the UK office average.

Awards such as this highlight the growing importance of retrofit as a solid, scalable response to the climate challenge facing the built environment.

Credit to the whole team on this great project:
Willmott Dixon Interiors, Cundall, Gardiner & Theobald LLP, SBK Consulting Ltd, Colliers

The post 19 Cornwall Wins ESG Award appeared first on Associated Architects.

As one of the UK’s leading forums for real estate, investment and infrastructure, UKREiiF provides an excellent platform for meaningful conversations around the future of our towns, cities and communities. It is an opportunity to reconnect with existing clients and collaborators, build new relationships, and take part in the discussions shaping the future of development across the UK.

Representing Associated Architects this year will be Tom Cotton, Associate Director from our Oxford studio, Craig Reed, Director from our Leeds studio, and Alex Paul, Director from our Birmingham studio. Each brings extensive experience across multiple sectors and regions, supporting clients with projects that deliver long-term value for people, places and communities.

Our Leeds team will also be attending a number of fringe events throughout the week, creating even more opportunities to meet, share ideas and strengthen connections across the industry.

Whether you are attending the main forum or one of the many fringe events taking place across the city, we would be delighted to connect. If you would like to arrange a meeting, grab a coffee, or discuss current and upcoming opportunities, please feel free to get in touch directly with our team:

Tom Cotton
Associate Director, Oxford
t.cotton@associated-architects.co.uk

Craig Reed
Director, Leeds
c.reed@associated-architects.co.uk

Alex Paul
Director, Birmingham
a.paul@associated-architects.co.uk

We are looking forward to another fantastic year at UKREiiF and to being part of the conversations that continue to shape the built environment across the UK.

The post Associated Architects Returning to UKREiiF 2026 appeared first on Associated Architects.