We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Architectural Practice of the Year at the 2024 Building Awards! This marks our fifth consecutive year being recognised in this category, and after winning this esteemed title for the past two years, the excitement and pressure to clinch it again are palpable.
Over the last 12 months, we have undertaken some of our most innovative, sustainable, and impactful projects to date.
Our commitment to research and development, environmental skills training, and social impact is reflected in every aspect of our practice. From transitioning to a new board seamlessly to rewarding our dedicated team through the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), we have consistently strived to enhance both our internal culture and our external contributions.
Project Highlights
London Institute for healthcare Engineering (LIHE), King’s College London – is an exemplar research and innovation hub where medicine and education comes together to develop treatments of the future. LIHE meets the challenges of creating a place where innovation and collaboration is nurtured and facilitated through adaptable and dynamic building design.
Thames Christian School, London – A 6-storey building forming part of the York Gardens Regeneration Project. Recently awarded a RIBA National Award and RIBA London Award, the co-located independent secondary school and Baptist Chapel, envisioned an inclusive and harmonious multi-functional learning environment and place of worship that seamlessly fits within Wandsworth, providing significant value to the local community.
The Wave, Sheffield – BREEAM Outstanding project considering human, social economic and environmental sustainability. Designed to be a world class, low energy sustainable building that encourages collaboration and enhances the Faculty’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research.
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In response to evolving market conditions, we continuously refine our design processes.
Innovation and Adaptation
Our Thoughtful Design Toolkit (TDT) is now integral to our projects, providing invaluable data that informs future designs. Our leadership in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is evident through projects like the MMC Standardisation Research and the Kit of Parts project, aimed at addressing industry challenges such as skills shortages and social housing needs.
Commitment to Social Responsibility
At HLM Architects, we believe in fostering social mobility and inspiring future generations. Through our work with schools across the UK we raise aspirations and remove barriers to support everyone to reach their full potential. We were part of the Trailblazer Group that developed two new Architectural Apprenticeship Standards, providing a more accessible route into architecture, and we continue to champion equality in our industry. Our key initiatives include:
– Investing 2% of our turnover in social outreach activities.
– The ‘Give-Every-Child-a-Chance’ pathway, which builds strong foundations from early years through to qualification, breaking down barriers and leveling up opportunities for young people.
– Sponsorship of the new Apprenticeship Handbook and collaborations with organizations such as See-It-Be-It, Sheffield & DWY Glasgow, the Children’s University, and Speakers for Schools.
We also prioritise mental health and safety, having trained eight Mental Health First Aiders and achieved OHSAS 18001:2007 Health & Safety accreditation.
Our dedication to being a top employer is evidenced by our consistent recognition in the industry.
HLM Architects is a great place to work
We have been shortlisted for the AJ Architectural Employer of the Year for the past six years, winning twice, and were listed as the #39 Best Mid-sized Company to work for in the UK by Best Companies 2023. Our Academy, agile working policies, wellbeing initiatives, and comprehensive lifestyle package promote an inclusive environment where individuals are supported to advance their careers without sacrificing personal growth.
Investing in Our People
Over the past year, we have focused on upskilling our people to identify and nurture talent. This led to the re-crafting of role profiles and the addition of an extra level to prevent stifling aspirations. By listening to our Voice Hub, we streamlined our Annual Review process, resulting in greater engagement and more meaningful outcomes.
Our 10-year Succession Plan came to fruition in April 2024 with the appointment of a new Chair, Managing Director, and Operations Director from within our ranks. The next cycle of succession has commenced with our Executive Development Programme, providing progression opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
As signatories to the RIBA Climate Challenge, we are committed to performance targets for operational energy use, water use, and embodied carbon, embedding the wider RIBA Sustainable Outcomes in all our projects.
Sustainability at our core
In the past 12 months, we have achieved several significant milestones, such as adding two new Passivhaus designers to our team, bringing our total to 12 across the practice. We have also certified two designers through the AECB’s CarbonLite Retrofit course, strengthening our expertise in retrofit architecture and design. Furthermore, we launched a new ‘digital & regenerative twin’ service to help our clients understand the energy performance of their buildings and support them in achieving their carbon goals. Finally, we utilised our Thoughtful Design Toolkit to measure the building performance of many of our designs, ensuring that we deliver for our clients, building better places for people and their communities.
Reducing carbon through architecture & design
During 2023 and continuing into 2024 we have also celebrated several notable projects achievements for sustainability and reducing carbon emissions such as the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland achieving Net Zero for regulated energy, along with a BREEAM Outstanding certification and an EPC A+ rating. The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) has also attained impressive accolades, securing a BREEAM Excellent rating, an EPC A rating, and achieving a 35% on-site reduction in regulated carbon emissions beyond the requirements of Part L 2021 of the Building Regulations. Additionally, we have proudly received Passivhaus Certification for ‘The Vanguard Building’ and successfully delivered Trent View College, the first college in the world to be designed to Passivhaus standards.
Our commitment to sustainability is further reflected in our annual Carbon Reduction Plan, with a 12% reduction in carbon emissions since the baseline year of 2019/20 and a clear action plan for the practice to achieve net-zero by 2040.
We are immensely proud of these accomplishments and the collective effort of our team. As we look forward to the Building Awards celebrations, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation, sustainability, and social impact in architecture. We look forward to celebrating all the fantastic projects and practices shortlisted at this years awards!
