09.10.2018

LHC unveil a masterplan for the firm’s future

Exciting times ahead for LHC Design with a new ownership team, new name and new studio in Cornwall. Watch our short film and read more below >>>

 

Over the past 26 years LHC has transformed from an architectural practice into today’s multi-disciplinary design company. We’ve grown to include talented urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, graphic design and conservation teams, who work alongside our architects and technologists.

These skills are not simply add-ons, they are core to the business, complementing the experience developed over the years. We employ experts in all these closely related disciplines, and staff work together in multi-disciplinary teams to provide a truly comprehensive design service.

New name: As our skill base and portfolio has broadened we’ve realised it’s time for our name to better reflect our range of multi-disciplinary services. Design is fundamental to everything we do, so from now on we will be known as LHC Design.

New ownership team: We have also broadened the leadership of the business to better reflect the core skills within LHC. Our new leadership team spreads LHC’s ownership more widely and most importantly, equally across nine Directors and Associate Directors. All the new owners are long-standing colleagues who have invested in the future of the business.

The change will secure the quality of service, design and technical delivery we offer to our clients, and foster our ongoing development and future succession plans.

Securing succession, both for my generation of directors and for those to follow, was a key strategic objective for LHC. I am pleased we have been able to achieve this, consolidating our leadership team, which will allow LHC to target growth across the region in the coming years  – Graham Devine

My investment reflects my confidence in LHC, in the South West as a great place live and work, and our conviction that the high quality service and added value LHC provides enables us to exceed our clients aspirations – Paul Osborne

New studio: Last, but by no means least, we’ve just opened a brand new studio in the heart of Cornwall at Victoria, led by Glayne Price. We’ve worked for many years on some truly landmark projects in the county; we now look forward to becoming a full and active member of the Cornish business community as we take forward two significant projects – the West Carclaze Garden Village, and a 500 home extension to Truro at Langarth.

LHC has always had strong leadership with a great team and this has been emphasised further by the spread of ownership. Having been part of LHC starting as a junior technician, I feel immensely proud to be a shareholder and to continue guiding the practice into the future – Glayne Price who spoke about her career with the practice and our plans for the future at the Designing Our Future event.

 

Who’s who in LHC’s new ownership team

John Baulch, Architect and Urban Designer: Both award winning architect and urban designer, John is an elected Academician of the Academy of Urbanism. He has considerable expertise in delivering large scale regeneration and has fostered the dynamic, holistic approach which characterises LHC’s attitude to projects. John’s key roles include strategic design direction and peer review. He brings his skill to bear on a range of sectors including masterplanning, workplaces, residential and education buildings.

Rob Bramhall, Architect: Rob has been a key member of LHC from the outset in 1992. An experienced architect, he has an extensive background in brief analysis, architectural masterplanning, concept design and delivery across a wide range of building types, particularly further and higher education, mixed-use, office and retail projects. He combines an innovative approach, with an acute commercial, pragmatic awareness that ensures affordability is married with really good, often award-winning, design.

Mark Daley, Architect: Mark joined LHC in 1999 and has an impressive track-record in design for further and higher education, in particular a long and productive relationship with South Devon College. His wide portfolio also includes office, leisure and housing, winning many design awards in these fields. He has a particular interest in the ‘front end’ strategic and concept design stages of projects, architectural masterplanning and extensive experience of funding and procurement.

Graham Devine, ArchitectAn architect for 20 years, Graham has delivered projects across all sectors, and is responsible for developing our conservation team. Graham’s skill as a communicator has been recognised with his appointment as Regional Councillor on the RIBA National Council, and as Vice Chair of the Design Review Panel, where he’s committed to driving up design standards in the region. His commitment to life-long learning is integral to his role as a tutor at Plymouth University.

Alex Lammie, Architect: Alex joined LHC in 2003 from a background in international and regional practice, where he worked on several national landmark buildings. He’s an architect with particular expertise in office buildings, secondary education, and arts and leisure developments. He is skilled in team management, job-running and site co-ordination. Currently, he is working as the Client Architectural Technical Adviser for Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Science Park.

Ian Noakes, Interior and Architectural Designer: As a qualified interior designer Ian leads LHC’s interiors team, but he’s also an experienced architectural designer which gives him a rare insight into the process. His portfolio includes new and refurbished offices, education spaces, libraries, restaurants, care and community buildings. He also brings his knowledge of change management, space planning and furniture specification to many other LHC projects. Ian is our lead on Revit and Building Information Management.

Paul Osborne: Urban Designer and Landscape Architect: A chartered landscape architect and urban designer, Paul leads these teams plus oversees graphic design at LHC. He has extensive experience in the design and delivery of residential, commercial, landscape and public realm schemes at a range of scales. At Exeter City Council, Paul was a key member of the team that produced the award winning Exeter Residential Design SPD. He is Fellow of the Landscape Institute, Professional Practice Examiner and sits on the Devon & Somerset Design Review Panel.

Glayne Price, Architectural Technologist: Glayne is a highly-respected technologist with specialist skills in design development, project running and contract administration. She has taken the lead on commercial and educational projects, and is key to the growth of the residential sector at LHC, delivering developments across the region. Glayne is chair of South West Women in Construction. Her talent as a mentor contributed to her winning Architectural Technologist of 2016 in the European Women in Construction & Engineering Awards.

Steve Tapp, Architectural TechnologistSteve has provided technical expertise at LHC for over 25 years. As an architectural technologist he has wide ranging experience and skills in delivering commercial and educational developments, refurbishments and interior fit-outs. Expert in developing sketch schemes through to working drawings completion, Steve is regularly called on to perform the role of Client Architectural Technical Advisor on complex projects. He also takes a leading role on DDA issues related to building design.