Beautiful design is at the heart of every one of our projects.
We strive to deliver well-loved, progressive and sustainable spaces that will be enjoyed for generations.
We pride ourselves on our forward-thinking designs, expertise in project delivery and the vibrancy of our studio culture; qualities that were established by our founding directors Lyndon Glancy and Patrick Nicholls in 2004.
Our designs are complemented by our proven commercial awareness, attention to detail, technical delivery and our passion to do our bit for the planet by demystifying sustainability.
We listen and develop a bespoke, forward-thinking and practical solution for all of our projects. That’s what makes us award-winning.
People are at the heart of everything we do and our team always takes a hands-on approach to every stage of our process, from design to deliverability. Being creators, we love the stage of initial concepts and drawings, but we also have an overwhelming sense of pride at seeing completed projects.
We’ve delivered in both public sector frameworks and on private sector projects. Our work spans multiple sectors, from the design of major urban regeneration schemes to conservation work on listed buildings and maintaining our status as one of the UK’s leading practices in designing for dementia needs. We pride ourselves on our ability to turn our hands to any challenge – be it the regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham and the lasting legacy of the Commonwealth Games, designing 211 Broad Street; the UK’s first super-slender residential tower outside of London, or the seven-time award winning design of Ada Belfield Care Centre, located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With teams of architects across Birmingham and London, our flagship office is located within Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, where we sensitively renovated a grade II listed, former canal wharf building into ‘The Engine Room’; a contemporary space that allows for collaboration and creativity to flourish. In 1838, ‘The Engine Room’ was home to the invention of the electroplating process. Today, this spirit of innovation lives on within the building, adopted by our studio daily.
We are passionate about design. Architecture can enhance people’s lives and well-being and at Glancy Nicholls we take real pride in producing places of exceptional quality.
By creating strong working relationships and collaborating with our clients, we create stimulating and inspirational design solutions that fulfil, challenge and exceed expectations.
We understand that each project is bespoke and must respond to its own unique challenges, whether that’s topography, economic, social or function. Our ability to adapt and evaluate our designs throughout the process is what allows our projects to be truly successful.
We pride ourselves on the level of attention to detail we apply. Using traditional design methods alongside the latest technology, we deliver the best aesthetic and design quality possible to produce distinct buildings and beautiful spaces.
A strong commercial understanding underpins all our designs, with each project evaluated for how well it meets requirements, aspirations and objectives.
We understand the importance of designing viable projects. As such, following initial site visits and assessments, concept designs are created, tested and budgeted based on quantifiable construction costs, site constraints and risk items.
We are exceptionally proud of our reputation for designing high quality, viable spaces that impress our clients, colleagues and the end user. We listen, inspire and deliver.
We’ll take responsibility for the administration of your building contracts.
Acting as your representative, our capable team will chair and minute all required meetings, technical workshops and design reviews. We will also support you by issuing site instructions, interim payment certificates, defects schedules and the completion certification.
By providing continuity for the main contractor and ensuring all projects run smoothly throughout the construction programme, we’re able to give our clients’ the peace of mind they desire.
Our knowledge and experience of masterplanning spans across a range of sectors, scales and locations.
Whether it’s developing estate strategies for universities, supporting private clients in delivering large mixed-use, urban developments or working with Local Authorities to develop future development strategies, we carefully consider each project to deliver practical, commercially-aware and beautiful spaces that will be appreciated now and in the future.
We are proud to be an LRQA accredited ISO 19650 practice. Our team of architects use the latest and most appropriate tools to deliver the best possible designs.
New digital technologies and the protocols that facilitate ISO 19650 are engrained into all our projects, resulting in a more sustainable, efficient and holistic approach to our designs. The enhanced production information and 3D coordination allow us to fully consider early design decisions, reducing risk and on-site queries and promoting added value for our clients.
Our immersive visualisation suite helps bring our projects to life, allowing both our design teams and clients to interact with our plans.
At the beginning of any commission, we identify the appropriate BIM use by creating a Project BIM Execution Plan. We are passionate about using the most appropriate methods and technology to deliver well-loved spaces.
We take huge pride in our conservation projects; appreciating the history of each space whilst carefully balancing the old and new to realise our clients’ expectations.
Our conservation portfolio includes repair, alteration, and regeneration of historic buildings, as well as introducing new buildings within a sensitive historic context.
We take time to fully understand the significance of a building, its features and surroundings, and, through careful analysis and by utilising our in-house specialist experience, we develop appropriate and innovative solutions that will ensure the longevity of the space for generations to come.
We have a passionate in-house graphic design team who strive to complement all our architectural projects with a contemporary, creative and well-considered branding and visual identity.
We approach all our projects with fresh ideas and understand the importance of both traditional and digital media. The flexibility of our designs ensures a cohesive appearance across all forms of communication, from presentations to marketing and signage.
In our capacity as Principal Designer, we plan, manage, and monitor the pre-construction phase for our clients.
We have the skills, knowledge, technical experience, and organisational capability to give our clients assurance that our projects will be delivered without risks to health or safety.
Through our extensive experience, we are able to think like a designer and a contractor and offer practical advice on modern design processes, risk mitigation and legislation under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM).
Together, we believe we can make a difference in protecting our planet for future generations.
We lead by example and are proud to be a carbon neutral business, certified by Carbon Neutral Britain. Using our knowledge and experience, we advise our clients on the appropriate sustainable approach for each individual project, from the supply chain to material selection and energy management, as well as incorporating eco-friendly credentials within the new spaces.
We strongly believe that all good design should be underpinned by sustainable principles and practices and are here to support you on this journey.
As an LRQA accredited ISO 19650 practice, we are industry leading in the coordination and production of multifaceted digital building information. We value the traditional skills of sketching and model making while embracing the latest technologies in 3D printing and virtual reality hardware – all key design tools in our creative process.
Leading by example is important to us. As a carbon neutral business, we are passionate about delivering the next generation of sustainable, low carbon buildings. By educating our clients and consultancy teams on progressive strategies, and incorporating these within the design, we can successfully reduce a building’s environmental impact. Our aim is to make it easy for our clients to do their bit in protecting the planet.
In working with us, you can be assured that we will approach your project with innovation and diligence, collaborating with your team and other specialists to deliver forward-thinking, considered and sustainable buildings. Behind the success of every project is an unwavering passion for the creation of beautiful spaces.
