We design a world that’s built for good.
How our purpose impacts our thinking, design, and practice.
Our Purpose We’ve spent more than 60 years leaving the world better than we found it, and we’re not done yet. So, in order to bring together our design approach, our personality and our behaviours, we created a central purpose: to design a world that’s built for good. Good in the sense of ‘being good’ – good for people, for cities, for places, for your health, for each other and for the world. And ‘for good, as in ‘forever’ – with a focus on sustainable design that create buildings and places that serve people and the planet for years to come.
Our pillars
Staying true to our purpose every day
How we work, who we are, and why we’re here are held up by four ‘pillars’. We call them the ‘4i’s’.
Inception.
An understanding of both where we have come from, as well as where ideas, expertise, proposals and intelligence begin. Delving into the core problem and opportunity in any project, delivering great design that has the potential to create a better future.
Innovation.
All great design relies on innovation. It’s central to who we are as a culture. We look for innovation in every part of our behaviour – in how we educate and consult, how we inform and inspire each other, how we design and deliver what we make.
Inclusion.
From our beginnings in the 1960s we’ve always placed a huge amount of importance on social value and collaboration. We think of ‘inclusion’ both internally and externally – welcoming people into our community from all over the world and involving clients and end user voices in all parts of our process.
Impact.
The impact our work is having on the environment is a huge focus for us – we want our work to impact as little as possible and last as long as possible.
This flows through parts of our business, from the design and delivery of our spaces, to how we all act when we’re at work. We show up daily, mindful of our impact.
Living our purpose.
Projects, ideas and thought pieces that demonstrate our purpose coming to life.
Commitment to ESG
Our ESG approach is deeply connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , embedding sustainability, social value, and strong governance into everything we do—from our strategy and operations to the way we work every day.
Designing for all - Axess Condominiums
Creating a vibrant housing development that seamlessly integrates design strategies for people living with cognitive and physical disabilities, young families, and those aging in place.
Promoting social and environmental value - Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University campus masterplan is a single, sustainable, and flexible design at the heart of the city that promotes social and environmental value.
Preserving our future - Old Buildings, New Beginnings
When repurposing or restoring a building, we can reduce the environmental impact, preserve our history and create a new sense of place for all. It is something we all feel very passionate about.
Caring for people – National Children’s Hospital, Dublin
We are proud to be involved in designing a world class hospital for children who have complicated and serious illnesses in Ireland. Our priority is to create a welcoming, calm place focused on the health and wellbeing for patients, families and staff.
Inspiring leadership in sustainability – Entopia Building
The Entopia building set the bar with a design that retained the character of the building while attaining BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Gold, and Enerphit certifications. It is a world first for a retrofitted sustainable office building, setting new standards for low energy use, carbon emissions and impact on natural resources.