Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Architectural Services in Ipswich
Established in 1912 by Harold Ridley Hooper, our practice has cultivated a legacy of architectural excellence rooted in conceptual innovation. We specialise in regeneration projects that repurpose historic buildings, prioritising environmental sustainability and societal enrichment. Our expertise extends to healthcare infrastructure, where we collaborate with NHS trusts to create therapeutic environments for mental health facilities. We balance craftsmanship with commercial acumen, serving diverse sectors including education, residential, sports, and community spaces. Our team integrates ambitious client briefs with contemporary urban and environmental challenges, maintaining a focus on health, wellbeing, and cultural integration.Recognised as a RIBA Chartered Practice, we have delivered award-winning projects such as Grimwade Street Social Housing and The Nest SEND facility. Our collaborative ethos extends to partnerships with organisations like Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Ipswich Town Football Club. With a heritage spanning over a century, we remain committed to advancing architectural solutions that harmonise functionality, aesthetics, and social impact.
Services
Architectural Design
Healthcare Planning
Historic Building Restoration
Community Spaces
Education Facilities
Residential Projects
Sports Stadiums
Workplace Design
Details
- Year established: 1912
Highlights and features
- We have over a century of architectural experience since 1912
- Our team holds RIBA Chartered Practice accreditation
- We specialise in NHS healthcare environment design
- We deliver award-winning regeneration projects like Grimwade Street
- Our work integrates health, wellbeing and cultural elements
Associations and certifications
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
What people say
RIBA Design Award Winner
Outstanding construction
Nurturing environments
Creative design process
Historic preservation expertise
Services
Architectural Design
We create innovative architectural solutions across sectors including healthcare, education, and residential. Our approach balances conceptual creativity with practical functionality, focusing on sustainable regeneration of historic buildings. Projects range from mental health facilities to sports stadiums, always prioritising environmental and social impact.
Healthcare Planning
Specialist healthcare design services for NHS trusts, focusing on mental health environments. We develop therapeutic spaces using light, form, and materials to support clinical outcomes. Recent projects include Rivers Hospital and Samphire Ward, integrating recovery-oriented design principles with modern healthcare requirements.
Historic Building Restoration
Expert restoration of listed buildings and historic structures. Our work preserves architectural integrity while adapting spaces for modern use. Current projects include Suffolk Building Society's Listed Building Refurbishment, maintaining period features while enhancing functionality for contemporary needs.
Community Spaces
Design of inclusive community facilities that foster social interaction. Projects include Bethesda Baptist Church renovations and Attwells Ipswich's Sun Building transformation, creating accessible spaces that serve both practical and cultural purposes within local communities.
Education Facilities
Specialist educational architecture including The Nest SEND facility and St Benedict's Science Labs. Our designs prioritise learning environments that enhance student wellbeing, with projects ranging from nursery spaces to sixth form buildings across primary and secondary schools.
People
Craig Driver
Director
BA(hons) DipArch RIBA qualified architect with extensive experience leading complex architectural projects. Specialises in healthcare design and sustainable regeneration projects.
Jamie Alston
Senior Associate
MArch RIBA architect focusing on urban regeneration and community engagement. Leads design teams for large-scale residential and commercial developments.
Ross Warren
Senior Associate
DipArch ARB registered architect with expertise in historic building conservation. Manages heritage projects requiring meticulous attention to period details.
Questions
What architectural services do you offer?
We provide comprehensive architectural design across healthcare, education, residential, and community sectors, specialising in historic building restoration and sustainable regeneration projects.
How experienced is your team?
With heritage dating to 1912, we combine century-old expertise with modern innovation, holding RIBA Chartered Practice status and NHS framework agreements.
Do you work on healthcare projects?
Yes, we specialise in mental health facilities through NHS partnerships, creating therapeutic environments using evidence-based design principles for projects like Rivers Hospital.
Can you handle historic building projects?
Our team has extensive experience in heritage conservation, including listed building refurbishments and adaptive reuse of historic structures while maintaining architectural integrity.
What awards have you won?
We received the RIBA Suffolk Design Award 2023 for The Nest SEND facility and LABC Building Excellence Award for Grimwade Street Social Housing project.
