Securing new contracts, growing employee numbers and a move to Ancoats. It’s been a busy few months for the team at Seven.

After 10 years being located on Oxford Street, Seven Architecture’s Manchester team, led by co-directors Ian Chapman and Lisa Mcfarlane, has relocated to larger premises at Waulk Mill in Ancoats.

The Company has grown to a team of 30 across all studios; with nine new recruits in the last six months. Two new studio leaders in the Manchester office have also been announced recently. Associates Zoe Hobson and Stephen Last, who have been with the Business eight years collectively, will be leading their respective teams specifically in the living and education sectors.

Relocating to the Urban Splash office accommodation is ideally suited to one of Seven’s key vision statements of ‘enriching heritage’ and director and RIBA conservation architect, Lisa Mcfarlane, who leads this sector, was immediately drawn to the impressive renovated building.

Lisa stated “With Waulk Mill being one of the first historic mills in the area to be redeveloped by Urban Splash, and subsequently winning a RIBA Award back in 2003, we definitely feel at home already. The interior design and fit-out was carried out by ourselves and we were mindful of creating a quality and inviting environment for our team to work within which values the principles of health & wellbeing. In addition to the natural daylight which floods into the space, we’ve also incorporated breakout spaces for quiet time, planting throughout, strategic zone lighting and a pop of colour in our furniture selection.”

With significant projects bolstering business growth, the Manchester team is currently working with long-standing client Langtree on ‘Project Violet’ the Sci-Tech Daresbury scheme, retirement living accommodation across the northern region via the McCarthy & Stone framework and delivery stage is now progressing with the second youth zone, HideOut, for OnSide in East Manchester.

Ian commented, “The Business has taken a step-change over the last year and our sustained growth has allowed us to expand into this new Manchester office as we had, quite literally, grown out of our previous space. With a continued focus on our vision of ‘Improving Lives, Inspiring Learning and Enriching Heritage’ we have confidence that our new office, and projects being carried out, represent this.”