Anderson Bell + Christie

We want to take a moment to highlight some of the employee owners who shape our practice every day. These ‘spotlights’ form part of our wider celebrations for International Women’s Day — including inspiring talks and events in the office — which have been taking place this month. Next in the spotlight - Eilish! Profile Eilish joined the ab+c team in July 2023 as a Part 1 architectural assistant. She is currently working part-time while studying part-time at Glasgow School of Art to achieve her diploma in architecture. What advice would you give for woman starting out in their career? As a mature student it has taken me a long time to realise that it is never too late to change direction in life and make decisions that are right for you. Most importantly, believe in yourself—you are capable, worthy, and deserving of success. What woman inspire you and have pushed change forward? Someone who inspires me and has accelerated change is Judith Heumann who was a pioneering disability rights activist. Her relentless advocacy reshaped accessibility and inclusion for disabled people worldwide and as a leader in the disability rights movement, she fought against discrimination, secured key legislative protections, and championed independent living. She led the 1977 Section 504 sit-in, the longest non-violent occupation of a federal building in U.S. history. This protest led to the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the first federal civil rights law protecting disabled people.  Her legacy continues to inspire activists, pushing for accessibility, equal rights, and systemic change across the world. How has your journey into architecture influenced you? My journey into architecture hasn’t been traditional, but each step has shaped my interest in the field. I began working as a chef, later specialising in pastry, before moving to New Zealand to work as an au pair where I cared for a child with multiple disabilities. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for inclusive environments and accessibility. At 25 I returned home and decided to take the first step in my architectural education and enrol in an Architectural Technology college course. Following college, I attended Strathclyde University to study architecture whilst working part-time as a community care assistant—further reinforcing my passion for people-centred design. At 30 years old I became a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at ab+c, and I balance work with part-time study at Glasgow School of Art as I continue towards my diploma in architecture. My unconventional path has given me a unique perspective and a keen interest in designing spaces that are not just functional but truly inclusive. Look out for more on what we’ve been up to next week! #IWD2025
#AccelerateAction

We want to take a moment to highlight some of the employee owners who shape our practice every day. These ‘spotlights’ form part of our wider celebrations for International Women’s Day — including inspiring talks and events in the office — which have been taking place this month.   Next in the spotlight - Lorna! What advice would you give for women starting out in their career?   When I started working, I experienced imposter syndrome, but over the past two years, my confidence has grown significantly. Building a support system at work and having honest conversations about my insecurities have been immensely helpful. For women starting their careers, confidence will develop with experience. Seek support from female colleagues, as they can directly relate to your feelings, and engage in open discussions with senior staff. Remember, confidence will come with time, and stepping out of your comfort zone will help build it quicker. The theme for IWD this year is 'Accelerating Action'. What women inspire you that have pushed changed forward?   A woman who inspired me throughout university was my tutor, Helen O’Connor. She wasn't afraid to think outside the box and critically examine the education system. Helen pioneered the master’s unit in architecture and urban planning at the University of Dundee and always encouraging collaboration and open communication. When I started working, I found inspiration in the women at ABC, who demonstrated confidence and excellence in their roles. Why did you want to become a Trustee?    I was interested in the trustee role because I believed that employee ownership model could positively impact employees. The role has allowed me to delve deeper into the business structure and I hope through it I can contribute to improving an equal workplace culture. — Look out for more profiles on the ab+c team this week! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

Caroline Dearden will be speaking at the healthcare buildings forum Scotland 2025 tomorrow. This year hosted at Cameron House, Loch Lomond, the event brings together architects, contractors, local authorities, and healthcare facility operators to discuss and learn about developments taking place across the rapidly evolving healthcare environment.    Since joining the practice in 2007, Caroline has championed collaboration and co-design, ensuring projects are informed by the needs and aspirations of both clients and end users, playing a key role in ab+c's innovative and inclusive design approach.    Focusing on the ‘Our Inclusive Community Project’ with Capability Scotland, Caroline will be speaking about this as a pioneering example of co-production in design, developed in collaboration with residents, staff, and families. Their lived experience and expertise in healthcare has enabled the project to set out new benchmarks for universal design, exceeding legislative requirements to create an inclusive and empowering environment. Capability Scotland #HealthcareBuildingForum2025 #InclusiveDesign

Architecture firm Anderson Bell + Christie has announced it now has an accredited team of PAS2035 professionals.

Anderson Bell + Christie has announced it now has an accredited team of PAS2035 professionals. https://lnkd.in/e53AiYPJ

We want to take a moment to highlight some of the employee owners who shape our practice every day. These ‘spotlights’ form part of our wider celebrations for International Women's Day — including inspiring talks and events in the office — which will be taking place later in the month. Next in the spotlight - Emilia! Profile — I joined ab+c over five years ago, and since then, I have had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of residential projects.   One of the most rewarding experiences has been working on a social housing scheme for West Dunbartonshire Council in Clydebank East.   I was involved from the early feasibility studies through to the recent completion on site, and it has been incredibly fulfilling to see the project come to life and make a positive impact on the community. What advice would you give for women starting out in their career? Always look forward and take the most you can from the project you are currently working on. If this project doesn't lead to recognition, the next one might be the one that earns you the awards you strive for. Always aim high, consistently strive for excellence and set ambitious goals. What women inspire you that have pushed changed forward? Ever since I developed my interest in urban design, I have admired Jane Jacobs. Her emphasis on the importance of prioritising people, community and place over grand designs has shaped my thinking through my work. Jacobs' career as a woman in the field of urban planning, and her success in challenging the established experts has inspired me through my studies and work What are the challenges of being a working mum and how do you manage these? Balancing the roles of being a young mother and an architect is challenging, as each day brings new demands both at work and at home. My passion for architecture comes from the continuous learning it offers, which is mirrored in the role I have as a new mum. Managing my time more efficiently and building patience through my experiences with my child has proven to be valuable learning for my professional life. Whilst my priorities have changed, there is still a place to maintain my passion for architecture. — Look out for more profiles on the ab+c team next week! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

We are delighted to see tenants moving into their new homes at Clydebank East, one of our recently completed projects which delivers 88 new affordable homes for West Dunbartonshire Council .   It's wonderful to have such a positive response from residents, and see the impact inclusive design can have on people's lives.   We'll be sharing more about the project in the coming weeks, but if you'd like to read more now, read the article below! https://lnkd.in/eJgvS3cg

We're incredibly proud of Iona Hoggarth and Carys McDougall for passing their Part III examinations and becoming fully qualified architects! Carys and Iona both showed incredible dedication to their studies over the past year, and have managed Part III alongside their project work incredibly professionally. We know they'll both flourish as architects and are looking forward to seeing them progress in their careers. #architects #part3

Following on from International Women’s Day last weekend, we want to take a moment to highlight some of the employee owners who shape our practice every day. These ‘spotlights’ form part of our wider celebrations — including inspiring talks and events in the office — which will be taking place later in the month. Profile Sarah qualified with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants in 2012 and has been the Finance Manager at ABC for 2.5 years. She studied English Literature before training as an Accountant, and has worked in various industries including Engineering and Travel prior to moving into Architecture. What advice would you give for women starting out in their career? Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Trying new things and asking questions is the best way to learn and even if it doesn’t go quite right the first time, you’ll have gained valuable experience for the future. The theme for IWD this year is 'Accelerating Action'. What women inspire you that have pushed changed forward? Fiona McAllister Senior Lawyer at Channel 4 and Co-Chair of their 4Womxn panel. She was instrumental in implementing policies for menopause, fertility and pregnancy loss, amongst others. These have been made available on their website for any company to access and use in their own policy documents. I think this demonstrates that no matter the size of the company you can drive change, and by providing it free to others this is helping to ‘accelerate action’. What impact do you think your role as Finance Manager has in promoting equality in the business? ABC is an Employee Owned business, and regularly communicating clear financial information has helped to create an environment of trust and accountability. This transparency allows all employees, regardless of gender, to understand the financial health of the company and make informed decisions for the success of the business. Stay tuned as we share more about the ab+c team’s stories, achievements, and impact! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

Following on from International Women’s Day last weekend, we want to take a moment to highlight some of the employee owners who shape our practice every day. These ‘spotlights’ form part of our wider celebrations — including inspiring talks and events in the office — which will be taking place later in the month. Profile Sarah qualified with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants in 2012 and has been the Finance Manager at ABC for 2.5 years. She studied English Literature before training as an Accountant, and has worked in various industries including Engineering and Travel prior to moving into Architecture. What advice would you give for women starting out in their career? Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Trying new things and asking questions is the best way to learn and even if it doesn’t go quite right the first time, you’ll have gained valuable experience for the future. The theme for IWD this year is 'Accelerating Action'. What women inspire you that have pushed changed forward? Fiona McAllister Senior Lawyer at Channel 4 and Co-Chair of their 4Womxn panel. She was instrumental in implementing policies for menopause, fertility and pregnancy loss, amongst others. These have been made available on their website for any company to access and use in their own policy documents. I think this demonstrates that no matter the size of the company you can drive change, and by providing it free to others this is helping to ‘accelerate action’. What impact do you think your role as Finance Manager has in promoting equality in the business? ABC is an Employee Owned business, and regularly communicating clear financial information has helped to create an environment of trust and accountability. This transparency allows all employees, regardless of gender, to understand the financial health of the company and make informed decisions for the success of the business. Stay tuned as we share more about the ab+c team’s stories, achievements, and impact! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction