HLM Architects

HLM Architects Celebrates 60 Years of Thoughtful Design This year marks a significant milestone for HLM Architects as we celebrate 60 years of practice. Since our founding in 1964, we have built a strong reputation for design excellence and expertise, solving our client’s challenges while considering the broader impact design can have on people, communities, and society. Our journey over the last six decades has been fascinating and remarkable in many ways and we take immense pride in our rich heritage. Looking forward, we intend to build on our legacy of innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability; and as we celebrate our successes, we remain dedicated to evolving our practice to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities we serve. To celebrate, we’ve created a new film celebrating our journey over the last 60 years! A big thanks to our Sheffield Studio Director Delia Harmston for narrating. Here’s to 60 more years of creating spaces that inspire and transform people’s lives. Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wNno0 #HLM60 #60yearsofthoughtfuldesign #CelebratingArchitecture

We’re thrilled to see Adela Vagova, Part II Architectural Assistant, featured in The Royal Society of Ulster Architects Perspective Magazine. In her piece, Adela shares her personal experiences and insights on being a woman in architecture, reflecting on the evolving role of architects in shaping not just physical spaces, but also ethical and cultural environments of growth and inclusion. "Architects are not confined to designing tangible spaces; they have been designing ethical and cultural environments of growth and inclusion for decades." A powerful perspective from an inspiring member of our team! Check out her piece in the latest edition https://brnw.ch/21wRsaA #WomenInArchitecture #RSUA #InclusiveDesign #HLMArchitects

Providing a welcoming and robust learning environment that supports and encourages pupil development requires thoughtful and inclusive design. In the March issue of Education Design & Build Magazine, we explore our collaboration with Reds10 to deliver seven innovative and inclusive SEND and SEMH schools as part of the Department for Education’s ‘Off-site schools framework’. The piece delves into how together we are developing solutions that maximise MMC whilst delivering the best educational settings for students, staff and their local communities. Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wRqwU #InclusiveSchools #MMCSchoolDesign #ThoughtfulDesign

Ryan Sylvester will be in Loch Lomond this week for the Education Building Forum Scotland where he’ll be joining the conversation on shaping the future of education spaces in Scotland. If you're attending and would like to catch up with Ryan, drop him a message, he’d love to connect! #EducationBuildingForumScotland #EducationArchitects #ScottishArchitects

Last week Gareth Woodfin, Helen Grant, Belen Ortiz and James Richards put on their best and attended the Cardiff Life Awards at the Cardiff City Stadium. Delighted to say that we were highly commended in the property category, it was a wonderful event with Cardiff’s best of the best businesses coming together to celebrate. With over 450 talented people from many different businesses in the same room the atmosphere was definitely one of celebration. Gareth Woodfin said “To be highly commended and see our name up on the stage in a room full of so many talented people was definitely a high point. Being highly commended sets us apart from competitors and shows that our thoughtful design is making an impact. True recognition that our projects, initiatives, and good work is being fully represented not only nationally but locally. We continue to work on our most innovative, sustainable and exciting projects we’ve ever worked on. A fantastic way to start the year and celebrate our talented team and the amazing projects that we work on. Well done to all the worthy winners.” Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wRk4K #cardifflifeawards #highlycommended

We’re thrilled to share that we have been named one of the Top 45 employers in the Building Magazine’s Good Employer Guide 2025! As one of just 9 architectural practices to be recognised, this achievement reflects our commitment to continuously fostering an inclusive, innovative, and inspiring workplace. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s their passion, ideas, and collaboration that positions us amongst the top employers in the construction industry. A huge thank you to our team for making HLM a fantastic place to work and creating a culture that sets us apart – this recognition is yours! Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wRirk #GoodEmployerGuide #TeamHLMArchitects #EmployerOfChoice

A snapshot from day 2 of MMC Ireland where Nicola McKay and Steven Lennon met and chatted with Marian Harkin, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We hope everyone is having a great day at the Johnstown Estate, and if you want to catch up with the team, drop them a message.

We’re excited to share that Juliana Renn and James Hughes will be speaking at the Education Estates® Exhibition | Conference | Awards Net Zero Conference this April. Their session, "Designing Educational Buildings to Meet Net Zero Standards", will explore how we can shape the future of education through sustainable design. By showcasing projects like Trent View College they’ll highlight how offsite construction, energy-efficient systems, and collaborative design are driving the journey to net zero. 📍 Alumni Theatre ⌚11:45 AM - 24th April 2025 Join us for an insightful discussion on creating resilient, future-proof learning environments. Who’s attending? Let us know in the comments! #NetZeroConference #SustainableDesign #EducationEstates #FutureofEducation

Huge congratulations and well done to Sally O'Donnell who has recently qualified as an Architect. Sally completed her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at University College Dublin where she developed a strong foundation in both design and drawing skills. Moving to London to continue her studies, she completed her Part 3 qualification at the University of Greenwich. Since joining HLM Architects, Sally has worked on a variety of projects, including some landmark DIO schemes. She has had the opportunity to work on projects of different values, scales and across all RIBA stages, which has meant she has broadened her my skill set and contributed to a wide range of innovative designs. A particular area of focus has been Modular Construction. Through this work, Sally has had the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the entire construction process, from initial design through to assembly and visit factories where these buildings are produced. This hands-on experience has been invaluable in deepening her understanding of construction processes, how modular systems come together efficiently, and the potential they hold for shaping the future of the built environment. Simon Gabe Associate and project leader said “Sally is a key part of the London team having joined in 2022, contributing both in and outside of the studio. She continues to demonstrate her ability across a number of sectors and work stages, developing a particular knowledge of DfMA. It is clear from her output that she considers architecture in terms of its wider surroundings, while retaining a passion for improving people’s day to day lives through quality design. I am sure she will continue to grow from strength to strength as she begins the next chapter of her career with HLM." Read what Sally had to say here: https://brnw.ch/21wRdAs What an achievement Sally, we are so excited to see where your journey takes you! #womenarchitects #congratulations

Rethinking Later Living for Thriving Town Centres Community ownership is key to urban renewal, yet we often overlook our aging population. We see this as an opportunity to revitalise town centres by integrating Later Living with healthcare, workspaces, and civic spaces. Our vision goes beyond traditional retail conversions. By creating a ‘living room’ at street level,a shared space for connection and co-working, we can foster engagement across generations. Imagine town centres as interconnected spaces where people of all ages meet, live, and thrive. In his latest piece Mohammed Irfan Ul-Haq discusses how when done right, Later Living can transform town centres. Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wR7bX #UrbanRegeneration #LaterLiving #InclusiveDesign #TownCentreRevival #Community