Stead & Co. Architects

✨ Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day 2025: #AccelerateAction ✨ We're a little late to the post—because we’ve been on annual leave, taking time to rest and recharge. But that’s exactly why #AccelerateAction is so important. True gender equality isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about creating workplaces that respect balance, flexibility, and the realities of women’s lives. As we celebrate Women’s History Month and reflect on the progress made, we also recognise the challenges that still persist. At Stead & Co. Architects we know systemic barriers continue to hold women back, from workplace bias to the disproportionate responsibility of caregiving. That’s why we’re committed to taking real action: 💡 Championing diverse voices in the built environment, ensuring women have a seat at the table. 👩👧👦 Supporting working mothers and caregivers with flexible working, because career and family should never be a choice. 🤝 Empowering women at all stages of their careers, breaking down barriers to leadership and progression. 🎓 Investing in the next generation, mentoring young women in architecture and creating pathways for them to thrive. We’re not just designing buildings—we’re shaping a future where women are supported, empowered, and celebrated. Equality isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build. 💜 How will you #AccelerateAction this Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day? Tag someone who inspires you and is part of accelerating action! 💪 Stefanie Stead MBE Xanthe Quayle Safira Hussain Annabel Wosenu Audrey Anyani #IWD2025 #WomenInArchitecture #BreakingBarriers #EmpoweringWomen #FlexibleWork #NextGen #SteadAndCoArchitects

✨ Project Spotlight: Brighton Table Tennis Club at The Fitzherbert Community Centre ✨ We were delighted to return to The Fitzherbert for the interior fit-out of Brighton Table Tennis Club! 🎉 It’s always rewarding to contribute to creating vibrant, inclusive spaces that bring communities together. A huge thank you to Brighton Table Tennis Club for trusting us with this exciting project — and to Making it Out for their exceptional craftsmanship in building the stunning furniture that truly elevates the space. 🙌 Appreciation also goes to the rest of the talented team who made this possible! Take a look at the new interiors, now buzzing with energy, creativity, and plenty of table tennis fun! 🏓 #SteadAndCoArchitects #BrightonTableTennisClub #CommunityDesign #TheFitzherbert #Architecture #InteriorFitOut #MakingItOut #SpacesThatInspire #DesignInBrighton #TableTennis

✨ A Week of Insight and Inspiration with Audrey Anyani and Annabel Wosenu ✨ This past week, we had the privilege of hosting final-year BA Architecture students Audrey and Annabel from Leeds School of Arts, Leeds Beckett University for a week of work experience at Stead & Co. Architects.🎓 Their week was filled with learning opportunities, from morning debriefs and site visits to hands-on involvement in ongoing projects like the Otley Common initiative. A highlight was discussing various types of insulation with the Kris on-site and exploring what to watch out for during projects—providing valuable, real-world experience that they could apply directly to their studies. Audrey Anyani and Annabel Wosenu, your contributions were truly appreciated. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and insight were evident throughout the week, and we’re confident you’re set for a successful final year and bright futures in architecture. Thank you for your hard work, and we look forward to keeping in touch as you continue on your journey! 👏✨ #WorkExperience #ArchitectureStudents #FutureArchitects #LeedsBeckettUniversity #OtleyCommon #SteadAndCoArchitects #ProfessionalDevelopment #ArchitectureLife #ConstructionInsights

👋✨ A Warm Welcome to Audrey Anyani and Annabel Wosenu! ✨ 👋 This week, we’re delighted to host Audrey and Annabel, final-year BA Architecture students from Leeds Beckett University, for their work experience at Stead & Co. Architects. We’ve planned an exciting week ahead, including project overviews, site visits, and contributions to the Otley Common project. We can’t wait to support their development and share insights into the world of architecture. Follow along as we document their experience and share what we’re working on throughout the week! #Architecture #WorkExperience #FutureArchitects #LeedsBeckettUniversity #CreativeDesign #SteadAndCoArchitects #OtleyCOMMON

🎓✨Empowering Future Architects at Leeds Beckett University!✨🎓 Safira Hussain and Stefanie Stead MBE had the pleasure of participating in the Speed Mentoring event with final-year BA Architecture students at Leeds Beckett University. It was an amazing opportunity to introduce Stead & Co. Architects, connect with passionate students, and offer a glimpse into the dynamic world of architecture. Safira Hussain shared her personal journey with the practice, from working as a Part 2 student to preparing to start her Part 3 studies at Leeds Beckett University next week. Engaging with such creative and talented individuals reminded us why mentoring matters so much—it's about guiding and inspiring the next generation of architects. We’re thrilled to announce that two of these exceptional students will be joining our studio for a one-week work experience next week. We can’t wait to support their journey and give them hands-on insight into life as an architect. 🏢✨ A huge thank you to Leeds School of Arts, Leeds Beckett University, and the entire team at Leeds Beckett University for organising this impactful event. Special thanks to Dr Craig Stott, Maryam Osman, Rozita Rahman, Lara Rettondini, and Ashley Caruso for making it all possible. 👏 #Architecture #Mentorship #FutureArchitects #LeedsBeckettUniversity #SteadAndCoArchitects #CreativeDesign #WorkExperience #ArchitectureLife #Architecture #Architect

🌟 Back to the Office: Reflecting on 2024 & Looking Ahead to 2025 🌟 After a snow-disrupted start to the year, we’re finally back in the office and ready to embrace 2025! Before diving into the opportunities ahead, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we had in 2024. Reflection is at the heart of architecture—evaluating successes, learning from challenges, and continuously improving. Here are some highlights from a fantastic year for the practice: ✨ 2024 Practice Highlights ✨ ⭐️ January: Starting the year strong by selecting samples for a special project! 🏞️🎨 ⭐️ February: Publicly launching the Otley Common project—what a milestone! 🌟🏘️ ⭐️ March: Joining the West Yorkhsire Good Growth Programme 🌱💼 ⭐️ April: Stefanie stepping up as an RICS Judge for the Yorkshire & Humberside Awards 👩⚖️🏆 ⭐️ May: Showcasing at the Agricultural Show 🚜 and Stefanie securing a book deal with RIBA Yorkshire—huge news! 🎉 ⭐️ June: Curating the Design Lab Nations exhibition! 🎨 ⭐️ July: Celebrating at the Festival of Place and earning a Highly Commended award for SME of the Year at the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber Awards 2024 🏅🎉 ⭐️ August: Successfully completing the Prince Henry’s Grammar School project! 🏫💪 ⭐️ September: Stefanie joining the CIC Assessor team for the Inclusive Environments Recognition Certification 🌍✅ ⭐️ October: Selecting finishes for the BTTC project 🏗️🎨 ⭐️ November: Decking out the office windows and getting festive for the Victorian Fair 🎄🕯️ ⭐️ December: Wrapping up an incredible year with a festive celebration in the office 🎅🎉 As we look ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled about the projects, opportunities, and developments to come. We can’t wait to continue sharing our journey with you—stay tuned! For even more updates and a peek behind the scenes, follow us on Instagram: @steadandcoarchitects Here’s to a year of creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Let’s make 2025 unforgettable! #SteadAndCoArchitects #2024Reflections #2025Goals #ArchitectureInDevelopment #CreativeGrowth

🚧 Explore the Future of Otley COMMON! 🚧 Stead & Co. Architects invites you to join us at our next pop-up event on Saturday, 30th November, at Otley Common from 3 PM - 6 PM. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the proposed Otley Common plans through guided building tours and learn more about the exciting possibilities for this community space. In addition to the tours, we’ll have: 🎤 Live music  🖼 Arts & crafts  💷 Investment information  🍰 Tea & cake We look forward to discussing the plans and hearing your ideas on how we can shape the future of this space for the Otley community. Don’t miss out—see you there! #SteadAndCo #OtleyCOMMON #Architecture #Otley #CommunityDevelopment #FuturePlans #OtleyEvents

🔎 Join Us for a Talk on Community Engagement! 🔎 We’re excited to invite you to an event hosted by NYSA RIBA Yorkshire on Tuesday, 19th November 2024, from 16:30 - 18:00 GMT at Otley Methodist Church (65 Walkergate, Otley, LS21 1AG). Our Director, Stefanie Stead MBE, will discuss how we’re transforming the church into a vibrant social, cultural, and entrepreneurial hub through the Otley Common project. 🏛️✨ Stefanie will explore how we embed community stories into our designs, ensuring spaces evolve alongside the people they’re built for. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to dive deeper into community-driven architecture and discover how co-creating spaces with local residents can make a significant impact. Reserve your tickets for the event here: https://lnkd.in/eb62Shwi 🛠️ Learn more about Otley COMMON here: https://lnkd.in/egB5TeVs 🛠️ Explore our projects at Stead & Co. here: https://lnkd.in/eZEmV7ru Follow us on Instagram for more updates: https://lnkd.in/ex6wcvfr #CommunityArchitecture #OtleyCOMMON #SteadAndCo #SocialImpactDesign #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDesign #NYSA #ArchitectureForChange #Otley #CommunityArchitect #SteadandCo

👗 Explore Our Versatile Dressmaker Studios at Otley COMMON! 👗 We’re thrilled to unveil the third part of our design collage series, showcasing our dressmaker studios available for rent at Otley Common! 🌟 These inspiring spaces are thoughtfully designed to nurture creativity and craftsmanship, making them perfect for dressmakers and anyone looking to create. Join us on 30th November for a pop-up event at Otley Common, where you can learn more about our studios and see the spaces in person! Each studio offers spacious layouts and ample natural light, allowing you to customise the environment to suit your unique sewing, design, or creative needs. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, an emerging designer, or seeking a studio for any purpose, these spaces are crafted to inspire creativity and support your work. Become part of our vibrant community at Otley Common and elevate your creative journey—these studios can be hired for any use! Collage created by: Safira Hussain #OtleyCOMMON #DressmakerStudios #DesignCollage #CreativeSpace #SewingCommunity #FashionDesign #Inspiration #RentAStudio #VersatileSpaces #CraftsmanshipUnleashed #RIBA #Architecture

🎨 Discover Our Artist Studios at Otley COMMON! 🎨 We’re excited to share the second part of our design collage series, highlighting our artist studios available for rent at Otley Common! 🌟 These thoughtfully designed spaces foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation, providing the perfect environment for artists to bring their visions to life. Join us on 30th November for a pop-up event at Otley Common, where we’ll walk you through our plans and give a tour of the studios. This is your chance to see the creative potential of these spaces firsthand! Each studio features abundant natural light and flexible layouts, allowing you to customise the space to suit your artistic practice. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, or mixed-media artist, our studios are crafted to ignite your creativity and support your work. Become part of our vibrant community of artists and elevate your creative journey at Otley Common! Collage created by: Safira Hussain #OtleyCOMMON #ArtistStudios #DesignCollage #CreativeSpace #ArtCommunity #Inspiration #ArtisticJourney #Collaboration #RentAStudio #CreativityUnleashed #Architecture #SteadAndCo