Purcell (architects)

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Purcell is a British architectural design practice, founded in 1947 by Donovan Purcell. It has 11 regional studios in the UK and four studios in the Asia Pacific region.

## History

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In 1947, Donovan Purcell set up a small practice in Bury St Edmunds. Working on church and army buildings for many years, Purcell developed his expertise in conservation and in 1960 was appointed Surveyor to the Fabric of Ely Cathedral.

In 1965, Purcell partnered with architects Peter Miller and William “Bill” Tritton and the practice of Purcell, Miller and Tritton was established. Three years later, the partnership registered with offices in Bethel Street, Norwich and Sydney Street, London.

Over the years, the practice set up studios across the UK to provide strong regional coverage. The practice rebranded as Purcell in 2012[1] and expanded, opening studios in Cardiff, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham. Purcell acquired Worcester-based architect S T Walker and Duckham in 2015[2] and merged with Norfolk-based practice Reynolds Jury Architecture in 2016.[3]

Internationally, the practice established its first studio in Hong Kong in 2009 and has developed its coverage in Asia Pacific with heritage consultancy teams in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

In May 2019, it became a limited company,[4] transitioning to an employee ownership model in 2021.[5]

As of 2022, Purcell has UK studios in Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Colchester, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford and York. The practice is the UK's 16th largest practice according to the AJ100 in 2021[6] and ranked 83rd in the World Architecture 100 in 2022.[7]

Notable employees of Purcell have included Corinne Bennett.

## Services

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The practice offers design services, masterplanning, heritage consultancy, conservation expertise, funding advice and planning advice. It has worked on many UK listed buildings.

Purcell works across eight sectors: cultural, education, hospitality, places of worship, public, residential, transport, and workplace and retail.

## Projects

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Purcell has worked on notable public and private buildings in the UK and internationally including:

* Bristol Aerospace Centre, Filton Airfield
* Canterbury Cathedral
* Cardigan Castle
* CoRE (Centre of Refurbishment Excellence)
* Coworth Park Spa
* Durham Cathedral
* Flinders Street Station
* Florence Institute
* Hampton Court Palace
* Hong Kong Cricket Club
* The Hyde, Dillington House
* National Maritime Museum, Sammy Ofer Wing
* Oxford University Museum of Natural History
* Penarth Pier Pavilion
* Shackleton's Hut, Cape Royd
* The Wallace Collection, The Great Gallery
* Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts
* Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park
* National Portrait Gallery
* Renovation of Clifton Cathedral, Bristol[8]

## Awards

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Year  | Project  | Award(s)

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2008  | World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon Industrial Landscape | Gold Medal for Architecture, National Eisteddfod of Wales[9]
2008  | Kew Palace | RICS National Museums & Heritage Award for Excellence; RICS Conservation Award
2010  | Arnos Vale Cemetery | RIBA South West Town and Country Design Awards: Conservation Award
2010  | Stowe House, Marble Saloon | Country Life Restoration of the Century
2010  | The Hyde, Dillington House | RIBA Award
2010  | Wentworth Castle & Stainborough Park | Country Life Restoration of the Century Award
2011  | Leighton House Museum | RIBA London Arts & Leisure Award
2011  | No. 1 Smithery, Chatham Historic Dockyard | RIBA South/South East Award
2012  | Ballyfin Hotel | RICS Project of the Year Award
2012  | Florence Institute | IHBC North West Award for Conservation
2012  | Leighton House Museum | Europa Nostra Conservation Award
2012  | National Maritime Museum, Sammy Ofer Wing | RIBA London Award
2012  | No.1 Smithery, Chatham Historic Dockyard | RICS Award
2012  | St Paul's Cathedral, London | RIBA English Heritage Award for Conservation; RIBA London Award
2012  | Stowe House | Georgian Group/EH Special Award for Outstanding Achievement
2012  | Tudor House Museum | RICS South East Project of the Year Award; RICS South East Building Conservation Award
2013  | Florence Institute | RICS National Building Conservation Award; RIBA North West Conservation Award; RIBA North West Award; RICS North West Building Conservation Award; Civic Trust Award Community Recognition
2014  | Ballyfin Hotel | International Hotel & Property Awards, Best Suite
2014  | Centre of Refurbishment Excellence  | RIBA West Midlands Sustainability Award; RIBA West Midlands Award
2014  | Coworth Park Spa | International Hotel & Property Awards, Best Spa
2014  | Creative Arts Building, City College | Civic Trust Award
2014  | Penarth Pier Pavilion | RICS Project of the Year; RICS Wales Community Benefit Award; Pier of the Year
2015  | Black Gate | RICS North East Building Conservation Award
2015  | Hexham Abbey | RICS North East Tourism and Leisure
2015  | King's State Apartments, Kensington Palace | RICS London Building Conservation Award
2015  | Oxford University Museum of Natural History | Civic Trust Awards, AABC Conservation Award
2016  | Base Court, Hampton Court Palace | RICS London Building Conservation Award; RICS London Building of the Year Award
2016  | Cardigan Castle | RSAW Welsh Architecture Award; RSAW Conservation Award
2016  | Waddesdon Bequest Gallery, British Museum | RIBA London Award
2017  | Aerospace Bristol | World Architecture Festival: Completed Buildings (shortlisted)[10]
2017  | Cardigan Castle | Channel 4 Restoration of the Year[11]
2017  | Cromford Mills | EU Prize for Cultural Heritage [12]
2018  | Aerospace Bristol | RICS South West Awards 2018: Leisure & Tourism Award and Project of the Year [13]
2018  | Canterbury Cathedral Great South Window | RICS South East Awards 2018: Building Conservation Award [14]
2018  | Delapre Abbey | RICS East Midlands Awards 2018: Conservation Award, Tourism and Leisure Award [15]
2018  | Durham Cathedral Open Treasure | RIBA National Award for Cultural Buildings, RIBA North East Building of the Year, RIBA North East Regional Award, RIBA North East Conservation Award[16]
2018  | St Fagans National Museum of History | RICS Wales Awards 2018: Tourism and Leisure Award [17]
2018  | Yr Ysgwrn | RICS Wales Awards 2018: Building Conservation Award,[17] RSAW (RIBA Wales) Welsh Architecture of the Year Award, Conservation Award, Project Architect of the Year, Building of the Year[18]

## References

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1. ^ "Purcell Miller Tritton changes its name to Purcell". Building Design. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
2. ^ "Purcell acquires S T Walker & Duckham Architects - netMAGmedia Ltd". netMAGmedia Ltd. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
3. ^ "Purcell snaps up Norfolk practice". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
4. ^ Purcell (1 May 2019). "Purcell Moves LLP Status to Ltd Company As Part of Journey…". Purcell. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
5. ^ Waite, Richard (4 May 2021). "Purcell hands ownership of the firm over to employees". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
6. ^ "AJ100 - Purcell". aj100.architectsjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
7. ^ "WA100 2021: The big list". Building Design. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
8. ^ Block, India (26 June 2018). "Purcells' Refurbishment of brutalist Clifton Cathedral". DeZeen. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
9. ^ "Gold Medal for Architecture". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021.
10. ^ "Display - Completed Buildings 2017". www.worldarchitecturefestival.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
11. ^ "Castle wins Channel 4 Restoration of the Year". Cardigan Castle. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
12. ^ "Cromford Mills: Building 17". European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
13. ^ "RICS Awards 2018: South West winners brochure". Issuu. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
14. ^ "RICS Awards 2018: The Winners" (PDF). RICS. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
15. ^ "RICS Awards Winners 2018, East Midlands winners brochure". Issuu. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
16. ^ "RIBA North East Award winners". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
17. ^ a b "RICS Award Winners 2018" (PDF). RICS Awards. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
18. ^ "Yr Ysgwrn". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.

## External links

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* Official website

Authority control databases

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* VIAF

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* United States

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