Whittam Cox Architects recognised in this year’s Building Top 150

19th October 2023

For the eighth consecutive year, Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects has secured its spot in the prestigious Top 50 UK Architects and Top 150 UK Consultants rankings.

Each year, the renowned industry publication ‘Building’ conducts a comprehensive survey of consultants from all disciplines throughout the UK to compile a league table showcasing the country’s top consulting firms.

This survey covers a range of aspects, including financial performance, workforce size, and opinions on market conditions, skills, and the future prospects for the industry. This year, Whittam Cox achieved a ranking of 27 out of the top 50 architect practices, marking a significant advancement from our 40th position last year.

The company says this year’s Top 150 Consultants survey paints an encouraging picture of increased optimism and greater stability. Nevertheless, there remains a notable degree of caution and uncertainty primarily stemming from the continued influence of the macroeconomic climate, which poses ongoing challenges to the construction industry.

Other key concerns highlighted by consultants included staffing issues with attracting and retaining talent, geopolitical events, the impending impact of the Building Safety Act, the ever-pressing issue of climate change, and the accessibility of funding – all playing pivotal roles in shaping our industry’s landscape.

Commenting on the latest milestone, Whittam Cox Board Director Nick Riley said: “This is very positive progression for us, and a reflection of the talent and dedication of colleagues across our entire practice; it’s great to be recognised externally again. Looking ahead, despite obvious headwinds, we remain optimistic about the industry and the sectors we operate in, and our continued evolution as a business.”

The company plays an active role in Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group. Chaired by Whittam Cox’s Andy Dabbs, the group helps to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within the town.

Whittam Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in Chesterfield architects, chesterfield business news, chesterfield news, Property and construction, Whittam Cox Architects

Whittam Cox retains place in UK’s top 50 architects list

25th October 2022

Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects has secured a place in the Top 50 UK Architects and Top 150 UK Consultants rankings for the seventh consecutive year.

Over 300 firms took part in the annual consultant survey by leading industry publication ‘Building Magazine’. The publication has ranked the practice as 80 out of all the firms who made the top 150, which includes Architects, Surveyors, Project Managers, and Engineers.

The firm has also secured a spot at number 40 in the UK’s Top Architects, reinforcing the fact that Whittam Cox Architects is one of UK’s largest practices, servicing clients and projects nationwide.

Whilst the report raises concerns about key issues such as the impact of Brexit, Ukraine and recruitment and what this could mean for the industry, the company remains positive as it continues to work with high profile clients on significant urban residential schemes, particularly Build-to-Rent projects across the UK as well as continued growth with retail frameworks and in the logistics sector.

Commenting on the milestone Board Director Nick Riley said: “We are delighted to be recognised again by Building for the seventh consecutive year; we see this as an endorsement of our employees’ commitment to delivering tangible value and the very best outcomes for our clients.

Looking ahead we know we can’t be complacent; it’s essential we remain progressive by being ambitious, agile and responsive through continued times of political and market uncertainty.”

Whittam Cox Architects is also involved with Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group, which brings together businesses working across the sector in our town.

Board Director Andy Dabbs currently chairs the group, working alongside Destination Chesterfield to host networking events, forums and drive forward further investment in the area.

Whittam Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Whittam Cox Architects named in AJ100 2022

29th June 2022

Whittam Cox Architects has once again been named one of the UK’s top architectural practices in the annual AJ100.

The annual survey, which is produced by leading industry publication Architects Journal, is designed to provide a definitive record of the UK’s largest Architectural practices and recognises achievements made by these top practices each year. This year, as the firm celebrates its 50th anniversary, Whittam Cox Architects has been ranked 96th, reinforcing its position as one of the largest Architects practices based in the East Midlands and Yorkshire region.

Nick Riley, Board Director at the practice commented, “Being listed in the AJ100 again is a credit to every individual in our practice. We consider ourselves to be an ambitious and progressive practice; always striving to advance the best service and best outcomes on projects. Being recognised in the industry for the work we do is really important to us.”

The practice is currently working on a wide range of diverse projects nationwide, including;

Brent Cross Town with Related Argent as Executive Architects on the first phases of a 180-acre Residential and Commercial masterplan
The Forum, a new digital and technology campus in Gloucester for our client Reef Group.
A new student village masterplan with Balfour Beatty Investments for Royal Holloway University of London
Extensive framework projects for our major retail clients, Asda, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer.
The AJ listing this year, also coincides with the practice recently winning an AJ Retrofit award for our Park Hill project in Sheffield.

Closer to home, Whittam Cox has worked alongside Chesterfield Borough Council to develop the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which is set to provide modern office space for start-up and medium sized businesses. The centre is expected to open in July.

The company also plays a pivotal role in the Chesterfield Property & Construction Group, with Board Director Andy Dabbs (pictured below) chairing the group.

Whittam Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects recognised for redevelopment of iconic Sheffield estate

6th May 2022

Chesterfield-based Architects Whittam Cox has won an AJ Retrofit Award in the listed buildings category £5 million and over for it’s work on Beton House in Sheffield.

The AJ Retrofit Awards, by The Architects’ Journal, celebrate the design expertise behind the vital renewal and repurposing of existing buildings, setting a precedent for ways to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint in the process.

Béton House is the third phase of the redevelopment of Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill estate. Originally completed in 1961, Park Hill is the largest listed building in Europe and is regarded as a significant brutalist building of heritage. Working with Alumno Group, Whittam Cox created a new 8-bedroom 3 storey townhouse typology that fitted into the constraints of the unique Park Hill architecture.

At this year’s AJ Retrofit Awards, the judges commended Whittam Cox’s approach to retaining as much of the original scheme as possible, which has saved a total of 577 tonnes of CO2 emissions.  As a ‘holistic scheme’, they thought the model of adaption should be celebrated and described the completed scheme as ’a lovely project that captures the spirit of the Retrofit Awards’.

Nick Riley, Board Director commented, “Winning this design award is testament to the hard work and commitment from everybody involved in delivering this incredibly special and unique project.

“Our approach to the design was about being authentic and respectful to the structure and facades. We felt it was important to retain, repair and reinstate as many original elements as we possibly could. The addition of carefully selected coloured elements, both internally and externally, adds new character and identity which is rooted in its culture and history.”

Matthew Borland, Associate Director added: “As a team, we have worked incredibly hard to understand the deep roots of the original design which is clearly unique in architectural character.

“Our designs for Béton House retain and celebrate all of the important elements of the original scheme, while respectfully adding new layers of identity, using the famous ‘streets in the sky’ to create a unique student living offering in Sheffield city centre.

“Our aim was to be able to express Béton House as a coherent piece within the Park Hill estate as a whole that formed a framework for other collaborators to work within so that all new interventions could be well considered with a consistent and timeless feel.”

Whittam Cox supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in Chesterfield architects, chesterfield business news, chesterfield news, Chesterfield property and construction, Whittam Cox