Architect

At Purcell‘s London Studio, we are looking for a talented Architect to join our team working on the creative reuse of iconic and historically significant buildings in the UK and overseas.

You’ll be working within our architectural team and collaborating closely with our heritage consultants, to deliver creative reuse projects across all RIBA stages and at a variety of scales in the cultural, public and educational sectors.

The role will involve both conservation and contemporary design, from master-planning, feasibility studies and planning applications through to technical production and construction supervision.

Purcell for the past four years have been ranked No.1 for Heritage in the World Architecture 100 list. We imagine heritage in new ways, sustainably designing places where people can belong, rooted in client and community need.

We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development. We believe in fostering a collaborative workplace, where knowledge sharing and professional growth are at the heart of everything we do. If you’re an Architect with excellent creative and technical skills and a passion for the high-quality reuse of existing buildings and sites, we’d love to hear from you.

The successful candidate will evidence strong creative and presentation skills, keen attention to detail, and a deep-rooted interest in the adaptation of existing buildings, evidenced by high-quality examples of past work and experience. You will need to be able to display an enthusiastic, can-do attitude, willingness to learn, and an understanding of Purcell’s projects and culture. We welcome applications from architects who understand conservation principles, but conservation accreditation is not required.

We have staff of approximately 300 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee-ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee-owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes

• Agile, flexible and hybrid working, (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH)
• Annual leave increasing with long service
• Life assurance
• Study sponsorship with paid study leave
• Sabbaticals
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Subscription fees
• Company day out
• A volunteering scheme
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

The role

• Support multiple concurrent projects across all RIBA stages under the direction of senior staff, and manage junior staff
• Assist Senior Architects and Associates in managing client relationships and preparing design proposals
• Contribute to design development and technical detailing, ensuring solutions are contextually sensitive and align with building regulations
• Apply conservation principles under guidance for historic buildings, developing designs that meet conservation standards
• Integrate sustainable and energy-efficient solutions
• Assist in managing project budgets and preparing fee proposals, supporting the delivery of projects within budget constraints
• Use BIM processes (Revit, AutoCAD, NBS) to support design coordination and documentation
• Conduct site visits and support in quality monitoring
• Stay informed about industry trends and attend relevant events to build professional knowledge and network

We are looking for candidates who have the following skills and qualifications:

Essential:

• You have successfully completed your Part 3 qualification and gained a minimum of 4 years of experience in architectural practice (including Part I and II experience) working on projects in the UK, where you’ve been involved in the design, management and delivery from concept through to completion.
• You possess excellent design capabilities, with a strategic understanding of space-planning and feasibility studies, a keen eye for detail, and can produce high-quality, accurate drawings that effectively communicate design ideas and meet the project’s technical requirements.
• You are proficient in industry-standard software, particularly AutoCAD for technical drawing and Adobe CC for imagery, diagrams and reports, enabling you to efficiently produce accurate documentation and collaborate effectively with the project team.
• You have a good understanding of the UK’s building regulations, planning regulations, and statutory requirements, and are able to effectively apply these to design and technical development.
• You can clearly articulate design concepts and technical details to clients, contractors, and team members both in writing and verbally. Your communication style is clear, professional, and tailored to various stakeholders.
• You have a good understanding and demonstrable experience of project running and contract administration during the construction phase.
• You have hands-on experience across RIBA stages 2-6, and are comfortable taking projects from initial feasibility studies to final delivery.
• You have an interest or strong background in architecture in historical settings, ensuring that your designs and interventions are sensitive to the historical and cultural significance of buildings, adhering to established conservation standards and practices.

Desirable:

• You have hands-on experience in the bookend RIBA stages 0/1 and 7, and are comfortable developing project briefs and post-occupancy evaluations.
• You are proficient in Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM) and NBS for creating specifications.
• Have a keen interest in obtaining, or are already on the path to obtaining, a conservation qualification or accreditation.

Please email a copy of your CV and portfolio referencing job code P0006 to [email protected]. Please include details of your Right to Work in the United Kingdom, as well as an available start date.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented backgrounds can be less likely to apply unless they meet every criteria listed. At Purcell, we are committed to building an inclusive, transparent, and welcoming team. If you’re enthusiastic about the role and excited to grow and learn with us, we warmly encourage you to apply.

When applying, please feel free to use your preferred name — we don’t require full or birth names at this stage.
We are proud to foster a culture of kindness, respect, and authenticity, where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of heritage and conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.