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 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.

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

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, transitioning to an employee ownership model in 2021.

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 and ranked 83rd in the World Architecture 100 in 2022.

Notable employees of Purcell have included Corinne Bennett.

Services 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

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

Awards

Year Project Award(s)2008World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon Industrial LandscapeGold Medal for Architecture, National Eisteddfod of Wales2008Kew PalaceRICS National Museums & Heritage Award for Excellence; RICS Conservation Award2010Arnos Vale CemeteryRIBA South West Town and Country Design Awards: Conservation Award2010Stowe House, Marble SaloonCountry Life Restoration of the Century2010The Hyde, Dillington HouseRIBA Award2010Wentworth Castle & Stainborough ParkCountry Life Restoration of the Century Award2011Leighton House MuseumRIBA London Arts & Leisure Award2011No. 1 Smithery, Chatham Historic DockyardRIBA South/South East Award2012Ballyfin HotelRICS Project of the Year Award2012Florence InstituteIHBC North West Award for Conservation2012Leighton House MuseumEuropa Nostra Conservation Award2012National Maritime Museum, Sammy Ofer WingRIBA London Award2012No.1 Smithery, Chatham Historic DockyardRICS Award2012St Paul's Cathedral, LondonRIBA English Heritage Award for Conservation; RIBA London Award2012Stowe HouseGeorgian Group/EH Special Award for Outstanding Achievement2012Tudor House MuseumRICS South East Project of the Year Award; RICS South East Building Conservation Award2013Florence InstituteRICS National Building Conservation Award; RIBA North West Conservation Award; RIBA North West Award; RICS North West Building Conservation Award; Civic Trust Award Community Recognition2014Ballyfin HotelInternational Hotel & Property Awards, Best Suite2014Centre of Refurbishment ExcellenceRIBA West Midlands Sustainability Award; RIBA West Midlands Award2014Coworth Park SpaInternational Hotel & Property Awards, Best Spa2014Creative Arts Building, City CollegeCivic Trust Award2014Penarth Pier PavilionRICS Project of the Year; RICS Wales Community Benefit Award; Pier of the Year2015Black GateRICS North East Building Conservation Award2015Hexham AbbeyRICS North East Tourism and Leisure2015King's State Apartments, Kensington PalaceRICS London Building Conservation Award2015Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryCivic Trust Awards, AABC Conservation Award2016Base Court, Hampton Court PalaceRICS London Building Conservation Award; RICS London Building of the Year Award2016Cardigan CastleRSAW Welsh Architecture Award; RSAW Conservation Award2016Waddesdon Bequest Gallery, British MuseumRIBA London Award2017Aerospace BristolWorld Architecture Festival: Completed Buildings (shortlisted)2017Cardigan CastleChannel 4 Restoration of the Year2017Cromford Mills EU Prize for Cultural Heritage 2018Aerospace BristolRICS South West Awards 2018: Leisure & Tourism Award and Project of the Year 2018Canterbury Cathedral Great South WindowRICS South East Awards 2018: Building Conservation Award 2018Delapre AbbeyRICS East Midlands Awards 2018: Conservation Award, Tourism and Leisure Award 2018Durham Cathedral Open TreasureRIBA National Award for Cultural Buildings, RIBA North East Building of the Year, RIBA North East Regional Award, RIBA North East Conservation Award2018St Fagans National Museum of HistoryRICS Wales Awards 2018: Tourism and Leisure Award 2018Yr YsgwrnRICS Wales Awards 2018: Building Conservation Award, RSAW (RIBA Wales) Welsh Architecture of the Year Award, Conservation Award, Project Architect of the Year, Building of the Year

References

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