As we approach the end of 2023 we wanted to take the opportunity to look back over on the past 12 months. It’s been a busy year here at Rock Townsend that has seen a number of exciting projects complete on site as well as recognition in the form of awards and industry magazine features. We’ve also had the pleasure of welcoming a number of new faces to the team. We wanted to share a few highlights from this year with you and would like to thank all our clients, consultants and colleagues for your continued support and collaboration. Here’s to another great year in 2024!
Social value: new initiatives set for the coming year including work experience, outreach, pro-bono work and charity donations.
Sustainability: alongside our commitment to helping clients to reach their Net Zero Carbon goals, we have achieved a reduction in our own carbon footprint in line with out targets to halve by 2030 and reach zero by 2050.
New faces! 8no. lovely new team members in the studio.
RESIDENTIAL: Minster House in Hatfield is a new build development for the over 55s with an emphasis on wellbeing for residents including landscaping and a variety of social spaces. Completed on site in 2023. Image copyright RG Carter.
FURTHER EDUCATION: The STEAM centre at London South Bank College’s Nine Elms Campus completed on site this year. It was shortlisted for Project of the Year at the Education Estates Awards. Image copyright Chis Humphreys.
COMMERCIAL: Appointed by Ryebridge construction in 2023 to work on the design for a number of projects at London Luton Airport including the addition of a Mezzanine level.
HIGHER EDUCATION: Kings College London. A technically challenging scheme to deliver a new courtyard and quad building within a Grade 1 listed campus. It has won two awards since completion earlier this year and was featured in Concrete Magazine. Image Copyright Johan Dehlin.
RESIDENTIAL: 2023 saw the completion of Phases 1 & 2 of Mill Road providing Cambridge with 236 new homes, 2 commercial spaces, a community centre and landscaping which includes a new park with children’s play area and public art.
COMMERCIAL: Flexible new learning and workspace for The Proclamation Trust, a charity based in central London, completed in 2023.
HIGHER EDUCATION: We are currently working on a number of projects for the London School of Economics including student halls of residence refurbishments and the completion of the Refectory at Rosebery Hall pictured above. We look forward to continuing our work with LSE in 2024.
RESIDENTIAL: The Whitehouse in Cheshunt achieved planning in October 2023 and will provide 36 one and two bedroom apartments over 6 floors for affordable rent.
HIGHER EDUCATION: Currently working on a refurbishment for the University of Westminster's Harrow Campus, to provide a new space for the Games Hub and Emerging Media courses.
Social
2023 also saw the creation of the hugely popular lunch club in the studio! We’ve been lucky enough to samples some incredible fusion menus. At our most recent we all got to tuck into a Romanian/Pakistani/Scottish feast thanks to chefs Cezi, Waj and Lauren - absolutely delicious!
And we had an incredible Summer party in our courtyard and danced the night away under our newly installed festoon lights. We are looking forward to using the courtyard again this week to host a festive evening of mulled wine and mince pies for everyone in the building!
Team outings have varied from Comedy to Climbing and from Life Drawing to Ice Skating.
Work Experience
In 2023 we welcomed a total 7 Work Experience students to the studio, ranging in age from secondary school through to university. Two of our Architects have been mentoring young people interested in a career in architecture through the Arts Emergency charity and their mentors also joined us for work experience. Image: Model made by one of our 2023 work experience students.
We also forged an exciting relationship with Southwark’s Education Business Alliance (EBA). We’ve already worked on a few projects with them and have many more in the pipeline. Last month Tim did his best Dragon impression when he helped judge a Young Enterprise competition for local secondary school students and Heather and Charlotte will be running a workshop for Year 4 school children in December for which the RT team has been diligently hoarding cereal boxes and we look forward to seeing what the children make! We have more planned for next year with the EBA and we hope to be able to offer an insight into the industry to many more local young people and children through our work with them.
RT Studio
We haven’t just been busy with projects in 2023. There has been lots going on in the studio with social value initiatives, team events and new team members!
New Faces for 2023
And lastly but very definitely not least, a very warm welcome to Izzy, Heather, Kiran, Taron, Rachel, Sarah, Molly and Lillie all of whom joined us in 2023 and have quickly become integral members of the RT team!