News items posted during July 2009

On Saturday 11th July, Andrew Paulson and Gary Wait of Lees Associates were delighted to accept an invitation to join other notable names in architecture and the arts at the launch of this year’s Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. Conceived in 2000 by Serpentine Gallery Director Julia Peyton-Jones, the event is now in its tenth year. The main criterion for an architect to be invited to submit a design for the pavilion is to have never yet completed a building in England.

Lees Associates’ restoration, refurbishment and extension of Dixton Manor, Gloucestershire, completed on schedule in June 2009. Our work has seen the Grade II* listed Cotswolds manor house, which dates back to 1591 and replaced an earlier monastery on the site, transformed.

Websites and news stories that have caught our eye this month:

www.architectsjournal.co.uk/5203067.article
Due to be the world’s tallest building: what is it, where is it and what will its final height be?

weburbanist.com/2008/11/26/creative-modern-stairs-staircase-designs
Take a staircase and add a bit of creativity! This varied collection of ingenious staircases is set to inspire any architectural project.

Recently, Andrew Paulson and Gary Wait of Lees Associates were guests at the first of what will become a quarterly event, fuSE1 in Brew Wharf, located in the heart of Borough Market.

fuSE1 aims to bring together businesses and individuals working in the property and construction industry in the SE1 postcode in order to create new and sustainable business relationships. After a light breakfast and refreshments, Sir Paul Smith took to the stage to say a few words and commend the organisers on their achievement, as well as share his personal climb from unknown to internationally renowned fashion designer; from a small shop in the derelict Covent Garden in the 1970’s to holding a huge portfolio of highly successful stores worldwide.

The event certainly brought together a multitude of highly skilled and talented people from within the SE1 area and many new contacts were established, as well as old ones re-affirmed. This quarterly event, promoting the sharing of knowledge and talent that the SE1 postcode contains, has the potential to grow from strength to strength.

Well done to the organisers and many thanks to the event sponsors: Cowell Consulting, FOM, Norton Rose and SC Design Consulting Ltd.

The Lees Associates team would like to congratulate Andrew Paulson, who has recently been made a Director of the practice, and Gary Wait who has been promoted to an Associate.

Andrew (right) joined Lees Associates in 2003. He was made an Associate in March 2006, shortly after qualifying gaining Chartered Architect status, and quickly established himself as a well-respected and trusted figure in our high-end residential and retail project teams. He now heads our core residential project team.

Gary (left) joined Lees Associates in 2007 and has since been involved in many of Lees Associates high-end residential, retail, hotel and leisure projects. More recently he has taken a leading role on a number of high profile projects.

Congratulations to you both.