One of the East Midlands’ top emerging architecture practices has relaunched as Player Roberts Bell to reflect its continued expansion.
The firm – formerly known as Joe Player Architects – has made the change to recognise the evolution of its senior management team and changing nature of its client base.
The change of name forms part of a wider rebrand of the company as it looks to continue its progress in the residential and conservation sectors while expanding with more commercial and developer-led projects.
Joe Player, director at Player Roberts Bell, said: “Over the last three years, the practice has grown organically, and this relaunch illustrates how far we have come as a team.”
“Our focus as a team is on delivering a real quality of design and personal service to clients and to cut away at some of the bureaucracy. As directors, we are all actively involved in projects day-to-day, and this shapes how we work with clients and our ethos as a business.”
After leaving Purcell, AABC-accredited heritage and conservation specialist Player launched the practice in 2017. He was joined the following year by Oliver Roberts – formerly of Halsall Lloyd Partnership – before former CPMG associate Aiden Bell completed the trio of directors in 2019.
The RIBA chartered practice has become well known for its residential projects for a diverse mix of clients – including residential developers, housing associations and local authorities – and Townscape Heritage funded schemes such as Nottingham’s 38 Carrington Street.
With a regular pipeline of new and retained clients, the business has grown exponentially in recent years – most recently taking on a multi-million-pound project for a local authority which has acted as a catalyst for the relaunch.
Oliver Roberts, director at Player Roberts Bell, said: “Having been known and renowned for our conservation and residential work, our client base has diversified as our expertise has grown, and we have a team that’s well equipped to meet the challenge.”
“It’s a great source of pride to us that our collaborative approach and quality of service helps us get repeat work from clients. It’s an exciting time for us as a business as we look to expand and work in new areas and sectors.”
Aiden Bell, director at Player Roberts Bell, said: “Across the three directors, we have a great breadth of experience spanning residential, conservation and commercial architecture, which we’re keen to apply to new markets going forward.
“What has been important to us from the beginning is that our approach is holistic and sustainable – we are all design-led architects and that’s what we encourage within the team.”
Alongside the three directors, the team is completed by senior architectural technologist and retail specialist Sandra Player, and former Lathams architect Lucy Hillier, who specialises in both conservation and contemporary architecture.
Working from its base in Car Colston, the firm are continuing to take on new projects as the construction industry begins its recovery following the relaxation of the lockdown measures that were put in place following the Coronavirus outbreak.
Player said: “It has been a tough time for the construction industry as a whole, but we have been able to continue with a steady pipeline of work and make good progress with ongoing projects.
“We’ve worked at full capacity throughout the last few months and invested in new technology for the team to ensure we continue to expand. We’re a people-focused practice, and that is a huge selling point for us.”
