{"id":745774,"date":"2024-06-21T15:41:23","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=745774"},"modified":"2024-06-21T15:50:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:50:16","slug":"bennetts-associates-named-aj100-practice-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/bennetts-associates-named-aj100-practice-of-the-year","title":{"rendered":"Bennetts Associates named AJ100 Practice of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bennetts, also named New Member of the Year<\/a> after returning to the AJ100 rankings following an eight-year absence, has clearly been on a journey since a succession strategy saw Edinburgh-based founders Rab and Denise Bennetts \u2013 who today act as part-time \u2018mentors, ambassadors, and activists\u2019 within the business \u2013 sell the company in 2016 to create a 100 per cent employee-owned trust.<\/p>\n

Since that point, Bennetts \u2013 which has offices in London, Manchester and Edinburgh and employed 53 architects last year \u2013 has made big strides in its response to the climate crisis, becoming a B Corp in 2022 and, in 2023, creating an anti-greenwash charter, a campaign for \u2018honesty in the built environment,\u2019 which has since won the backing of other respected practices such as Make Architects, Architype and dRMM.<\/p>\n

The practice\u2019s encouraging and outward-looking stance \u2013 which influences contractors, developers, and manufacturers as much as architects \u2013 has also informed its close involvement in the development of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and other activities such as a UK Green Building Council publication on the retrofit of commercial buildings.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s very difficult to point to one single thing we did in 2023 [that stands out], I think what we do is many little things or medium-sized things,\u2019 said Ben Hopkins, who heads up the practice\u2019s sustainability group. \u2018A lot of the work we do involves research and collaboration with others.\u2019<\/p>\n

Bennetts\u2019 growing expertise in construction materials and manufacturing, underpinned by a commitment to R&D and internal carbon pricing, has been brought to bear on several emerging landmark projects, such as the forthcoming London project Timber Square \u2013 the largest hybrid timber structure for an office in the UK \u2013 and the newly opened Edinburgh Futures Institute.<\/p>\n

Following research by associate Nikolay Shahpazov working with brick producer HG Matthews, the practice last year also pioneered the use of \u2018Earth Blocks\u2019, a type of unfired brick made of excavated clay mixed with sand and straw, at the Tribeca laboratory and office scheme in Camden.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Syggrou office complex, Athens<\/p>\n\t

Source:Yiorgis Yerolymbos<\/p><\/div>\n

Bennetts, traditionally rather committed to working in the UK, is also branching out abroad, completing the Syggrou office complex in Athens in 2023 and now about to start on site with the practice\u2019s first project in India, an events building.<\/p>\n

Looking forward, the leadership of the business acknowledges that staff diversity is an obvious area for Bennetts to focus on. While 36 per cent of architects are women, just 8 per cent are from an ethnic minority.<\/p>\n

\u2018Some other practices are ahead of where we would like to be on this,\u2019 says HR head Jennifer Ford, adding that she is confident things are changing, thanks to Bennetts\u2019 EDI strategy, which is written into its business plan. It is also working with social enterprise Built By Us on areas such as recruitment and unconscious bias.<\/p>\n

The practice is poised to complete several significant schemes in 2024, such as the redevelopment of the Hertford Theatre and the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, at 12 years\u2019 duration the longest project Bennetts has ever worked on.<\/p>\n

Judges praised Bennetts\u2019 inclusivity as an employer and its commitment to data sharing and industry leadership on environmental design.<\/p>\n

One said: \u2018I like the variety in how Bennetts approach their work and I think they have put some hard work into thinking about how they come across, how they lobby and contribute to the wider discourse.\u2019<\/p>\n

Another remarked: \u2018I was hugely impressed with Bennetts\u2019 presentation. It was a really measured description of how they are driving the industry forward and holding it to account in places such as their novel materials research and their \u201cTell the Truth\u201d campaign.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bennetts, also named New Member of the Year after returning to the AJ100 rankings following an eight-year absence, has clearly been on a journey since a succession strategy saw Edinburgh-based founders Rab and Denise Bennetts \u2013 who today act as part-time \u2018mentors, ambassadors, and activists\u2019 within the business \u2013 sell the company in 2016 to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81280,"featured_media":726953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[681],"tags":[101045,1558],"yoast_head":"\nBennetts Associates named AJ100 Practice of the Year<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bennetts Associates has been crowned AJ100 Practice of the Year, commended by the judges for its ambitious and detailed sustainability approach and its industry-shifting willingness to share knowledge and demand positive change\" 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