Lofthouse Group
Associate | Commercial Retrofit | Hybrid Working
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Associate: Technical Lead
Commercial refurbishment and retrofit, with residential a plus | London studio | Permanent | up to £65,000
An established London architecture practice is looking for an Associate to lead delivery on its flagship retrofit project and become the technical authority for the whole studio. The practice has been refurbishing London buildings for over 35 years, long before "retrofit" was the word for it. Its clients include major developers, pension funds and the great landed estates, and many of its buildings have won awards.
This is a senior, hands on role for someone who knows how a building goes together and enjoys solving the messy problems that existing buildings throw up on site.
The project
You would join a major central London commercial retrofit with a committed client. The scheme covers linked buildings with a residential element, basements and new amenity spaces, plus a large amount of fit out. It has just entered RIBA Stage 4 and is expected to start on site next year. You would see it through from technical design to completion.
The shape of the role
This is a role with two hats.
Running the project: You would lead the project day to day, working closely with the director and associate director. You would organise and delegate to a team of four or five, and run meetings with contractors and subcontractors on site. As the project moves through site, your time would widen to two or three projects, or one very large one.
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Technical lead for the studio: You would be the visible, office-based person colleagues come to with a tricky parapet detail, a spec question or a compliance query. You would lead the practice's technical group, taking ownership of QA, technical reviews, Revit standards, workflows and how new regulations are brought in.
Expect roughly 40% of your week drawing in Revit and 60% in meetings, marking up drawings and developing the team around you. You would have real autonomy, with no director looking over your shoulder every day.
What you would be doing
- Leading technical delivery from Stage 3/4 through Stage 5 and completion
- Running Stage 5 meetings with main contractors and subcontractors, resolving site issues, discoverables and disputes calmly and professionally
- Planning and managing the team producing tender packages, so nothing is left to the last minute
- Producing and overseeing the full range of construction packages, plus writing NBS specifications
- Advising across the studio on Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act
- Running technical reviews and mentoring project architects and younger staff
- Joining client meetings and presentations when needed
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What they are looking for
- Around 10 or more years of experience with a proven delivery track record. A Part 3 is not essential if your experience speaks for itself
- Strong commercial delivery experience, ideally including central London refurbishment or retrofit
- Some residential or mixed-use experience is a real plus. If you don't have it, you need the technical depth to take a residential scheme from Stage 3 onwards
- Real site experience: you have run contractor meetings on at least one large, complex project
- A well-rounded background across all building packages, not specialist in a few
- Confident, hands-on Revit skills
- A pragmatic problem solver who is approachable, calms difficult situations rather than escalating them, and fits a friendly, collaborative studio
What is on offer
- Up to £65,000 depending on experience
- EOT profit share (bonus)
- Private medical cover, including travel insurance
- 25 days holiday plus your birthday, rising by a day each year
- Hybrid working: three days in the studio
- The option to work from abroad for a week or two each year
- Real progression. The practice is not top heavy. There is a clear route to Associate Director or Technical Director for the right person
To apply, send your CV and portfolio to Louis Plevin at Lofthouse Group: l.plevin@lofthousegroup.com
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