Architect - Palace of Westminster

Purcell is an award-winning employee-owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity. We have staff of approximately 350 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee-ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee-owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

 It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Support multiple projects across all RIBA stages, assisting senior staff to ensure timely and budget-friendly delivery.
• Apply conservation principles under guidance for historic buildings, ensuring basic compliance with heritage regulations and guidelines.
• Contribute to design development and technical detailing, ensuring solutions are contextually sensitive and align with building regulations.
• Assist senior architects and associates in managing client relationships and preparing design proposals for stakeholders.
• Ensure designs meet building regulations and conservation standards by conducting site visits and supporting quality monitoring.
• Integrate sustainable and energy-efficient solutions into projects, applying innovative practices where relevant.
• Assist in managing project budgets and preparing fee proposals, supporting the delivery of projects within budget constraints.
• Use BIM processes (Revit, AutoCAD, NBS) to support design coordination and documentation.
• Stay informed about industry trends and attend relevant events to build professional knowledge and networks.

Skills and Qualifications:

We are looking for candidates who have the following skills and qualifications:

Essential:

• You should have successfully completed your Part 3 qualification and gained 2-4 years of practical experience working on architectural projects in the UK, where you’ve been involved in managing and delivering projects from concept through to completion.
• You are proficient in industry-standard software, particularly Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM), AutoCAD for technical drawing, and NBS for creating specifications, enabling you to efficiently produce accurate documentation and collaborate effectively with the project team.
• You possess excellent design capabilities, with a keen eye for detail, and can produce high-quality, accurate drawings that effectively communicate design ideas and meet the project’s technical requirements.
• You have a comprehensive understanding of the UK’s building codes, planning regulations, and statutory requirements, ensuring all designs comply with the relevant legal frameworks and are feasible within the context of planning applications.
• You can clearly articulate design concepts and technical details to clients, contractors, and team members both in writing and verbally. Your communication style is clear, professional, and tailored to various stakeholders.
• You have hands-on experience across all RIBA stages, from concept design through to post-occupancy, and are comfortable taking projects from initial feasibility studies to final delivery and evaluation.
•  You have an interest or strong background in conservation architecture, ensuring that your designs and interventions are sensitive to the historical and cultural significance of buildings, adhering to established conservation standards and practices.
• Applicants must have been resident in the UK for at least three of the last five years, plus have a current right to work in the UK.

Desirable:

• Experience working with NEC3/4 contracts, managing project delivery and ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions.
• Have a keen interest in obtaining, or are already on the path to obtaining, a conservation qualification or accreditation.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Please submit a copy of your CV and portfolio by following the application workflow at the bottom of the page. Please include details of your Right to Work in the United Kingdom, as well as an available start date.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of Heritage and Conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.