Harrison Pitt Architects targets growth in landmark year

A growing Lancashire firm of architects is aiming to further expand its national portfolio of clients after completing a number of prestigious projects.

Harrison Pitt Architects, based on Castle Hill in Lancaster, has landed a series of new national projects including a £10.5m egg-packing centre in Oxfordshire for Noble Foods which provides eggs to many of the major UK supermarkets.

The firm has also been working with global manufacturer, Victrex, listed on the London Stock Exchange, on a £2.5m project for two new facilities.

Meanwhile Harrison Pitt Architects is also celebrating its 35th year in business, with director, Richard Parker, notching up his 20th year at the firm.

Richard Parker, who lives in the Lune Valley, believes its burgeoning reputation in the manufacturing and industrial markets will lead to growth opportunities.

He said: “While we are based in Lancaster, our work has always taken us UK wide for clients such as the Caravan Club.

“Manufacturing, in particular the food manufacturing sector, is a growing national sector for us. It is a very niche area due to the highly technical nature of such facilities and complex regulations. Through the work for Noble Foods, Victrex and other clients, we are developing a strong track record for designing for manufacturers and receiving a lot of new enquiries.”

Richard, 54, joined the firm in 1994 from Cornish Architects in London, where he worked for 10 years. As an associate of the practice, Richard worked on a number of multi-million pound contracts for major investment clients and several for Mohammed Al-Fayed, both on his personal properties and for the Harrods empire.

Harrison Pitt Architects was formed in 1979 by Michael Harrison and Dennis Pitt. Richard Parker joined in 1994 and became a shareholder and director in 2002, with Richard Wooldridge appointed in 2005 following the retirement of co-founder, Dennis Pitt.

The firm now has 11 employees and works across a number of sectors including leisure, education, luxury homes, conservation, social housing, industrial, commercial and food manufacturing.

Speaking on the landmark year, Richard Woodridge said: “We have a wonderful team and have been fortunate to have worked on so many interesting projects for ambitious clients. The future looks just as exciting, both on a regional and national level and we are actively looking for new people. It’s great to be flying the Lancaster flag nationally.” Richard Parker added: “The built environment sector is in my blood. My family has been involved in the building industry since the 1850s. My father took over the family building firm from my grandfather and an uncle was a partner in an architectural practice, so my education started early and included labouring on building sites in my teenage years. The architecture profession keeps evolving so you are always learning.”