Bennetts Associates London, English Architects Studio, British Design Office
Bennetts Associates Architects Practice
UK Architecture Practice – Design Office based in London, England
post updated 15 March 2022
Bennetts Associates awarded B Corp certification as highest scoring architectural practice in the UK
Timber Square, Southwark, London, England, UK, by this British architecture practice:
Bennetts Associates Architects Office News
Bennetts Associates has been awarded B Corp Certification, with an impressive rating of 121.5. This is the highest score of any UK architectural B Corp, and marks Bennetts Associates’ longstanding commitment to ethical business and purpose over profit.
Bennetts Associates now joins the global community of companies committed to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. An ordinary business might have a score of 50, and to achieve B Corp certification requires at least 80 points, so 121.5 is exceptional.
Bennetts Associates is one of the UK’s leading architecture practices and, since its inception 30 years ago, has operated with a strong environmental and social ethos across a broad range of sectors. The first architects in the world to have approved Science-Based Targets, Bennetts Associates is committed to accelerating progress in its business operations, including embodied carbon assessments for designs and a roadmap for delivering against the RIBA 2030 goals.
Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates said: “Joining the B Corp community marks a significant step for us as a practice, recognising our deep and longstanding commitment to operating with sustainability at the forefront of the mind, whilst ensuring a positive social impact. After completing the rigorous process, we are delighted to achieve such a high score and being a B Corp will really help as we continue to force the pace of environmental change and social response.”
Bennetts Associates London Architects Office:
B Corp Certification not only evaluates a product or service, but also the material positive impact of the company behind it. The certification process is rigorous and uses the ‘B Impact Assessment’ tool to evaluate how a company’s business model impacts five categories: workers, community, environment, customers and governance. Bennetts Associates’ score across each category exceeds the averages with ‘workers’ and ‘environment’ being particularly high. Features include:
• Workers: In 2016, Bennetts Associates became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), a significant landmark in the development of the practice which moved full ownership of the company to its employees. The EOT ensures that the fundamental ethos of the practice is protected for future generations, whilst continuing to run in the best interest of employees.
• Environment: In 2019, Bennetts Associates became the first architectural practice in the world to have approved Science-Based Targets. Bennetts Associates was also of the first architects in the world to sign up to UN’s Race to Zero global campaign, that is rallying leadership and support from businesses, cities, and regions for a healthy, zero carbon recovery premised on sustainable growth. Bennetts Associates’ B Corp ‘Environment’ score is twice that of similar sized B Corps.
• Community: Bennetts Associates has worked with Built By Us to develop an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, implemented within the practice and its projects but also with a focus on the wider profession. Collaboration with the likes of Blueprint for All and Camden STEAM and a work experience scheme have all targeted encouraging new generations from under-represented groups into the profession.
• Customers: By 2030, all completed Bennetts Associates buildings will aim to meet or exceed the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, which sets a series of targets for practices to adopt to reduce operational energy, embodied carbon and portable water. All new designs will also meet LETI A ratings for upfront carbon. This builds on leadership already demonstrated by Bennetts Associates, including the UK’s first certified NABERS scheme for performance design at Timber Square.
• Governance: Bennetts Associates operates with a vision statement “to design humane, tectonic and rigorous architecture that leads the fight against climate change.” This is supported by the EOT founding principles, which outline the key values of ethical operation and architectural quality that should remain at the heart of the business.
Jennifer Ford, Head of HR, Bennetts Associates, comments “B Corp certification was a challenging but hugely rewarding process. From start to completion we were pleased to see the progress we as a practice are making. Being held accountable is vital; it’s not about doing “just enough”, but about pushing the boundaries to do the best we possibly can – we always have, but this will help us to do even better. We look forward to being part of the B Corp community and for this relationship to shape and guide us the future.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says “We are delighted to welcome Bennetts Associates to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Bennetts Associates are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.
Timber Square, Southwark, London, UK:
About Bennetts Associates
Bennetts Associates create sustainable and enduring architecture.
The practice has completed a diverse portfolio of cultural, workplace and education projects in both the public and private sector, ranging from masterplans to small historic buildings. As one of the UK’s leading practices, its work has been celebrated with more than 200 awards over 34 years and has recently won three RIBA National awards. Bennetts Associates is an employee-owned trust with studios in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
Bennetts Associates is responsible for many prominent projects, including the Royal College of Pathologists and the London Borough of Camden headquarters in London, Storyhouse in Chester, the Bayes Centre for the University of Edinburgh, and Jaguar Land Rover in Warwickshire. The practice has recently completed Meta’s UK HQ in King’s Cross and the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute is on site. It is also working on high-profile projects in Greece and India that are targeting sustainability.
Bennetts Associates is a leading pioneer of sustainability – in April 2019 they became the world’s first architects to secure Science Based Target approval and commit to the UN’s Climate Neutral Now campaign. The practice is a founding member of the UK Green Building Council and the first architecture practice in the world to report company impacts using the GRI Guidelines.
www.bennettsassociates.com
@BennettsAssocs
About B Lab
B Lab UK is transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our global community includes 4,700 B Corps in 79 countries and 153 industries, and over 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.
Certification is administered by B Lab, the global non-profit network that certifies and mobilizes B Corps, which are for-profit companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today there are more than 4,000 B Corps across 77 countries and 153 industries, unified by one common goal: transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
www.bcorporation.uk
Previous Practice News:
16 Dec 2015 – plans submitted for the renovation and expansion of Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Scotland.
9 Nov 2013 plans submitted for the renovation of The Old Vic in South London, England.
Bennetts Associates open their award-winning studio as part of Open House London
12 Sep 2013 – As part of Open House London 2013 Bennetts Associates will be opening the doors of its studio on Saturday 21st September to showcase its latest projects and provide an insight into the culture of the practice. Alongside displays of current and recent projects, visitors will see how Bennetts Associates’ award-winning office extension, ‘326 Downstairs’, has fostered and stimulated the design ethos of the practice.
‘326 Downstairs’
photo from Bennetts Associates
Visitors will get the chance to explore the office and see how the sequence of carefully connected spaces, courtyard views and layers of history have created a flexible and inspirational working environment. On display at 326 Downstairs will be Pecha Kucha presentations produced by the practice’s Part IIs and a series of films that are all the results of Bennetts Associates’ engaging CPD programme.
Bennetts Associates – Rab & Denise Bennetts:
photo © Clare Park
Projects on display will include Marble Arch House,Shaftesbury Theatre, 40 Chancery Lane, the London Fruit & Wool Exchange, One Bedford Avenue and 70 Mark Lane.
Go to the Open House website for more details, or download the Open House app.
Bennetts Associates Building Projects Archive
Oxford University Buildings – Humantities Centre, south England
2008-
Shortlist:
Bennetts Associates, David Chipperfield, Kohn Pederson Fox, Wilkinson Eyre
Part of Rafael Vinoly masterplan – Former Radcliffe infirmary site, north Oxford
Haymarket Green, 24-26 Torphichen St, Edinburgh, Scotland
2008-
Offices for Duddingston House
Centre For Health Science Inverness, north Scotland
2009
Architect: Keppie Design / Bennetts Associates
photo © Ewen Weatherspoon
Centre For Health Science Inverness
Oosterdokseiland, Amsterdam, Netherlands
with Future Systems & MacCreanor Lavington Architects
Oosterdokseiland Masterplan: Erick van Egeraat Architects
Royal Shakespeare Theatre – redevelopment, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
2006-10
Warwickshire Buildings : Stratford building
Bennetts Associates Buildings
Designs, alphabetical:
Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, Scotland
2004
Bennetts Associates – observatory architecture
Jubilee Library, Brighton, southern England – Stirling Prize shortlisted 2005
–
Bennetts Associates with Lomax Cassidy & Edwards
image from B3
£14m, formerly known as Brighton Central Library
City Inn Westminster, London
2002-03
Bennetts Associates
European Hotel Design Awards 2003 : Best New Hotel
Cummins Engine Factory, Kent
1998
Hampshire County Council offices, Hampshire, southern England
2008
Hampstead Theatre, north London
2003
Heathrow Airport Visitors’ Centre, Newell Rd, Hounslow, southwest London
1994-95
£3m
John Menzies building, Edinburgh Park, South Gyle, Scotland
1994
building image © Adrian Welch
Bennetts Associates – office building
Matthew Hay Project
Matthew Hay Centre – university building, Aberdeen, Scotland
Powergen Headquarters, Coventry, central England
–
Premier Place, Devonshire Square, London
–
Sophos Headquarters, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, southern England
2003
Wessex Water Operations Centre, Bath, southwest England
2003
More Bennetts Associates buildings online soon
Bennetts Associates : main page with news + key current projects
Location: 1 Rawstorne Place, London, EC1V 7NL, England, UK
London Architect Practice Information
Architect offices based in north London, England + west Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Founded in 1987, Bennetts Associates is one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, with more than 125 awards for a wide variety of projects.
Bennetts Associates – Rab & Denise Bennetts:
photo © Clare Park
The firm is currently approaching 70 in total including five directors plus architectural and support staff. In addition to a main office in London, the firm has a small office in Edinburgh. A strong team ethic, methodical approach to design and sense of enjoyment are central to an exceptional track record of consistent delivery on time and to budget.
The Practice’s portfolio represents a consistent body of work that is functional, well built, and architecturally striking. Bennetts Associates is especially well regarded for its pioneering work on sustainability, which is embedded in the firm’s own activities as well as its projects.
The Practice’s portfolio covers many sectors and the projects undertaken by the practice have ranged from around £1m to £200m, including new-build, refurbishment and restoration of listed buildings. This diversity is an important stimulus for best practice and innovation in all aspects of the practice’s workload.
Rab Bennetts:
photo © Clare Park
The firm has been responsible for many prominent projects such as Hampstead Theatre, Edinburgh University’s Potterrow Development, Jubilee Library in Brighton, the New Street Square Development in the City of London, PowerGen Headquarters, Wessex Water Operations Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Transformation, and Mint Hotels in London and Amsterdam.
Excellence, combined with sustainability, is at the heart of all Bennetts Associates’ work.
Rab Bennetts
Rab studied at Edinburgh College of Art where he met his partner Denise Bennetts. After working in London for ten years, they set up Bennetts Associates in 1987.
Rab Bennetts:
photo © Clare Park
The architecture firm, based in London and Edinburgh, has been responsible for many pioneering projects such as the PowerGen Headquarters, Wessex Water Operations Centre, Hampstead Theatre, Edinburgh University’s Informatics Forum, the Jubilee Library in Brighton and the New Street Square development in the City of London. Recent notable commissions include the £100 million transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and hotels in London and Amsterdam. The practice has won more than 125 awards and has been shortlisted for the Stirling Prize several times.
Rab is also extensively involved in outside bodies and is a Board member of the UK Green Building Council, a Director of Sadler’s Wells Theatre and a Trustee of the Design Council. He was awarded the OBE for services to architecture in 2003.
Bennetts Associates : Edinburgh contact details
British Architecture
Buildings / photos for the Bennetts Associates Architects London page welcome
Website: www.bennettsassociates.com
