After more than a decade working in commercial practice in the city centre, Manchester architect Mark Whitfield has opened his own practice in Stockport.
The new business, Whitfield Architects, is focused on residential, heritage and commercial projects, drawing on Mark’s 12 years of hands-on industry experience and particular enthusiasm for conservation.
Based in Cheadle, the new practice already serves clients across the north west – across south Manchester and Cheshire; Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria.
Mark explains:
“We firmly believe in working in the best interest of our clients, regardless of project size.
“This means offering genuinely useful advice and value for money – but at the same time, we put forward bold ideas, with the aim of creating contextually suitable, interesting and environmentally conscious architecture. Then we work closely with our clients to create the reality.”
The practice also has a strong focus on customer satisfaction, providing a transparent, accessible and high-quality service to both commercial and domestic clients.
Mark left his role as Associate Director of Northmill Associates in Manchester – the practice behind The Pilcrow Pub on Hanover Street and The Silkworks on Atkinson Street – at the end of March, following a previous long-standing position as Architect at Hurd Rolland Partnership (to 2015).
During his time at Hurd Rolland Partnership (HRP), Mark took the role of Project Architect for a number of high-profile schemes, including The Courthouse on Deansgate: the conversion of a grade-II-listed former courthouse into an impressive office and leisure scheme. Also known as Oddfellows House, it is home to The Oddfellows Society, the Handmade Burger Company and premium steak restaurant Hawksmoor.
Mark’s other projects at HRP included luxury apartments at 8 King Street, also in Manchester city centre; and Rutherford House, a new commercial office development in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
Whitfield Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice handling projects both large and small. It started life in April 2017 as an independent family business run by Mark and his wife Liane Baddeley, an experienced business manager and copywriter (Woodshed Content) and former journalist (Manchester Evening News) – along with carefully managed assistance from wider resources when required.