We’re proud to welcome John Boardman, a highly respected architect and long-standing partner of Urbanise, to the team. This senior hire will strengthen and build the bridges between design and delivery across our projects.
John brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Associate Partner at SHR Studio, where he worked closely with Urbanise on One Express and Two Express buildings in Manchester.
In this Q&A, John shares what’s brought him to the role and why now is the right time to join the team.
Why did you decide to make a career change, going from Associate Partner at SHR Studio, an architecture firm, to Senior Design Manager at Urbanise?
It was a huge decision to transition my skill set into design management. At this stage of my career, with my experience in designing, detailing and delivering complex projects, the time seems right for a change.
The implementation of the Building Safety Act has highlighted the need for highly experienced architects and designers, who possess an understanding of how a building and all its parts are put together and managed as a process across a wide variety of disciplines.
It’ll be interesting to be on the other side, collaboratively working with the architects and design team consultants, which I hope will be a similar role to what I’m used to as lead consultant for the design team. A catch-up chat with Matt quickly turned into a position offer. How can you say no to Matt and Louise!
What appealed to you about working at Urbanise?
I already have a strong personal relationship with Matt, Louise, and many of the team at Urbanise. At SHR we worked on two very successful projects with Urbanise at One and Two Express buildings in Manchester. Both projects were very enjoyable, particularly as they took place during the difficult period of Covid-19.
Being part of a team ethic is important to me as is a strong relationship with fellow work colleagues. Work needs to be enjoyable and this is what I’m used to, so I hope that’ll continue at Urbanise.
What will your experience in architecture bring to your new role?
A meticulous eye for detail, exacting standards of delivery on-site, and passion to make our projects the very best they can be for the client and the ongoing reputation of Urbanise.
I’ll bring enthusiasm and a genuine desire to have great personal relationships with all the office staff and site staff at Urbanise.
Having that team ethic and engagement with the delivery team on-site harbours an aspiration to produce the best possible results, so trying to get everyone on board with that is important.
What are your key responsibilities in your new role?
I’m hoping to assist in the process of information flow from the architects and the design team. Sometimes there can be a gap and I’m hoping my appointment will help to plug that gap.
I look forward to overseeing the design process and using my technical and design expertise when required. The aim is to ensure that detailed standards are achieved along with specification compliance to ensure information flow is seamless as possible to the site delivery team.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
It’ll be difficult for me to turn off my ‘architect lead designer head’ but I believe I can. I’ve talked to several architect friends who have transferred their skill sets to design managers.
I look forward to collaborating with many of my architectural friends in practice, design team consultants and supply chains in the industry on new and exciting projects with Urbanise. It’d be great to work with as many of my architectural friends as possible.
It’ll be an interesting dynamic being on the other side of the process, but the principles remain the same. I’ll be committed to making each project – no matter the complexity or scope – the best it can be. I believe I’m joining Urbanise at a time of real progression for the company, particularly with the office expansion into next door, so I look forward to being part of that journey.
You’ve worked on some brilliant projects at SHR Studio. Which are your favourite and why?
SHR is an outstanding architectural practice, so I’m lucky to have been involved with several RIBA award-winning and national award projects over the years.
It’d be unfair to have one favourite as they all have their own merits, but I’d have to say both One Express and Halle St. Peters as they are complex reworkings of listed buildings.
Oversley Castle is a large ‘modernist castle’ house currently on-site and of course Cefn Castell, a modernist house on a cliff edge in north Wales. The house was featured in 2014 on Channel 4 Grand Designs and in 2015, Grand Designs House of the Year.