Submission by Piercy & Co.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
The studio has committed to achieving net zero by 2040 through a comprehensive Net Zero Strategy that informs project delivery, operational decision making, procurement and studio culture.
Sustainability is approached not as an overlay, but as a natural outcome of resilient design thinking: architecture intended to endure materially, culturally and environmentally.
Existing buildings are prioritised wherever possible, alongside opportunities for material reuse and the integration of low-carbon and bio-based materials at commercial scale.
This thinking is supported through an active Sustainability and Resilience group within the studio, fostering research, accountability and shared learning across disciplines.
Recent projects including One Millennium Bridge and Xylo reflect this approach through deep retrofit, material innovation and the integration of nature within dense urban environments.
2. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
In 2022, we became an Employee Ownership Trust, reinforcing the collaborative culture that has shaped the studio since its founding.
This structure supports long-term stewardship over short-term ownership, helping protect the values, knowledge and culture developed across more than two decades of practice. It reflects a belief that architecture is inherently collective, shaped through collaboration, shared responsibility and continuity between generations of designers, researchers and makers.
This approach helps ensure continuity between generations within the studio, allowing knowledge, responsibility and culture to be carried forward as the studio evolves.
3. Do you share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world?
Knowledge sharing is approached as an active part of practice, contributing to wider conversations around the future of the built environment through teaching, research, public speaking and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
In recent years, the studio has hosted a series of round-table discussions exploring topics including timber construction at scale and the integration of life sciences within urban environments, bringing together voices from across the built environment industry. This exchange of ideas also extends into academic teaching, design review panels and public events.
More recently, the practice joined Built by Nature, a network promoting the responsible use of timber and biobased materials through shared research, advocacy and collaboration.
Project
1. Do you advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of work? Do you initiate work with long-term thinking and challenge clients? Also, can the organisation demonstrate that this approach has worked?
Projects are approached with a long-term view, considering not only the immediate performance requirements but how buildings might adapt, endure and remain relevant over time. Existing structures are treated as opportunities rather than constraints, with early design stages used to explore options for retention, reuse and low-carbon material strategies before replacement is considered.
Whole life carbon is embedded within the briefing and concept design process, alongside passive environmental strategies and opportunities for structural and material innovation. This early analysis helps clients make informed decisions with long-term environmental and commercial value in mind.
One Millennium Bridge demonstrates the impact of this approach. The deep retrofit retained 69% of the existing structural frame while transforming the building’s civic presence and environmental performance. An innovative energy strategy repurposed existing basement space for thermal storage, allowing the rooftop to become a publically accessible biodiverse garden overlooking the Thames.
2. Does your work take account of the future climate and the need for resilience?
Projects are designed to be loose-fit, resilient and adaptable to future uses while maintaining a commitment to creating buildings with a civic quality that are generous to their context and a pleasure to occupy.
A commitment to minimising embodied carbon is demonstrated across the practice’s work through the retention of existing structures, use of low-carbon materials or optimised structural design. Passive design strategies and considered building energy strategies ensure optimised operational carbon and measures to increase greenery, planting, and water retention to help create buildings and urban environments that are more biodiverse, climate resilient and pleasurable to spend time in.
3. Does the majority of your work go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives?
Projects are approached as opportunities to demonstrate innovation and long-term value beyond the reduction of environmental impact alone.
This includes exploring material and structural innovation, the retention and reuse of existing buildings, reclaimed materials, operational efficiency and improvements to the public realm. Consideration is also given to how projects can support biodiversity, integrate nature and contribute positively to urban water management.
We approach commercial architecture with the same level of ambition associated with cultural and civic buildings, recognising the significant role workplaces play in shaping the experience of the city. Buildings are designed to be generous to their context, contributing to street life, public realm and the broader character of their surroundings.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Do you use biophilia within your premises and/or do you regularly gather in natural settings?
We recognise the positive impact that access to nature and biophilic principles can have on wellbeing, creativity and collaboration. The studio environment incorporates natural light, planting and material choices intended to create a healthy and welcoming workplace that supports focused work and informal exchange.
Connection to the natural and built environment also forms part of the studio’s wider culture. Team walks, informal meetings and social gatherings often take place in nearby Regent’s Park, while project visits and site reviews encourage direct observation of landscape, ecology and place.
The studio’s Founding Director, Stuart Piercy, also co-runs a design studio within the MArch programme at the University of Westminster. Students regularly visit Grymsdyke Farm, which also serves as a setting for studio events, prototyping and material experimentation within a natural environment.
2. Can you share examples of where you have considered nature in decision making?
We consider nature and environmental impact at an organisational level through the way it operates, selects projects, and shapes its studio culture. Decisions around new opportunities, collaborators, and suppliers are informed by the practice’s commitment to regenerative design, low-carbon thinking and long-term environmental responsibility.
The studio prioritises work that supports the reuse and adaptation of existing buildings, biodiversity, sustainable material use and improved environmental performance. Internal discussions around project suitability often consider ecological impact, social value and alignment with the studio’s sustainability objectives before appointments are pursued.
3. Are you supporting nature locally and nationally?
Support for nature forms part of the practice’s wider approach to resilience, urban wellbeing and long-term environmental performance. Across architecture and interiors projects, opportunities are sought to introduce biodiversity, planting and outdoor amenity into dense urban environments, helping reconnect commercial buildings with the ecological life of the city.
This approach is reflected across a number of projects, from biodiverse roof terraces and publicly accessible gardens to landscape-led public realm improvements. At The Bindery, for example, a rooftop herb garden was created for use by a local restaurant, establishing a direct connection between the building, its occupants and the surrounding community.
While biodiversity measures are often driven by planning requirements, the practice seeks to go beyond minimum standards wherever possible, prioritising Biodiversity Net Gain and exploring opportunities to create more ecologically rich and resilient urban environments.
Project
1. Can you demonstrate work that strives to match the performance of a mature ecosystem?
Our retrofit projects approach buildings as ecosystems, recognising that different elements possess different lifespans and capacities for adaptation. A detailed review of existing structures, materials and systems before a design strategy is developed allows for a more regenerative approach, retaining and repurposing wherever possible rather than replacing as standard.
This thinking extends through demolition and strip-out phases, where opportunities for reuse and reintegration are considered across the wider project ecosystem.
The studio has extensive experience delivering headquarters projects for organisations including BCG, Faber & Faber and Derwent London, where close engagement with stakeholders has helped shape workplaces as interconnected systems rather than isolated functions. This approach results in environments that are adaptable, coherent and centred around wellbeing.
2. Are you working on material stewardship?
Material stewardship forms an active part of the studio’s design and research culture, with a focus on longevity, reuse and responsible sourcing across both buildings and interiors.
The practice maintains a longstanding collaboration with Materials Assemble, a specialist consultancy focused on regenerative and innovative materials. Their founder, Sofia Steffenoni, also acts as an in-house research consultant, supporting projects through material research, sourcing and specification.
This thinking extends beyond architecture into furniture and product design. Recent collaborations include work with Benchmark on bespoke sustainable timber furniture pieces and the development of a sofa with SCP, constructed entirely from natural materials and manufactured in Britain.
Opportunities for reuse are also considered throughout project lifecycles. On a recent workplace project at Berner Street, furniture elements including a reception desk were repurposed and relocated for continued use rather than discarded.
3. Does the majority of your work demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia or Biomimicry?
An understanding of the value of natural materials, both from a longevity and wellbeing perspective, informs projects across the practice’s portfolio. Timber and stone are frequently used throughout the studio’s work, selected for their durability, tactility and ability to age gracefully over time.
Where possible, projects prioritise locally sourced materials from the UK and Europe, alongside close engagement with suppliers and manufacturers to better understand provenance, fabrication and environmental impact.
This approach is supported through an ongoing internal CPD programme focused on material research and responsible sourcing, helping build awareness of regenerative materials and local supply chains across the studio. Through this continued research and collaboration, biologically informed principles increasingly shape both the environmental performance and sensory qualities of projects.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Do you have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within your company/organisation?
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and supportive workplace through an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion approach embedded within the culture of the practice. Diversity across gender, ethnicity, nationality, age, socioeconomic background, disability, neurodiversity, religion and sexual orientation is recognised as fundamental to strengthening both design thinking and collaboration.
The practice supports equal opportunities in recruitment, progression and professional development through policies and working practices intended to promote fairness, accessibility and wellbeing across all levels of the organisation. Flexible working arrangements, inclusive recruitment processes and ongoing internal dialogue contribute to a culture in which staff feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully.
The diversity of the team reflects the international and multidisciplinary nature of the studio, bringing a broad range of cultural, educational and professional experiences that enrich both the working environment and the projects themselves.
2. Do you operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
We maintain employment practices intended to support staff wellbeing, equity and long-term professional development. Workloads and resourcing are monitored carefully to encourage a healthy work-life balance and discourage a culture of excessive overtime, supported through open dialogue across teams and leadership.
The practice meets or exceeds Living Wage standards and is committed to fair remuneration across all levels of the organisation. Salary structures are rigorously benchmarked and reviewed annually to ensure they remain equitable, competitive and reflective of experience, responsibility and contribution.
The studio is also committed to improving pay equity and transparency. Following publication of the Fawcett Society’s Build it Together report, the practice established an internal working group to review the findings, benchmark against peer practices and support ongoing discussion around equitable pay and progression across the studio.
3. Do you support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
We support a range of charitable, educational and community-focused initiatives through mentoring, outreach, fundraising and work experience opportunities.
The practice is an active member of Camden STEAM, an initiative connecting local students with opportunities across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. This includes structured work experience placements, careers engagement and outreach activities with local schools.
The studio also works with the Academy of Real Assets, supporting initiatives intended to broaden access to the built environment industry and encourage greater diversity across the sector. Alongside these partnerships, the practice regularly supports charitable fundraising initiatives and provides opportunities for students and early-career individuals to gain experience within the studio environment.
For International Women’s Day we organised a pot luck lunch to raise funds for Crossroads Women’s Centre based in Kentish Town, who provide support for women facing violence, poverty and discrimination.
4. Do you use an ethical framework to assess opportunities and/or supply chain partners and is them team consulted on these decisions?
The practice uses an ethical framework to assess both project opportunities and supply chain partnerships, with decisions informed by the practice’s wider environmental, social and cultural values. Potential projects are reviewed for alignment with commitments to regenerative design, low-carbon construction, social value, inclusivity and long-term civic benefit.
Supply chain partners are considered not only on capability and cost, but also on their approach to sustainability, responsible sourcing, transparency and labour practices. The practice seeks collaborators who share an ambition for high-quality, environmentally responsible outcomes.
These decisions are not made in isolation. Project teams and relevant specialists are consulted throughout review processes, particularly where projects involve complex environmental, heritage or social considerations. This collaborative approach encourages open discussion and helps ensure commercial decisions remain aligned with the studio’s wider values and sustainability objectives.
Project
1. Does your work demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users?
Every project brief is reviewed by a dedicated team selected for its relevant expertise and experience. Through close engagement with clients, stakeholders and end users, the briefing process is used not only to define project requirements but also to identify broader opportunities that may strengthen the long-term social, environmental and civic value of a project.
Many client relationships are longstanding over multiple projects, reflecting an approach grounded in collaboration, trust and continuity over time.
The practice also has extensive experience leading stakeholder engagement and consultation processes as part of planning applications, particularly within complex urban and historically sensitive contexts. This process helps ensure projects are informed by a detailed understanding of place, local communities and the wider public realm.
2. Does your work create connected and resilient communities which positively contribute to neighbourhoods and allow equality of access?
The practice works across retrofit, refurbishment, new build workplaces, headquarters and interior fit-outs, approaching commercial architecture with the same level of ambition typically associated with cultural and civic buildings. As workplaces form a significant part of the urban fabric and daily life of the city, particular attention is given to how buildings contribute to street life, public realm and wider neighbourhood activity.
Our residential architecture is deeply contextual and driven by building communities; whether knitting new buildings into existing communities, or working to shape new neighbourhoods. All residential projects provide users with a direct and equitable relationship to landscape and nature, through the incorporation of terraces, planted roofs and communal gardens.
The studio’s continued exploration of sustainable construction methods, including mass timber and hybrid structures, reflects a commitment not only to reducing environmental impact but also to creating healthier and more wellbeing-focused environments.
3. Does the majority of your work promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only building inhabitants
Projects are developed with equal consideration given to both the building itself and its wider context, recognising the role architecture plays in shaping public life beyond its immediate occupants.
Where possible, schemes seek to introduce publicly accessible amenity spaces and meaningful civic benefit, such as the rooftop garden at One Millennium Bridge overlooking the Thames. Clients are also encouraged to consider the wider social contribution of projects at street level through the inclusion of public seating, planting, active frontages and visible artwork within shared spaces.
This approach reflects a broader belief that commercial buildings should contribute positively to neighbourhoods and the everyday experience of the city, creating places that feel welcoming, connected and accessible to a wider public.