Building on the success of its work across the UK, the move follows the firm’s 20% growth in revenue in the last year. Holmes Miller’s presence in Leeds aligns with the firm’s vision to “embed itself firmly within the ambitious business communities in the North, and make a positive impact on the local economy as it plans for further growth”.

In its 75-year history, Holmes Miller has established itself as a specialist in sustainable design. One of its most notable projects was Buntingford First School for Hertfordshire County Council which was the first fully net zero carbon school in England. The firm has also been recognised for its exemplary work in the justice sector, where it is currently the lead designer on the £1 billion HMP Glasgow project which prioritises rehabilitation, wellbeing and sustainability. The Leeds office is the third UK hub for the firm, in addition to St Albans and Glasgow.

The new office and team will embody the culture and values of the practice, with a strong commitment to creating people-centered, sustainable architecture.

Ryan Holmes, director at Holmes Miller, said: “The demand for high-quality, sustainable architecture in the education, leisure and justice sectors has grown exponentially in the North. We hope that by having a dedicated presence in the area, we can create a practice in scale with the local economy to better serve the communities we work in.

“While we’ve supported projects in the north of England for a number of years, having that foot-on-the-ground support can make the world of difference. We want to be considered a local partner for all our clients to create meaningful, well-designed spaces that serve both local and regional needs, regardless of where they’re based in the UK.”

Craig Heap, director at Holmes Miller said: “With budgets tightening across the industry, it’s more important than ever that architecture delivers real, lasting value. Every project must be thoroughly designed with the end user at its heart, and I think that’s something we do really well at Holmes Miller.

“Our base in Leeds will allow us to continue using our expertise in intelligent, resourceful design to create sustainable, people-focused spaces that support the region’s growth and resilience for years to come.”

In addition to its growth across Scotland and England, the firm is also looking to continue its expansion in Ireland with exciting plans to support projects in the sports and education markets.