Multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p, has promoted three longstanding employees to directors.
Melvyn King becomes technical director, John Roberts is technical associate director for housing, and Ben Walton is design director.
Collectively the trio has amassed over three decades with rg+p, delivering some of the firm’s flagship schemes including Royal Warwick Square in Kensington and Chelsea, Leicester’s Sock Island waterfront regeneration, the award-winning Passivhaus homes at Heathcott Road and the 692-bed student scheme at The Bendigo Building in Nottingham.
“Melvyn, John and Ben are significantly talented architects, with a breadth of knowledge and expertise that the practice draws upon regularly,” said James Badley, rg+p’s director.
“They each champion the creation of sustainable buildings through design quality and technical accuracy, and as such, have become well-respected by both our team and clients. My co-directors and I were pleased to reward these three professionals with well-deserved promotions and begin a new phase of business growth.”
Whilst Melvyn, John and Ben’s promotions have specific practice-wide responsibilities, each is also expected to train the next generation and will lead in-house forums, review boards, CPD workshops and seminars.
Melvyn will also continue his longstanding partnership with De Montfort University where he provides lectures and tutorials for undergraduates studying towards BA Architecture and BSc Architectural Technology as well as mentoring and guidance aligned to the PEDR (Professional Experience Development Record) programme.
James added: “It’s really important that we continue developing new talent and we’re confident that Melvyn, John and Ben are excellent role models for our aspiring architects. The pandemic has caused swathes of changes to the architectural landscape and it’s an exciting time to be re-imagining our homes, communities, places of work and leisure.
“However, it’s also indefinitely altered the patterns of our working life. With further positive companywide changes soon to be announced, we agreed the timing was right to make these promotions to provide continuity and reassurance.”
These promotions take rg+p’s senior management to a team of nine, with Melvyn, John and Ben joining existing directors, James Badley, Alex Briars, Mitch Dale, Grant Giblett, Chris Lindley and Rob Woolston.
