Merry Christmas

RNCB Landscape Award

The scheme at the Royal National College for the Blind has received the 2011 Heart of England in Bloom Award for Outstanding Merit.

The landscape scheme was designed by the Landmark Practice, who live just up the road from us and specialise in environmental planning, architecture and ecology.

We have worked with them on several projects, of which this was the first.

Follow the link to their website HERE

Benyon Hall Success - RSV ten years on

Around 10 years after we successfully delivered our first student accommodation project with Jarvis Construction (Job No 001 in the office WIA history fans), we have been back at the Reading Student Village with the job of designing a brand new junior common room and FM hub for UPP. This 126m² building was designed to fit in with the natural environment of the adjacent lake and sit in the landscaped grounds with a light touch. The BREEAM "Very Good" project was handed over in September following a very tight 16week construction programme. Renamed Benyon Hall in an opening ceremony held at the new JCR attended by Lord Benyons descendants, the Mayor and other distinguished guests, the latest addition to the scheme has been warmly welcomed by all.

Birks Hall handed over

The end of the academic year is always a busy time for us due to the amount of academic projects we are involved in.

The 933 room, 10 building Birks Hall Village was successfully handed over in September: This is the first phase of the £77 million development of student accommodation at the University of Exeter. The feedback we have received from the client, users and University has been incredibly positive and we are looking forward to successfully delivering the other sites at Lafrowda and Duryard.

Bishops Blackhall Completion

In time for the new academic year, the £2.5 million Bishops Blackhall school refurbishment was completed

This project successfully returned an abandoned Victorian School in the centre of Exeter back into beneficial use by forming 23 residential student flats of varying size, providing a total of 113 new bedrooms within the existing building envelopes. A small modern element nestles between existing walls at high level, providing a clue to the modern renovation undertaken inside the main buildings. The existing double-height floors and generous Victorian proportions have allowed for the insertion of new mezzanine floors, significantly increasing the available floor space. The provision of new double-glazed fenestration to the primary facades allows for the retention of the historic proportions while creating well-lit, well-ventilated and modern living spaces. The utilisation of loft areas has created unusual yet desirable bedrooms with dramatic views over the local area.

Welcome Sue and Matt

The successful candidate to replace Rachel as office manager is Sue Nightingale. Sue has already got into the groove of life in the Willmore Iles office by making her first purchase a tin of air freshener for the toilet upstairs. Thanks Sue, much appreciated!

Also joining the fold in our student merry-go-round which saw Helen and Hannah going back to their respective courses (good luck!) is Matthew Hacker, a fresh faced Part 2 graduate from UWE.

We would like to welcome both new members of staff and we'll let you know if they're keepers once we've received their "Christmas Cake Tuesday" submissions.

RNCB Point 4 comes Highly Commended

The ground breaking project at The Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB) was Highly Commended at The Charity Awards last week.
RNCB, the country’s leading specialist residential college of further education for people with a visual impairment, had been shortlisted in the Disability category for thePoint4, it's centre of excellence for sport.

For more information, visit the Civil Society website, which has a full report on the event HERE

WIA Looking for a new Office Admistrator

It is with great sadness that Willmore Iles are losing their Office Administrator, Rachel in September. Rachel is returning to University to train in Nursing. Everyone at Willmore Iles would like to thank Rachel for her commitment and expertise in keeping the office running smoothly. If you are interested in this forthcoming vacancy, Rachel would like to get her replacement appointed in August, to give her time to work in parallel before she leaves.
The role is as follows:

Office Administrator

The office administrator would be responsible for a range of administrative and IT related
tasks, working independently and under the instruction of senior directors.
They would be expected to act as the main practice administrator and to oversee the
administration of all staff.
The candidate would need to be flexible and able to use their own initiative.
To the right candidate, training will be provided to support on-going development in the role.

Personal Characteristics and skills (that we are looking for)

1. Organised, with good time management skills (working under pressure and to deadlines)
2. An Enthusiastic “can do attitude”, with the ability to work flexibly.
3. Professional
4. Confident and assertive when required
5. Sensitive to others needs
6. Good Communication skills (written and verbal)
7. IT (competent inWord and excel)
8. Financial Management knowledge (basic book keeping knowledge preferable) 

Key Roles

1. Basic Administration – telephones, post, all staff work calendars, booking holidays, organising office trips, meetings, letters and emails, archetype system.
2. Guide staff in procedures of the ISO 9001 and 14001 Quality and Environmental Management Systems (maintain and manage audits). Acting as internal Quality Systems manager, supported by external consultant.
3. General company Policies (Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Risk Assessments) –keep up to date, review regularly
4. HR/ Employment – Inductions/training, employee folders, employment law and policy documents (Equality Policy…)
5. Practice Development (constant improvement of practice management and procedures to achieve business aims….)
6. Practice Organization (record keeping, ensure business is compliant with current laws and legislation e.g. RIBA Membership)
7. Practice complaints procedures – responsible for monitoring, recording and organising responses and ensuring actions occur.
8. Finance – financial projections, invoicing, book keeping, ordering office supplies and equipment
9. Premises – leasing with tenants (contracts/ rent) – keep up to date landlord commitments and requirements by law.
10. Office Maintenance – cleaners, windows, famine hygiene, tea/coffee, watering plants, light bulbs…..
11. Office Supplies - stationary
12. Computer –Monitor computer systems – working with in house office ITmanager and external IT consultant.
13. Marketing – Awards, Benchmarking schemes, OJEU Notices (new potential jobs) - working with senior directors.

If you are interested, please send your CV to Rachel at rachel.booth@willmoreiles.com,

Stephen Draper becomes a Director

Happy New Year.

We are very pleased to announce that at the end of 2010 Stephen Draper joined Paula and Andrew as a Director of Willmore Iles Architects.

Stephen joined Willmore Iles in 2003. Since joining as a project architect he has led the delivery of several major projects including the award winning James Square scheme for the University of Plymouth and the on-going £76million redevelopment of the University of Exeter’s residential portfolio. Stephen became an Associate in 2008.

We are delighted that Stephen has chosen to join us as a Director enhancing our existing skills and strengths. We look forward to working with him on the challenges and opportunities faced by the practice. We are confident that he can help us capitalise on recent achievements and reinforce the position of Willmore Iles Architects as the South West’s leading provider of architectural services for student accommodation.

Stephen’s key areas of responsibility as a Director will be the delivery of construction projects, technical specifications and health and safety.