James Hall began working at Lees Associates as a Part 2 Architectural Assistant in early 2015. After nine years with the company, rising first to Associate and then Associate Director, he was appointed as a Partner at the start of the year, joining Andrew Paulson and Kathryn Archer at the helm of the practice.
We sat down with him to discuss this significant accomplishment and his plans for the future.
Congratulations on becoming a partner at Lees Associates! How does it feel to achieve this milestone in your career?
It’s exciting, and I would be lying if I said I was not a little bit anxious, too. I am looking forward to working with Kathryn and Andrew as LA continues to grow.
James with fellow Partners, Kathryn Archer and Andrew Paulson
How did your journey with LA start?
When moving over from Australia after completing my Master's Degree, the industry was still recovering from the financial crisis in 2008. I had always wanted to work on residential projects, specifically single dwellings, so that is where I focused my search. Lees Associates was one of the companies that I applied to but with no vacancies available at the time, I found work in a small firm that did residential work in and around Wandsworth and Wimbledon. After a while, work slowed, so I decided to start searching for other opportunities. Thankful to find that LA were looking for people, I applied again and, following the interview, was made an offer almost immediately. I was thrown into the deep end working on a refurbishment of a listed Belgravia townhouse, and since then, I have gained valuable experience on a succession of challenging premium residential projects to the point now where I lead our teams and deliver many of the prime and super-prime projects that LA is known for.
What is your favourite part about working at LA? How does your job inspire you?
Working with the LA team would have to be my favourite part. Without them, we would not be able to achieve the quality of work that we produce. While we are lucky to be part of some very special projects, they all have their highs and lows, so having a strong and dedicated team to celebrate the highs and work through and make light work of the lows, is crucial. Their dedication and approach to design and solving problems constantly inspire me to ensure we provide an environment where our people feel comfortable to push their own ideas, voice their opinions, ask questions and challenge convention. This applies not just in our studio but also in external interactions with clients and other consultants.
The Lees Associates team
What do you think sets Lees Associates apart from other firms in the industry?
The level and quality of detail provided in all aspects of our work. It seems to go without saying, but unfortunately, it has become common for architecture firms to focus heavily on the early design stages of projects at the expense of delivery. But we pride ourselves on not just providing a premium design but also a high quality (and quantity!) of technical detail. We are often recommended by others to take over and deliver a project when the existing or previous architect was unable to do so for whatever reason.
What projects have you been most proud of during your time at LA and why?
I have always been most proud of leading the refurbishment of a Grade II-listed warehouse conversion in the heart of London, which was completed in 2020. As architects and interior designers, we worked closely with the client to tailor the scheme to a personal home. The combination of the complexity of design, the uniqueness of the building and client satisfaction has put this at the top of the list for me.
Listed refurbishment, central London
As a partner, what do you see as your primary responsibilities and how do you plan to approach them?
Currently, as well as heading up a number of our super-prime projects, I also oversee our operations practice-wide and take a leading role in developing our BIM standards and template. Moving into the new position will not change this, and my primary responsibility will be, as it is now, to ensure that all of our projects are running smoothly and productively.
How do you spend time outside of work?
I have been spending most of my time working on my own house projects. I like food, whether it is eating out or cooking at home, and travelling. When I am not doing any of those, I prefer to do as little as possible!
Where do you see yourself and LA in 10 years’ time?
The Lees Associates vision is to be London’s leading premium architecture and design practice, delivering a consistently high-quality, professional and value-added service. We strive to be at the forefront of rapidly advancing technology and constantly changing regulations. We are growing, not just in size but in the quality of what we design and deliver, as well as our processes. In ten years’ time, I see that growth continuing and to be welcoming another Partner or two to the team.