About

Established in 2018 after over fifteen years experience working on both bespoke domestic projects and significant public buildings, Andrew Lees Architect is a Sheffield based practice offering design flare with a meticulous attention to detail. This is delivered with a big-practice informed level of organisation and quality assurance combined with a personal service, to locations throughout the UK.

My practice has a particular interest and expertise in sustainable design, holistically, both in terms of low impact material specification, low energy design, and also integration of renewable energy technology. Retrofit of the existing building stock is also a key practice interest, coupled with an appreciation of, and experience of working with, historic buildings and within conservation areas.

I have taught (studio tutoring, review and lecturer) at the University of Sheffield in both the undergraduate post-graduate architecture courses since 2017. Between 2018 and 2020 I was also the lead instructor on the Renewable Energy in Architecture masters module before focussing more on practice. I am also a professional practice external examiner at the University of Westminster.

I worked at Building Design Partnership (BDP), an international multi-disciplinary built environment practice, for nearly 11 years. Progressing from Architectural Assistant to a job running and lead design Project Architect on projects predominantly in the education sector – from primary schools to university buildings.  

I studied at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture as both an undergraduate and on the RIBA Part 2 course. More recently (2015) I completed an MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies Graduate School of the Environment at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys, Wales. This was a conscious realignment of my career in line with a growing interest in, and realisation that the necessity for a more sustainable built environment, is the key challenge for the profession today.

My early experience in small practice nurtured a grounding in the fundamentals of the craft of architecture at a very hands-on level, and it is to this field I decided to return because I enjoy the direct relationships between both the client and the build process that this offers.