// DISCIPLINES

Howarth Litchfield architecture is driven by the pursuit of quality, excellence of design and its successful execution.

We believe that surroundings directly influence the quality of our lives. Allied to that is an acknowledgement that architecture is generated by the material and spiritual needs of people. We care for the physical context, the culture and the settings of our designs

// home / disciplines

//O1 ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is the main discipline of the Practice and our teams work successfully across many sectors. The experience, skill and knowledge have made HL one of the most successful practices in the region and nationally.

The teams work closely with our clients, stakeholders and consultants to deliver a world class product from our studios in Durham. We work hard to understand the vision and requirements of clients and reflect this in the comprehensive Architectural service available. We are able to offer the full service from concept design to fully built projects.

MORE...

Our design teams have won many awards from major bodies reflecting the standard of work from the practice.

Our technical teams pride themselves on the detailing, delivery and service to the client. The practice has considerable experience of all forms of contractual arrangements that suit private clients, companies, local authorities, education groups and contractors.

RIBA works stages 0- 8
Assist clients in Brief writing
Client design advisors
Full design service
Technical production of information for building regulations and tenders
Contract administration
Contractor liaisons
As built audits
Measured surveys
Principal Designer ( CDM 2015 )
visualisations

//O2 HL INTERIORS

HL Interior Design team consists of four talented industry professionals boasting a wide range of skills across a variety of sectors. These include Hospitality, Leisure, Commercial, Educational, Healthcare and Residential.

We have great passion for Interior Design here at HL and our established Interiors team have built up a trusted reputation with clients, consultants, Architects and design professionals throughout the industry.

MORE...

We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and ability to take designs from initial concept through to final completion. With our wealth of industry knowledge, innovative design and creative flair, we have just the right mix of qualities and experience to deliver your project. HL Interiors always strive to turn our clients vision into reality.

Not just fluffy cushions and colour swatches! Here at HL our interiors team like to get our hands dirty. You’ll often find us on site managing projects and coordinating installations.

Here are just some of the services we offer:

Detailed drawing packages
Sourcing and procurement of FFE
Specification of appropriate materials
Space planning
Interior architecture
3D visualisations
Project management

//O3 BUILDING SURVEYING

All buildings require surveys, refurbishment, alterations and maintenance during their life. Our building surveyors are trained in the structured and methodical inspection of buildings and the built environment.

MORE...

This process requires detailed planning and implementation and our Building Surveying team can offer a full range of building surveying services including;

Full Building Condition Surveys
Quinquennial Surveys
Schedule of Repair Inspections
Specific Defect Inspections
Terminal Schedule of Reinstatement, Dilapidation and Wants of Repair Inspections
Expert Witness Reports
Access Audits
Fire Risk Assessments
Party Wall Matters
Listed Building & Conservation Advice
Contract Administration
Cost Appraisal and Analysis
Principal Designer (CDM 2015)

//O4 SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is integral to all the design work from HL and a discipline in its own right. Our knowledge of building performance, technical standards and technology combine to help clients, M+E engineers, and end users gain maximise efficiency and enjoyment from their projects.

As architects and designers, we must seek to design new buildings to gain from orientation, sunlight, ventilation, and views. We must preserve and enhance existing building stock to be fit for the current age, whilst being sensitive to historic and traditional methods of construction.

//O5 DESIGN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Projects executed by HL take full advantage of the Practice’s practical approach to project delivery. What that means to the owner and client is time & cost savings with maximum quality for their projects. Rigorous discipline in the use of our project delivery system is the best protection offered against cost overruns during construction.

We are well placed to work alongside existing Project Mangers as our Design Project management compliment for the benefit of the delivery of the specific project.

Our approach to the management of pre-construction, construction & post-construction stages utilises industry recognised scheduling, project control techniques and computer applications. Our vast range of design project management services include:

Representing the Client
Client Design Services ( CDA )
Master schedule development / monitoring & updating
Risk assessment / management
Detailed coordinated schedule
Progress monitoring, control & reporting
Claim control / evaluation
Value engineering
Dispute resolution
Control of information flow
Co-ordination of design information
Working closely with CPM, OPMS as part of larger team
Time management

//O6 CDM

The Practice has performed duties since the introduction of the regulations in 1997. The role has recently changed from the CDM Coordinator (under the 2007 regulations) to the Principal Designer under the 2015 regulations.

The role of the CDM Principal Designer is one that demands expertise, good judgement and innovative thinking if the client’s interests and obligations under the CDM regulations are to be represented and fulfilled. As Principal Designer, our primary function is to act as the client’s key project advisors in respect of construction health and safety risk management, and manage the flow of health and safety information between clients, designers and contractors. We will:

Explain the legal responsibilities to clients under “Construction, (Design and Management) Regulations 2007”
Complete a Pre Tender Health and Safety Plan
Obtain or produce risk assessments from designers
Ensure a competent Principal Contractor is appointed
Ensure a “Construction phase health and safety plan” is produced prior to work on site
Correlate an “Operation and Maintenance Manual” for the future maintenance and running of the building

//O7 HERITAGE

A specialised field which combines the skills from the Architecture and the Interiors teams.

The practice is a RIBA registered conservation practice and has a vast experience in the assessment, development and construction of buildings in the historic environment

We work for private clients, major organisations and as consultants to many groups on how to preserve, re-develop and amend these buildings so that they can continue to be used successfully .

//O8 MASTER PLANNING

Master planning is the defining of a framework for the later detail of a development area, site or community of buildings.

Master planning involves a wide range of skills, including Architecture, Urban Design, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Project Management, Sustainable Design, Community and Political Consultation.

We have undertaken master planning for industrial, commercial, educational and residential sectors and for private clients, Local Authorities, universities, Health Authorities and national companies.

At HL we are able to bring all the required skills together to establish comprehensive master planning reports for the benefit of our clients as they set strategies for the development of their estates and land purchases.

Examples:
•   Northumbria schools
•   Groves Cranes – Sunderland
•    Abbeygate School – Chester
•   South Tyneside College
•   Acklam Hall Masterplan

//O9 CLIENT DESIGN ADVISOR

RIBA Client Design Advisors a service promoting high quality and best value in building when considering the built environment, the most important decisions are the ones made at the very inception, before the planning and design stages and long before any bricks are laid.

It is at this early stage that the success, or otherwise, of your project is decided. Getting answers to questions such as those listed opposite is a challenge for any construction client, whether it is their first project or their fiftieth.

An RIBA Client Design Advisor is usually an architect (but not the one designing the building) sitting on the client’s side of a project, independent of the supply team, monitoring and helping to manage the design process from its earliest stages.

It’s a vital role on all projects, for example Private Finance Initiative or Design and Build where the clients access to the executive design team is often limited. An RIBA Client Design Advisor will:

Explore high-level options for meeting your business or strategic need. Is a new building the best solution or can better use be made of your existing estate?
Carry out strategic risk assessments of the project;
Identify lessons learned from previous experience of similar projects;
Define an agreed set of project outcomes;
Consult key stakeholders to identify significant project issues;
Prepare feasibility studies and a strategic business case for the project;
Help set a budget and propose a funding strategy, taking into account identify and develop the most appropriate procurement strategy for completing the project on time, to budget, to the quality required;
Ensure that the project is compliant with the original brief to ensure that you, the client, are getting what was originally asked for. Where changes are unavoidable, divergencies or modifications will be agreed and reported as necessary;
Prepare the outline business case;
Prepare a full project brief, output specification and sustainability goals;
Apply for planning permissions;
Manage the invitation and evaluation of tenders from design and construction teams;
Check budgets, design proposals, construction details and project documentation.

//O5 DESIGN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Projects executed by 3HL take full advantage of the Practice’s practical approach to project delivery. What that means to the owner and client is time & cost savings with maximum quality for their projects. Rigorous discipline in the use of our project delivery system is the best protection offered against cost overruns during construction.

We are well placed to work alongside existing Project Mangers as our Design Project management compliment for the benefit of the delivery of the specific project.

Our approach to the management of pre- construction, construction & post-construction stages utilises industry recognised scheduling, project control techniques and computer applications. Our vast range of design project management services include:

Representing the Client
Client Design Services ( CDA )
Master schedule development / monitoring & updating
Risk assessment / management
Detailed coordinated schedule
Progress monitoring, control & reporting
Claim control / evaluation
Value engineering
Dispute resolution
Control of information flow
Co-ordination of design information
Working closely with CPM, OPMS as part of larger team
Time management

//O6 CDM

The Practice has performed duties since the introduction of the regulations in 1997. The role has recently changed from the CDM co – Coordinator (under the 2007 regulations) to the Principal Designer under the 2015 regulations.

The role of the CDM Principal Designer is one that demands expertise, good judgement and innovative thinking if the client’s interests and obligations under the CDM regulations are to be represented and fulfilled. As Principle Designer, our primary function is to act as the Client’s key project advisors in respect of construction health and safety risk management, and manage the flow of health and safety information between clients, designers and contractors. We will:

Explain the legal responsibilities to clients under “Construction, (Design and Management) Regulations 2007”
Complete a Pre Tender Health and Safety Plan
Obtain or produce risk assessments from designers
Ensure a competent Principal Contractor is appointed
Ensure a “Construction phase health and safety plan” is produced prior to work on site
Correlate an “Operation and maintenance manual” for the future maintenance and running of the building

//O7 HERITAGE

A specialised field which combines the skills from the Architecture and the Interiors teams.

The practice is a RIBA registered conservation practice and has a vast experience in the assessment, development and construction of buildings in the historic environment

We work for Private clients, major organisations and as consultants to many groups on how to preserve, re develop and amend these builigns so that they can continue to be used successfully .

//O8 MASTER PLANNING

Master planning is the defining of a framework for the later detail of a development area, site or community of buildings.

Master planning involves a wide range of skills, including Architecture, urban design, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Project Management,

Sustainable design, Community and Political consultation
We have undertaken master planning for Industrial, commercial, educational and residential sectors and for Private clients, Local Authorities, universities, Health Authorities and national companies.

Examples:
•   Northumbria schools
•   Groves cranes
•   Chester school – abbeygate
•   South Tyneside
•   Acklam

//O9 CLIENT DESIGN ADVISOR

RIBA Client Design Advisors a service promoting high quality and best value in building When considering the built environment, the most important decisions are the ones made at the very inception, before the planning and design stages and long before any bricks are laid.

Explore high-level options for meeting your business or strategic need. Is a new building the best solution or can better use be made of your existing estate?
Carry out strategic risk assessments of the project.
Identify lessons learned from previous experience of similar projects.
Define an agreed set of project outcomes.
Consult key stakeholders to identify significant project issues.
Prepare feasibility studies and a strategic business case for the project.
Help set a budget and propose a funding strategy, taking into account Identify and develop the most appropriate procurement strategy for completing the project on time, to budget, to the quality required.
Ensure that the project is compliant with the original brief to ensure that you, the clients, are getting what was originally asked for. Where changes are unavoidable, divergencies or modifications will be agreed and reported as necessary.
Prepare the outline business case.
Prepare a full project brief, output specification and sustainability goals.
Apply for planning permissions.
Manage the invitation and evaluation of tenders from design and construction teams.
Check budgets, design proposals, construction details and project documentation.