Together we can... inspire future generations
Nursery, Primary & Secondary
Together we can...
GSSArchitecture is a national, award-winning architectural practice with a dynamic and forward-thinking approach. Operating across the whole of the UK with offices located in Kettering, Gloucester, Harrogate, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Newcastle, we specialise in projects where a collaborative approach is required.
We design tailored architectural solutions and place sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of our design ethos. Our project experience includes a diverse range of public and private sectors from inception through to completion, all of which are supported by inhouse specialist divisions including Graphics and Conservation and Heritage.
Together, we can bring your vision to life.
nurseries
Our designs for nurseries combine imagination and functionality to create the perfect environment for young minds to flourish. We prioritise safety, comfort, and creativity, providing a nurturing space where children can explore, learn, and grow. Each nursery is thoughtfully crafted to support the developmental needs of children, incorporating vibrant colors, natural light, and interactive elements.
With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of early childhood education principles, we design nurseries that are not just buildings, but vibrant communities where the foundation of lifelong learning begins.
Glenvale Park Nursery
Glenvale Park Nursery is a 75-place educational facility that forms part of a 3,000 home sustainable urban extension to the north of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
The nursery provides a welcoming space for children, parents, and carers and has been designed for children to feel at home, with tailored programmes allowing them to play, learn and adpat while exploring new things and developing personalities.
Woodnewton Children’s Centre
A new build children’s centre acts as the main access point for Woodnewton and includes a new nursery, a feature external play area, a community hall, a social open meeting area and new offices for the Head Teacher and Bursar.
These facilities, together with the private consulting rooms and meeting rooms, further extended the existing services offered to the community by Woodnewton. Head Teacher at the time, Ellen Wallace, said, “We are extremely pleased with the building’s design and how spaces flow into one another. It is bright and bold and connects our existing Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 buildings very effectively.”
Ashcombe Children’s Centre
We designed a state-of-the-art Children’s Centre for North Somerset Council, which combines early education integrated with childcare, family support, and child and family health services.
The centre includes a 34-place day care nursery, which takes children from just a few weeks old up to four years of age, while the existing 20-place sessional pre-school facility has been incorporated within the new centre.
Each play room has its own garden area and also benefits from a large outdoor canopied community area that the children can access in all weathers.
Marsh Farm Children’s Centre
We were appointed by Wates Construction as Lead Designers to provide a full range of Architectural services for Luton Borough Council and Cambridge Community Services NHS Trust to centralise the location of child-focused clinical assessment and treatment, and update its nursery accommodation.
Marsh Farm Children’s Centre acts as a community hub, with space for parents and carers to meet socially. The building and its surroundings were designed to be accessible by all users, with an outdoor space that incorporates a sensory garden.
A green wall, with planting that grows up a carefully-designed metal framework, presents a distinctive visual feature near the main entrance. As traumatised children might be visiting the centre for the first time, the healthcare wing of the building features expanses of calming pastel-like colours. Conversely, the nursery features brighter primary colours that are intended to resemble play-bricks.
primary schools
We have a wealth of experience designing and delivering Primary Schools which inspire educational excellence and deliver functionality and robustness. Our designs are crafted to inspire young learners, fostering an environment where curiosity and creativity thrive. We emphasise the importance of adaptable spaces that support diverse learning styles and activities, from collaborative group work to quiet individual study.
Each school is designed with an emphasis on natural light, safety, and sustainability, creating a healthy and engaging atmosphere for students and teachers alike.
With a focus on community and connectivity, our primary school designs are more than just buildings—they are dynamic spaces that nurture the minds and spirits of future generations.
Glenvale Park Primary School
We were appointed as Architects and Lead Consultants for the design and delivery of a new primary school, nursery and community centre, as part of the first phase of the Glenvale Park urban extension in Wellingborough.
The plans consist of a two-form entry primary school, designed to allow for future expansion to a three-form entry.
Adjacent to the school is a separate Nursery building, catering for children up to five years old. A community centre adjoining the nursery completes the proposals and provides the Glenvale Park development with a community hall, communal facilities, kitchen and WC’s, allowing local residents of all ages to meet for a variety of social activities.
In addition to the future expansion of the school, the nursery and community centre were designed to be phased with the nursery being completed first allowing the community centre to be completed at a later date once the trigger point for that requirement is met by the housing development.
Hardingstone Primary School
We worked with Kier Construction to design a new primary school and community centre in Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. The new buildings were originally conceived as part of the masterplan for the Landimore Park sustainable urban extension, which delivers approximately 750 new residential properties.
The new school is a two-form entry, 420-place, school for pupils aged 4 to 11 and allows for a potential one-form entry extension in the future. The community centre contains two halls that can be utilised for activities such as sports, club meetings and playgroups. In addition, the school has been designed to allow for community use of an additional hall and studio. The plans include the creation of a flexible public square that will generally be used for parking but can be re-purposed as a space for community events.
Predicated to reach a BREEAM rating of Very Good, the new school has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the local community whilst being as sustainable as possible.
New Lubbesthorpe Primary School
We were appointed as Architects and Lead Consultants to deliver the school for New Lubbesthorpe, a large-scale residential development in the west of Leicestershire.
The school building comprises largely of single storey accommodation which includes 14 classrooms, a learning resources centre, hall, kitchen, staff room, studio, specialised room, and the reception along with plenty of circulating space. The design featured numerous glazed areas to maximise daylight and openable windows to provide a pleasant learning environment that is also highly sustainable, limiting the use of artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation.
The new school provides 420 spaces for pupils aged 4-11 and is a key landmark of the central square. New Lubbesthorpe residents can further benefit from the facilities thanks to the main hall being available for community use and operated independently from the school.
Milton Keynes East Strategic Urban Development
We have been appointed to design a sustainable three-form-entry primary school, 39-place Nursery and Community Health Hub which will form part of the Milton Keynes East Strategic Urban Extension Development.
Part of a wider masterplan, the new primary school and nursery will provide much-needed education facilities for the expanding local area. The facilities such as the school hall and playing fields, along with other outdoor facilities, will be used by the public through a community use agreement.
The development aims to provide a range of healthcare services for the local emerging community in the Milton Keynes East development. For example, the new hub has been designed to create a welcoming environment, including shared spaces that offer community services as well as a GP surgery that can provide care for 10,000 patients for both physical and mental health needs.
Harris Primary Academies
We delivered three new primary schools, funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA), for the Harris Federation in the London area.
Harris Primary Academy Mayflower was a former container storage site that was transformed into a new five-form entry primary academy, which accommodates over 1,000 pupils. The innovative design has created a range of flexible teaching facilities, and provides nursery and reception years with access to dedicated external covered areas.
Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich is situated on the site of the Old Police Station and has been remodelled into a two-form entry primary academy. We also delivered the new build Harris Primary Academy Shortlands which accommodates up to 420 pupils. The schemes incorporate bright and modern schools and has provided the communities with much needed, welcoming and high quality educational facilities.
Abington Vale Primary School
Abington Vale Primary School is an established school in Northampton with an excellent reputation, and we were appointed to design a new 210-place primary school within an existing vacant office building to enable Abington Vale to establish an independent annexe school off site. The new Stirling Campus has allowed the School to extend its capability to deliver quality primary education, furthering their vision to be an outstanding, dynamic, vibrant and sustainable school for the future.
The existing site required significant works to modernise and refurbish its building and grounds in order to provide a facility capable of delivering the vision of the School. The works also required an overhaul to the fabric of the building, and we worked extensively with the School to provide an innovative solution to the restrictions of the site.
This fabulous office block conversion has brought colour and life into the formerly tired and inefficient construction, giving expression to the School’s ethos of vibrancy and sustainability.
Northamptonshire Schools
We desgined three separate schools in Northamptonshire, including a new build two-form entry primary school and community centre to serve the members of the Pineham Grove Residential development in Northampton. The scheme involved the provision of 15 classrooms and three double height halls, two of which can be combined to create one large school hall.
We were also commissioned to design a new build, 420 place, single storey primary school for Kettering East. The design creates a bold and distinctive frontage to the street and a landmark building whilst maintaining a safe, secure, vibrant internal and external learning environment.
We also designed and delivered Malcolm Arnold Prep School which is a two form entry primary school providing 420 school places. The two storey school was based on an ESFA baseline design which was adapted and improved to suit the site and to maximise space. The design is efficient and functional delivering much needed school places.
secondary schools
We understand that Secondary School projects are varied and complex and consider each individual project’s needs to create exceptional learning environments for young adults.
Our designs for secondary schools are tailored to support the diverse academic and extracurricular needs of students, fostering an atmosphere of growth, collaboration, and inspiration. Each school is thoughtfully planned with state-ofthe-art facilities, flexible learning spaces, and sustainable features, ensuring an optimal balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal.
We also specialise in designing Secondary School extensions, enhancing existing structures to accommodate growing student populations and evolving educational requirements. We are dedicated to building schools that not only meet the highest educational standards but also inspire students and educators alike to strive for greatness.
Royal Latin School Discovery Centre
We were successful in winning a design competition and were appointed by The Royal Latin School to design their Discovery Centre.
The project is a result of a study which concluded that the existing science accommodation did not meet current and future requirements. The new facility replaces and expands on this accommodation, leaving the existing building available for future development.
12 laboratories and teaching rooms for practical lessons and theory-based teaching have been created, together with informal breakout spaces, meeting rooms, a preparation room, a staff base and a roof terrace. A landscaped courtyard has also been created between the new facility and existing buildings, which provides a dynamic open space to promote outdoor social and educational activities.
Logic Studio School
Studio Schools operate a new approach to learning, which include teaching through industry-led enterprise projects and work placements to offer a range of academic and vocational qualifications. We were commissioned to design a modern and unique extension for Logic Studio School. Specialising in Computer Technologies and International Business, the School accommodates 300 students, aged 14-19, and is part of the Tudor Park Education Trust.
Funded by the Education Funding Agency via the Free School Programme, the development includes a vibrant front extension, new main entrance, contemporary workspaces and circulation areas, as well as traditional teaching spaces in which to prepare students for their professional careers.
Space Studio School
We acted as Architects and Lead Consultant for the development of a new Studio School to accommodate 300 students aged 14-18. The school specialises in Space, Aerospace, Science and Maths, in order to prepare young people for careers in these related industries, such as engineers, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and aerospace experts of the future.
Studio Schools adopt a different approach to teaching through enterprise projects and real work to offer a range of academic and vocational qualifications including GCSEs in English, Maths and Science, A-levels, and level 3 BTEC courses. Space Studio works closely with industry to set project-based working including Heathrow Airport, the RAF, British Airways, BP, the National Space Academy, Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd and Hitachi Rail amongst others.
The school replicates a set of research buildings, including a mixture of laboratories, engineering workshops, food technology suites, and gym facilities.
Parliament Hill School
We were appointed on the £30m redevelopment scheme of Parliament Hill School, located in the London Borough of Camden. The major new build development includes a sports hall, science labs, and general teaching classrooms as well as the refurbishment of the existing dining hall building located at the centre of the site.
The neighbouring William Ellis School, a four-form entry school for boys, benefitted from a new two-storey addition housing drama and music suite facilities. A new sixth form building was also provided, comprising a unique design that includes a green roof and living green walls.
The redevelopment was delivered in a staged approach in order to allow the teaching services to remain fully operational, minimising disruption to the students’ education.
Research & Learning Centre
Stamford School was founded in 1532 in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Today, it is part of the Stamford Endowed Schools, a leading independent group of three schools for boys and girls aged 2-18.
We were commissioned to produce a site-wide masterplan to locate library, research, sports and performing arts facilities in separate areas of the campus. The library and research space is located within a heavilyrefurbished series of Victorian school buildings. The facilities centred on the provision of computer workstations formed by bespoke furniture, and the library features custom-made shelving, which we also designed.
A centrepiece of the building is a fully-glazed atrium, formed by linking two separate historic buildings to create a dramatic and contemporary space. This acts as a formal entrance to the School’s main hall and is a distinct part of the School’s visual identity.
Stamford Sports Centre
We were commissioned by Stamford Endowed Schools to produce a sitewide masterplan, which identified library/research, sports and performing arts facilities around the School campus. This entailed designing a new, purpose-built sports centre, incorporating a 25m indoor pool, changing rooms, a fitness suite and a gymnasium, along with sheltered spectator terraces.
The site was particularly challenging in terms of access by large vehicles, and as part of the planning application, we had to demonstrate, in detail, how construction traffic would be managed, as it accessed the site through the nearby busy, narrow streets.
The building has a striking impact across the playing fields, and it offers students first-rate facilities to ensure that the sporting experience at the School becomes even better.
Stockwood Park Academy & Chalk Hill Academy
We were engaged on two separate, concurrent projects to develop stage 4 designs on Luton Borough Council School Extensions. We undertook the planning designs created by Luton’s in-house architecture team and worked with them to progress the technical design and support the projects through construction.
The Stockwood Park Academy expansion involved the construction of a new standalone two storey block to provide additional teaching spaces and specialist science classrooms. The existing car park was extended to provide a further 34 additional spaces.
On the Chalk Hills Academy expansion project we were appointed as to develop technical designs for the new two storey sixth form block. The building provides specialist Science Labs, Prep room and a double classroom with folding wall on the ground floor, with additional classrooms and staff space at first floor level.
Bedford Academy
We have been appointed to design a new one-form entry secondary school extension for Bedford Academy. The proposed development will provide much needed additional space which will serve not only the School’s needs but the community alike.
The extension will provide places for up to 300 new pupils, while the layout and intention of the new facilities have been carefully considered from a multi-use perspective as a School and as a hub for the community. With this flexible approach to the design, and the extra space that will be created, the project also aims to provide new sports training facilities at the school.
Lord Williams’s School
The upgrades to Lord Williams’s School form part of Oxfordshire County Council’s strategic planning to ensure enough secondary school places are available to meet future demand. The expansion has allowed for 150 additional pupils, in line with the school’s goal to grow from offering 11 forms of entry to 12 forms of entry as well as a new English Block that has nine high-quality teaching spaces in addition to a state-of-the-art accessible ICT suite.
As part of our ongoing commitment to health and wellbeing in design, we have placed a strong emphasis on the inclusion of high-quality, attractive soft and hard landscaping, with new trees being planted and outdoor learning areas taking full advantage of the green space available to the school.
Appointed through the Pagabo Professional Services Framework, we provided Architectural Services alongside Main Contractor, Borras Construction, and GSSllp, who are working as Employers Agent and Quantity Surveyors.
Denbigh School
We were appointed as Architects to design a new two-form entry expansion at Denbigh School in Milton Keynes.
The development involved the provision of a large new build Arts Centre, together with refurbishment works to the existing School to provide a new Sixth Form Centre with mezzanine, ICT space and interview rooms. Two new science laboratories, a new food technology classroom and a second mezzanine for dining were also created.
The Arts Centre contains a double height dance studio, and a separate 300-seat hall, with adjoining drama studio, to provide flexible space for school assemblies, exams and theatrical performances. An open plan contemporary art studio is also provided, alongside specialist music teaching spaces and an external amphitheatre. The Arts Centre has been carefully designed to provide modern, vibrant, spacious, learning and social environments that can also be used by the local community.
Lealands High School
Lealands High School is a community school with Specialist Sports College status for 11-16 year olds on the northern edge of Luton. GSSArchitecture were the Client Design Advisors for Luton Building Schools for the Future (BSF), leading the engagement process for the twelve secondary schools, and developing designs for new build and major transformation solutions. The practice was then commissioned to deliver a series of projects by the BSF contractor team, which included Lealands High School, a £17.5m major extensions and alterations project.
GSS developed a brief and subsequent designs with the school, to create learning environments which will inspire all young people to unlock hidden talents and reach their full potential; provide teachers with 21st century work places; and provide access to facilities which can be used by all members of the local community.
The project involved a complex phasing programme to ensure the impact of the construction works on the live school site were kept to a minimum.
Corby Technical School
We were commissioned by the Brooke Weston Trust to increase the internal floor area of Corby Technical School by approximately 3,308m2, providing the school with additional space for future expansion.
The £6.8m project included a two-storey extension to the existing school, expansion of the car park, internal renovations of existing classrooms and landscaping of the school’s external surroundings.
special educational needs
Our extensive experience in the education sector has also given us the opportunity to deliver a number of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools, each requiring unique designs to meet the needs of the client, users and the site.
We understand the importance of putting young people at the heart of the design and build process when creating new spaces for learning and support. This is especially significant when designing spaces for disabled children and children with special educational needs.
Our ethos is to consider the users’ needs at the inception of a project as we aim to promote inclusion, participation and inspiration in all our schemes. Our approach to designing learning and supportive environments, whether new build or refurbishment, is to conduct extensive stakeholder consultation. We have developed our method though experience of working closely with teachers, specialists, parents, carers and pupils.
Only when we understand the true needs of the users can we design and build inclusive, inspirational learning environments. This approach is reflected in our experience and involvement in research into developing briefs for Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) schools with the Department for Education (DfE) and other education specialists.
Purple Oaks Academy
Purple Oaks Academy provides 100 places for students with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and/or Severe Learning Difficulties.
We were commissioned to design the new build school, which was situated on a brownfield site. Several design features were introduced to allow the school to cater for the pupils’ specific needs; this included the provision of two internal courtyards as well as specialist calming and medical rooms. Internally, the building offers a variety of spaces of different sizes, including a selection of specialist food, science and art classrooms, ensuring that a personalised approach to learning is facilitated.
The school also includes ample external play space which contains a multi-use games area, soft play, and habitat areas.
The Skylight Centre
Laidlaw Schools Trust (LST) approached GSSArchitecture to produce a standalone building in order to better facilitate the SEND needs of the trust’s site at Sedgefield. The site is occupied by two schools, both owned by LST, who will use the new building to facilitate the teaching and care of students with special educational needs and disabilities from ages 3-16.
The new building will include 3no. classrooms, 1 to 1 spaces with specific sensory calming and stimulating equipment, Offices and interview rooms for staff and visitors, breakout spaces and ancillary support spaces.
The provision of Special Educational Needs (SEN) facilities across Northamptonshire was highlighted by West Northamptonshire Council as an area in need of development. We were, therefore, appointed to design a school that would meet the needs of children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
Paramount to the success of the project was the close working relationship between ourselves, the client, and the end users to gain a full understanding of their specialist teaching and particular behaviours.
The project at Maplefields Academy incorporates a number of sustainable and energy efficient features, including a sedum roof, solar thermal heating, and rainwater harvesting. The environment and special needs of the client created a brief that enabled us to provide a bespoke and exciting design that inspires staff and students alike.
Profound & Multiple Learning Disabilities Centre
Leicester College is one of the largest and most successful general Further Education Colleges in the country with over 26,900 learners and four city centre campuses. We were appointed to design the new Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities Centre, which relocated from the Glenfrith Hospital site in the north of Leicester to the Freemen’s Park Campus.
The project was carefully designed to suit the very specific needs of the learners and includes a series of general and specialist learning spaces, a performing arts classroom, art room, dining room, high specification sensory rooms, and an external sensory garden, which features a series of tactile and water installations, together with coloured light and sensory planting.
services, specialist teams & procurement
Our work includes the full range of services covering architectural design, feasibilities, 3D graphics and animation, interior design, estate strategies, heritage and conservation, principal designer and one-stop-shop.
Our specialist in-house teams are collaborating with industry leaders to research and develop the latest technologies and processes that can be incorporated into our designs.
Professional services frameworks have become increasingly important over recent years as a method to engage construction professionals in a way that ensures compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and that promote a more streamlined way of partnering in the longer term.
As a practice, we have secured positions on a range of established, UK compliant frameworks, which enables easier, quicker and cheaper procurement routes for our clients.
Architectural Services Feasibilities
As experienced Architects we can work with you to explore your options and realise your vision.
We can bring a wide range of innovations and best practice from our different sectors to meet your specific needs and aspirations. This experience includes masterplanning, new builds, remodelling and extensions and specialist heritage advice.
We will work with you in a collaborative way to develop a workable brief to explore design concepts and options, to manage your project through the planning process, the development of detailed design proposals, details and specifications, together with preparing all necessary statutory approval processes.
Feasibility studies are an extremely important part of the development process. By carefully mapping out your options, risks, constraints, and opportunities we can present creative proposals and scheme appraisals that are deliverable, viable and fit for purpose. Developing your brief is fundamental to this process.
Our highly experienced teams work on a wide variety of projects, ranging in both sector and size. This means that the knowledge, experience and ‘lessons learnt’ can be brought to benefit your feasibility brief and our experience allows your dedicated project team to explore all the options quickly and effectively to arrive at an appropriate project delivery strategy.
Masterplanning
A good masterplan is not just about the distribution of land use, it should provide you with a sound starting point to create healthy communities and well-planned development strategies. A masterplan should give you a carefully considered and well thought out long-term planning document that serves as a conceptual plan to guide future growth and development.
Masterplanning is all about setting the standard that creates an appropriate sense of place, connecting buildings with social, public and cultural spaces to create environments that help communities to thrive.
3D Graphics & Animation
As a streamlined part of our service offering, 3DLABS is our in-house digital design studio that specialises in CGI visualisations, 3D printing and people flow modelling. They offer these services to communicate our clients’ designs, concepts, products or services to a wider audience, allowing them to be represented in the most visually appealing medium.
They have been offering these services for nearly a decade, gathering a diverse client base with their own unique needs and requirements.
The studio is made up of a highly skilled team, led by their Studio Manager who has over 15 years of industry experience. He is supported by a team who each bring their own passions and specialisms, with photorealistic renders, interior design, and graphic design to name a few.
Interior Design
In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of how the built environment can impact health and productivity, and its added benefits to help institutions flourish. Organisations are now focusing their efforts on how to use the built environment for mental health and wellbeing by encouraging choice, movement and relaxation, controlling temperature, noise levels and air quality, ergonomic furniture, plants, and adding breakout areas. These are all fundamental components of good interior design.
Our interior design services include interior layouts and drawings, internal elevations, room data sheets, space planning and interior architecture, furniture selection and accessories, custom furniture and textile design and colour palette consultation.
Estates Strategies
Estate Strategies are critically important documents to have in place to provide a framework and direction for how an estate needs to grow and evolve to support you in delivering your strategic objectives. Estate strategies are important to a number of our higher education clients for example, and we have worked with a number of UK based universities to help them define their strategies.
Good Estate Strategies can add value to other large estates, such as landed estates or multi-academy trusts. Our teams have the depth of skills and experience inhouse to work with you and your estates teams to consider whole estate strategies and how individual projects might fit into the ‘bigger picture.’
Heritage
If you are an owner or custodian of buildings with historical significance, we can help to understand your properties, advise on the best techniques to care for them and make sensitive changes that will mean your heritage assets are both successful and sustainable.
Whether a Grade II listed house or a complex World Heritage Site, all heritage assets have their own story and unique value and getting the right advice from a wellqualified, specialist team can really make the difference.
Principal Designer - CDM
The importance of the Principal Designer’s role cannot be underestimated and the skills that make a good Principal Designer should never be omitted from a development project. Fundamentally, a good Principal Designer helps to ensure that everyone involved in construction stays safe during the course of their work and complies with the statutory duties and we often provide this service on schemes where we have also been appointed as Architects and/or Lead Consultants.
GSS can give you the confidence of knowing that our organisational approach to Health and Safety is led from partner level, ensuring that all our teams receive regular training, making certain that processes are in place to plan and manage health and safety throughout our projects and helping to protect everyone’s health and safety.
Principal Designer - BR
The appointment of a Principal Designer – Building Regulations (BR) is required for all construction projects, from small domestic extensions to complex multimillion-pound developments. If your project is classed as a ‘Higher-Risk Building’ under the Building Safety Act 2022, then additional requirements apply.
Our Principal Designers have undergone competency assessments in line with PAS 8671 requirements and will be able to assist and guide you in navigating your legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022. They will ensure that you fully understand your duties before any design work commences.
One Stop Shop
Successful construction projects rely on the right balance between design and project control, including project and cost management. We can offer you a streamlined consulting service bringing together all of the design team partners that you need from across our network of supply chain partners.
Using a one stop shop service is not right for everyone, but it can mean that you benefit from a single point of contact for your integrated design team. Our teams will use their construction knowledge and cost planning experience to offer expert advice on construction approaches and procurement options. This begins from the initial feasibility testing of a project, right through until the handover of the completed building.
All successful partnerships are founded on taking a truly collaborative approach to achieving common aims and objectives. Clear communication is therefore an essential part of collaboration, alongside developing and nurturing a culture of working together as one team. GSS have a successful track record of achieving excellent outcomes through working collaboratively and we can draw on our experience and lessons learnt over the years to encourage and drive collaboration.
Sustainability
With climate change being one of the biggest challenges we face in our lifetime, GSS are committed to ensuring their projects are designed to incorporate innovative, sustainable solutions that not only benefit the building user, but the wider environment.
Our in-house Sustainability Innovation Group are collaborating with industry leaders to research and develop the latest technologies and sustainable processes that can be incorporated into our designs. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimise waste, and create healthy, productive environments.
Artificial Intelligence
GSS’s in-house Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Group is responsible for providing comprehensive guidance and assistance, ensuring the safe and appropriate utilisation of AI within our work.
This dedicated team from across the UK actively explores both the limitations and opportunities of AI, striving to enhance quality and efficiency. We have implemented a structured plan that is aimed at identifying opportunities through harnessing the latest advancements in AI technology and the team will research and assess these to ensure that they align with our moral and ethical standards.
Fostering a collaborative environment, the group encourages innovation and integration of AI technologies that can add value to our clients. Their efforts include developing customised AI solutions, training for wider GSS team members, and overseeing a robust framework for AI governance.
Our in-house AI Innovation Group plays a crucial role in driving GSS’s commitment to leveraging the benefits of AI and maintaining our competitive edge in the industry.
Net Zero Carbon
Many of our clients have set Net Zero Carbon or Carbon Neutral targets for their buildings and estates through either decarbonisation of their current estate, or through targeting Net Zero Carbon in new buildings or investments.
We are also on our own route to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030, a target which, although complex and challenging, we believe to be realistic and genuine.
Health and Wellbeing
There is an increasing awareness of how our environment can affect our physical and mental health and the impact that this has on our productivity and wellbeing. The Covid pandemic has reinforced the importance of good mental and physical health for everyone in society and there is an increased focus on the need for more human-centred, sustainable environments that support the people who work and live in them.
We understand that good design is at the centre of this and has real power to improve peoples’ lives and support organisations, delivering places that support health, comfort, and happiness. The quality of environment can help to reduce staff turnover, improve outputs, and attract new people to an organisation.
Our designers are trained to look at how new and existing buildings, and external spaces, can deliver high quality places that is not only functional, adaptable, and efficient but is also welcoming, inclusive and supportive.
Procurement
Professional services frameworks have become increasingly important over recent years as a method to engage construction professionals in a way that ensures compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR15) and that promotes a more streamlined way of partnering in the longer term.
As a practice, we have secured positions on a range of established, UK compliant frameworks, which enables easier, quicker and cheaper procurement routes for our clients. In addition to our national and regional frameworks, GSS have also secured places on a number of university frameworks across the country.
For more information on our frameworks and how you can appoint GSSArchitecture for your project, please visit our website via the below QR code:
Scan for more information on our frameworks.
Architects Lead Consultants Masterplanners