Oliver Lowrie on Setting Up a Practice
Oliver Lowrie shares practical lessons on setting up an architecture practice, from clients and cashflow to resilience and positioning.
- Visit Website
- Send an email
- Call now
- Bookmark
- Share
- prev
- next
Description
Ackroyd Lowrie was founded in 2014 by Jonathan Ackroyd (originally as Ackroyd & Associates) with Oliver Lowrie joining as co-founder Director in August 2015, after which the practice rebranded to its current name. From a single East London studio at The Old Vyner Street Gallery in Cambridge Heath, the practice has grown to 30 staff across architecture, project management, planning consultancy, 3D rendering and PassivHaus design.
The studio brand carries the strapline of one of London's fastest-growing architectural practices, attracting attention for imaginative, sustainable and award-winning schemes that put people at the heart of design. The work spans urban regeneration, masterplanning, residential, commercial, education and interiors, with a notable film-studio sub-discipline (ARRI commission) and an in-house ALVA visualisation atelier. Ownership remains with the two founder-directors; Oliver Lowrie is the named Person with Significant Control on Companies House.
Video
Culture
- Capped overtime policy with paid overtime — no culture of overtime.
- Real impact and influence on the design and outcome of projects you work on.
- Hybrid working — four days in the office with flexibility to work from home.
- Specialist career paths supported, including ALVA visualisation atelier (BIM / 3D / VR).
- Modern open-plan studio with roof terrace and Beatsaber VR station.
- Bi-annual international team trips, monthly events, weekly socials.
- Friday team lunches paid by the company.
- Financial support for Part 3 students and structured CPD programme.
- Strong support for diversity and inclusion — partner of the Jason Roberts Foundation, Social Mobility Foundation, Land Aid and Made by Dyslexia.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Ackroyd Lowrie actively recruits from diverse backgrounds and varied experiences of the city to define and deliver the cities of the future. The studio is described in Glassdoor reviews as diverse and inclusive, with diversity-and-inclusion ratings averaging 4 out of 5 across 15 reviews. The practice supports the Social Mobility Foundation and Made by Dyslexia, alongside community partnerships with the Jason Roberts Foundation and Land Aid. Capped overtime policy and paid-overtime culture are aimed at protecting wellbeing and avoiding burnout.
Podcast
Values
People at the heart of design. Imaginative, sustainable and award-winning work. Investment in studio environment so the team feels nurtured, included and active. Honest about workload: capped overtime policy with paid overtime, no overtime culture, anti-burnout. Encouragement of activities that benefit team members professionally and personally including supporting local schools, colleges and community initiatives. Ongoing support of local and national charities including Jason Roberts Foundation, Social Mobility Foundation, Land Aid and Made by Dyslexia. Founder-led practice (Jonathan Ackroyd MD + Oliver Lowrie Co-Founder) with charismatic leadership built from the ground up since 2014.
Why Work Here?
At Ackroyd Lowrie we do not believe in a culture of overtime — it leads to burnout. The studio runs a capped overtime policy with paid overtime so the team is paid for every hour worked. The studio environment is invested in so the team feels nurtured, included and active: roof terrace, natural light, Cambridge Heath location near Regent's Canal and Victoria Park. Range of typologies from residential to film studios (ARRI) and scales from small developments to masterplans gives unusually broad portfolio exposure for a 30-person practice. Strong Part 1 to Part 3 progression infrastructure, internal promotion encouraged, and an in-house ALVA visualisation atelier provides a parallel BIM / 3D / VR specialist career path.
Articles, Blogs and News
Key People
Industries
Sectors
Software
Locations
-
The Old Vyner Street Gallery, 21-23 Vyner Street, London, E2 9DG
Regions
Culture, Perks & Benefits
Apply to Join
Discuss
A private and exclusive forum for Architecture & Design professionals and students.
Backed by industry specialists, it’s where you can engage in meaningful conversation, make connections, showcase your work, gain expert insights, and tap into curated opportunities to advance your career or strengthen your studio.
Apply to Join
A private and exclusive forum for Architecture & Design professionals and students.
Backed by industry specialists, it’s where you can engage in meaningful conversation, make connections, showcase your work, gain expert insights, and tap into curated opportunities to advance your career or strengthen your studio.
