Architect launches own practice after decade working on high profile city centre schemes

Chartered architect Mark Whitfield has launched his own architecture practice after more than a decade working in commercial practice in Manchester city centre.

Whitfield Architects is focused on residential, heritage and commercial projects, drawing on Whitfield’s 12 years of hands-on industry experience and particular enthusiasm for conservation.

Based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester it serves clients in south Manchester and Cheshire; and also Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria.

Whitfield left his role as associate director of Northmill Associates in Manchester – the practice behind The Pilcrow Pub on Hanover Street and The Silkworks on Atkinson Street – at the end of March, following a previous long-standing position as architect at Hurd Rolland Partnership.

During his time at Hurd Rolland Partnership, Whitfield was project architect for a number of high-profile schemes, including The Courthouse on Deansgate – the conversion of a Grade-II-listed former courthouse into an impressive office and leisure scheme.

Also known as Oddfellows House, it is home to The Oddfellows Society, the Handmade Burger Company and premium steak restaurant Hawksmoor.

Whitfield’s other projects at HRP included luxury apartments at 8 King Street, also in Manchester city centre; and Rutherford House, a new commercial office development in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Whitfield Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice handling projects both large and small. It started life in April 2017 as an independent family business run by Whitfield and his wife Liane Baddeley, an experienced business manager and copywriter (Woodshed Content) and former journalist (Manchester Evening News).

The practice also has a strong focus on customer satisfaction, providing a transparent, accessible and high-quality service to both commercial and domestic clients.

“We firmly believe in working in the best interest of our clients, regardless of project size,” said Mark Whitfield.

“This means offering genuinely useful advice and value for money – but at the same time, we put forward bold ideas, with the aim of creating contextually suitable, interesting and environmentally conscious architecture. Then we work closely with our clients to create the reality.”