The strength of The LA Way lies in the people who deliver it, and we’re proud of the talented and dedicated team behind our work. Our appointment to several prestigious new projects this year has enabled us to grow the team at LA London, bringing fresh expertise, perspectives and ideas to the studio.
Everyone at LA London contributes to a positive, supportive culture that enables us to do our best work. We are equally committed to professional development at every career stage, from supporting graduates through their RIBA qualifications to providing regular CPD sessions, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Early-stage support
LA London has a proud history of nurturing architects in the early stages of their careers. This year alone, we have celebrated three team members qualifying as architects – Mai Smith, Pearl James and Angelika Kuczynska-Hajdasz – having supported them through their RIBA Part 3 studies.
Having joined LA London as a graduate, Mai Smith says, “I could lean on anyone in the office and ask a million questions – which I did… a lot!”
The RIBA Part 3 qualification is demanding, testing candidates' understanding of professional practice, contracts, law and project management, alongside their full-time work. We support our team with dedicated study time, access to experienced mentors and exposure to the breadth of project experience needed to achieve their qualifications.
We also offer architecture students the opportunity to gain meaningful experience of life in practice. Each year, we welcome an intern into the studio, involving them in as many aspects of the profession as possible – from design and technical work to meetings, site visits, consultant collaboration and the day-to-day running of a busy architectural practice.
This year’s intern, Emily Zaman, says, “Working in a bigger practice means I get exposed to more projects at different stages. Sometimes I’m Photoshopping interior elevations and other times I’m detailing the fire strategy around a beam in a staircase. Every day is different as an intern, which is what I most enjoy.”
Ongoing development
A recent office day out saw the team visit Joseph Giles’ workshop
Continuous professional development (CPD) is fundamental to our work as architects, ensuring we maintain the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver projects to the highest standards.
We hold weekly CPD sessions, inviting external specialists to share their expertise on subjects ranging from building conservation and sustainability to health and safety and fire safety regulations. These sessions help us stay informed, challenge our thinking and bring fresh insights to our projects.
We also visit the workshops and studios of our collaborators, giving team members first-hand insight into the craftsmanship behind our projects, from specialist joinery and stonemasonry to architectural ironmongery.
Our studio is designed to encourage collaboration and shared learning. Partners, senior architects and newer members of the team work alongside one another in an open-plan environment, making it easy to discuss live projects, exchange ideas and learn from each other's experience.
Representation and inclusion
A selection of the LA ladies
As a female-majority practice, with a senior team including partner Kathryn Archer and associate Megan Burrows, LA London is proud to promote gender equality in a profession that remains male-dominated in many areas. We also recognise that more needs to be done across the industry to address longstanding inequalities, particularly on site.
We are encouraged to see more female colleagues progressing through their qualifications and developing their careers with LA London. This contrasts with the wider industry picture highlighted by the Architects' Journal in 2022, which reported that women represented only 30% of qualified architects, despite accounting for around half of architecture students. We believe our collaborative, open culture plays an important role in supporting this progression.
Megan Burrows says, “It’s such a supportive team culture, a great environment to work in. We all share the same values and we take pride in all the work that we do.”
We encourage independence and initiative, giving colleagues the freedom to pursue their interests and contribute to the wider development of the practice. Mai, for example, now leads our sustainability team, introducing improvements to our working practices and studio environment that have helped increase our PRIME score from 11 to 14 over the past year.
“It’s such a supportive team culture, a great environment to work in. We all share the same values and we take pride in all the work that we do.”
Work hard, play hard
While we take our work seriously, we also make time to enjoy ourselves. Regular team socials include film nights, breakfasts and family barbecues, while our keen bakers provide a steady supply of treats for birthdays and celebrations. We also recognise individual contributions through our ‘Colleague of the Quarter’ award, complete with a special (if rather tiny) trophy.
Many of the team enjoy keeping active outside work, and we've taken part in everything from Tough Mudder and charity runs to golf tournaments and the annual Better Bankside pancake-tossing race. On a larger scale, the LA London Summer Party has become a fixture in the industry calendar, bringing our team together with friends, clients and collaborators in a relaxed setting.
We also encourage everyone to build their professional networks, creating opportunities to meet clients and collaborators, exchange ideas and develop the strong relationships that underpin successful projects.
Ultimately, our culture is about more than creating a great place to work. By investing in our people, encouraging collaboration and supporting continuous learning, we strengthen the expertise, commitment and shared values that enable us to deliver the exceptional standards of True Prime® architecture.