What RPP Architects does

RPP Architects is a privately held architectural firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with a secondary office in Derry. Operating across commercial, healthcare, education, hospitality, residential, retail, and transport/industrial sectors, the firm delivers full architectural consultancy from concept through completion. Its client base spans government entities (Belfast Harbour Commission, DAERA, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust), educational institutions (Queen's University Belfast), commercial enterprises (Santander UK, Hastings Hotel Group, Henderson Group, AC Hotels by Marriott), and non-profits (Apex Housing Association, Belfast Central Mission). Revenue is generated through professional-services fees tied to individual project commissions, ranging from bespoke family homes to multi-million-pound civic buildings and the £250m City Quays waterfront masterplan.

RPP's core service portfolio comprises architectural consultancy, Building Information Management & Modelling (BIM) following OpenBIM principles since a 2014 pilot, a dedicated interior design team, project management and contract administration, two certified Passive House Designers, and in-house CGI/VR visualization offering 3D walk-throughs. The technology stack is centered on tool-agnostic BIM interoperability and energy modelling integral to Passive House delivery, rather than on AI/ML. In-house high-end computer visualization reduces dependency on external renderers and supports client engagement on complex projects such as healthcare wards and commercial fit-outs.

The firm operates a sales-led, project-based engagement model secured via direct appointments, competitive tendering, and design competitions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured per project scope. Marketing relies on a project portfolio website, industry awards (RIBA, RICS, European Healthcare Design, CEF), and earned media in Dezeen, RIBA Journal, Perspective Magazine, and local press, rather than digital outbound marketing. The firm holds Cyber Essentials certification to bid for UK/Northern Ireland government contracts. Ownership is private and undisclosed beyond Directors Simon Robinson and Harry McConnell; no funding rounds, M&A activity, or institutional investment are referenced in available data.

Name

RPP Architects

Legal name

RPP Architects Ltd

Website

https://rpparchitects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RPP Architects is a Belfast-headquartered architectural consultancy founded in 1977, providing full-service design, BIM, interior design, Passive House, and CGI/VR visualization to government, education, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial clients across Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural consultancy
• Interior design
• Project management
• BIM services
• Passive House design

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Consultancy: Full architectural services from concept to completion, combining creativity and pragmatism on every project to translate client aspirations into buildings, interiors and landscapes.
2. Interior Design: Dedicated Interior Design Team providing materials, colour, lighting, craftsmanship and furnishings services.
3. Project Management: Qualified Project Architects managing contract administration and other professionals for project delivery.
4. Specialized Services: BIM services, Passive House design, and CGI & VR visualization services as specialized offerings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RPP Architects is an architectural firm providing full-service consultancy from concept to completion, including interior design, project management, BIM (Building Information Management & Modelling), Passive House design, and CGI & VR visualization across commercial, healthcare, education, residential, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Product overview

RPP Architects is a creative team of architects and designers with 40 years experience offering a comprehensive portfolio of architectural services across Northern Ireland and beyond. Their core offering spans architectural consultancy (from concept to completion), Building Information Management & Modelling (BIM), dedicated interior design, project management, Passive House design services with certified designers, and in-house CGI & VR visualization capabilities. The practice works across diverse sectors including commercial and technology, leisure and tourism, healthcare, education, residential and community, retail, and transport and industrial projects, from small-scale projects to landmark civic buildings and bespoke family homes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Services Full-service architectural consultancy from concept to completion, combining creativity and pragmatism to translate client aspirations into buildings, interiors, and landscapes across diverse sectors including commercial, healthcare, education, and residential.
• BIM (Building Information Management & Modelling) Building Information Management and Modelling services, embraced since a 2014 pilot scheme, offering multiple tools and workflows following OpenBIM principles and interoperability standards, tailored to client requirements.
• Interior Design Dedicated interior design team providing expertise in materials, colour, lighting, craftsmanship and furnishings, delivering interiors on time and within budget.
• Project Management Qualified Project Architects head up project teams, handling contract administration and managing other professionals and local authority contacts for project delivery.
• Passive House Design Certified Passive House Designers working across disciplines integrating architecture, structure, building services, building science, energy modelling and construction detailing for energy-efficient buildings.
• CGI & VR Visualization In-house high-end computer visualization and 3D walkthrough services allowing clients virtual tours of their new home, office or hospital ward.

Quantifiable outcome

• McClay Library at Queen's University Belfast - 10,000 users daily
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• GrahamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Main contractor on QUB Student Accommodation Dublin Road Belfast project working with RPP, Queen's University, and Bennett Freehill (BREEAM & Sustainability Consultants).
• Bennett FreehillmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024BREEAM & Sustainability Consultants on QUB Student Accommodation Dublin Road Belfast Passive House project.
• Felix O'HarecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Main contractors for City Quays Multi-Storey Car Park completed January 2019 providing 911 parking spaces.
• Doran ConsultingmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Structural & civil engineers on City Quays Multi-Storey Car Park project.
• ISDmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Mechanical & electrical engineers on City Quays Multi-Storey Car Park project.
• Graham ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Main contractor for City Quays 3 offices project. Also worked with RPP on Grand Central Hotel Belfast project.
• Johnston HoustonmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration on Adelaide Exchange Main Reception project with Graham Interior Fit Out.
• Hawkins\Brown ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Design team partnership with Hawkins\Brown Architects on Queen's University Belfast Student Centre (One Elmwood) project. RPP Architects worked in association with Hawkins\Brown on this major £41.8m student facilities development.
• Turley PlanningmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Planning consultants on Clarence Gallery Office Development project for client Killultagh Estates.
• NI ScreenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Consulted on Belfast Harbour Studios film complex design to ensure the facility would meet different production company needs.
• Richard Murphy ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration with Richard Murphy Architects (Edinburgh) on the £32.5m Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre at Belfast City Hospital. This is a second successful collaboration following Old See House project.
• Devereux ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Part of the design team for Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre alongside Richard Murphy Architects.
• Andy Sturgeon (Landscape Architect)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Renowned landscape architect Andy Sturgeon joined the design team for the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre project.
• AECOMmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2014AECOM provided specialist engineering expertise as part of the design team for the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Todd Architects: Belfast-headquartered architectural practice with comparable NI regional focus and similar portfolio spanning healthcare, education, commercial, and residential sectors. Directly competes with RPP on the same public and private tender shortlists across Northern Ireland.
• McAdam Design: Belfast architectural firm delivering multi-sector design services across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with comparable healthcare, commercial, and education project profiles. Directly competes for the same institutional and developer clients as RPP.
• Hall McKnight: Belfast-based architecture practice with award-winning work across healthcare, education, and civic buildings in Northern Ireland. Closely comparable in scale, regional focus, and sector breadth to RPP Architects.

Regional players

• Consarc Conservation Group: Dublin-headquartered architectural firm specializing in heritage and conservation projects across Ireland and the UK. Comparable in scale and conservation/adaptive reuse expertise to RPP's heritage work (e.g., Methodist College, Old See House), though primarily serving Republic of Ireland rather than NI.

Broad incumbents

• Scott Brownrigg: Large UK-headquartered architectural practice with NI project presence and full multi-sector capability. Competes with RPP on larger UK-wide briefs and on Belfast commercial/healthcare tenders where tier-1 firms are invited.
• Purcell Architects: UK-wide architectural firm with significant heritage, conservation, and education portfolio. Comparable to RPP's heritage and education sector expertise (McClay Library, Methodist College, Old See House), but operating at much larger national scale.
• Allies and Morrison: Major UK architectural practice with strengths in education, healthcare, and civic sectors. Comparable to RPP in QUB and healthcare design expertise, but with a London-centric base and substantially larger headcount and project scale.
• Hawkins\Brown: London-headquartered architectural firm with education and civic sector leadership. Already partnered with RPP on QUB Student Centre (One Elmwood), and a comparable competitor on larger UK-wide education briefs RPP might seek to win.

Others

• Bennett Freehill: NI-based sustainability and BREEAM consultancy working alongside RPP on QUB Student Accommodation Passive House project. Represents the enabling/ecosystem layer adjacent to RPP's BIM and Passive House service line rather than a direct competitor.
• AECOM: Global engineering and design consultancy that partnered with RPP on the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre. While broader than RPP and not a direct competitor on architectural services alone, AECOM is a large-scale incumbent that influences design team formation on major UK/NI public briefs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rpp_architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/rpparchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rpp-architects-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RPP Architects