What David Morley Architects does

David Morley Architects (DMA) is a London-headquartered architectural practice founded in 1987 by David Morley after a 13-year tenure with Norman Foster. Operating as a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales, the firm employs 11-50 staff and has designed more than 500 projects and won over 100 awards across the Sports, Education, Residential, Healthcare, Commercial, Community, Culture and Environment sectors. The practice's core capability is environmentally considered design, supported by an in-house 'Eco-tracker' system that benchmarks operational energy, embodied energy, water, biodiversity, flood mitigation and community wellbeing at every RIBA work stage, alongside specialisms in Passivhaus delivery, heritage retrofit, Active Design and, more recently, sustainable data-centre masterplanning.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees tied to project-based engagements spanning RIBA Stages 1-7, with pricing structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fee depending on procurement route (Two Stage Design and Build, Traditional, Design and Build). Work is won through architectural competitions, invited competitions and direct client appointments, with framework agreements anchoring long-term relationships, notably The Royal Parks since 2000. Clients are predominantly UK institutional buyers: independent schools and universities (Abingdon School, Loughborough University, University of Oxford, King's College Wimbledon), major sports bodies and clubs (Marylebone Cricket Club/Lord's, The Hurlingham Club, ECB, Olympic Delivery Authority, UK Sport), heritage and government organisations (The Royal Parks, NHS), and property developers (Related Argent, Ballymore, Grosvenor, Urban Splash). Construction values on disclosed commissions range from £3.3m (Italian Gardens Café) to £40m (David Ross Sports Village), with flagship projects including the London 2012 Olympic Water Polo Arena, SportPark 4 (Passivhaus Classic), Author King's Cross (21,813 m² for Related Argent) and the multi-phase Abingdon School masterplan.

DMA's GTM is enterprise field sales via direct project engagements, with no product distribution channel and no public marketing spend of note. Pipeline development relies on portfolio-led content marketing (website, LinkedIn, Instagram, X), industry awards (RIBA, Wood Awards, RICS, Structural Awards, AJ100) and conference speaking (Design in Mental Health 2025, London Festival of Architecture 2025, AUDE). A 2025 strategic partnership with Shielder Group extends the firm into international sustainable data-centre masterplanning, the first material new vertical beyond the historical UK institutional base. The firm remains founder-led, privately held, with no disclosed external funding and an operating footprint primarily in the United Kingdom with early international signals in Greece.

Name

David Morley Architects

Legal name

David Morley Architects LLP

Website

https://davidmorleyarchitects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

David Morley Architects is a London-based, founder-led architectural practice founded in 1987, delivering environmentally considered design across sports, education, residential, healthcare and heritage sectors for UK institutional clients, with over 500 projects and 100 awards to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable building design
• Sports facility architecture
• Heritage building retrofit
• Urban masterplanning services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural design services: Professional architectural services providing design, planning, and project delivery for institutional clients across sports, education, residential, healthcare, and commercial sectors. Revenue generated through project-based fees for RIBA Stages 1-7 services including masterplanning, concept design, detailed design, and construction oversight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

David Morley Architects is a design-led architectural practice providing full-service architectural design from concept through completion (RIBA Stages 1-7) for institutional clients. The practice serves sports, education, residential, healthcare, commercial, community, culture, and environment sectors with integrated in-house specialisms covering environmental design, heritage and retrofit, masterplanning, and sports facility design, supported by a proprietary Eco-tracker system for environmental performance monitoring.

Product overview

David Morley Architects is a design-led, award-winning architectural practice offering comprehensive architectural services across multiple sectors including Sports, Education, Residential, Healthcare, Commercial, Community, Culture, and Environment. The practice provides full-service design from concept through completion, with integrated internal specialisms in environmental design and sustainability, heritage/retrofit, masterplanning, and specialist sports facility design. Key service offerings include the in-house 'Eco-tracker' for environmental performance tracking, heritage building conservation, and large-scale urban regeneration masterplanning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design spanning concept through completion (RIBA Stages 1-7) for institutional clients including schools, universities, sports clubs, healthcare providers, developers, and government bodies.
• Environmental Design Services Integrated environmental design covering operational energy, embodied energy and materials, water usage, flood mitigation, biodiversity, community and wellbeing, with the proprietary Eco-tracker tool tracking performance at every design stage.
• Heritage and Retrofit Design Specialist design services for heritage and listed buildings (Grade I, II and II*), conservation area projects, and adaptive reuse of historic structures such as mills, with 100% track record in securing listed building consent.
• Masterplanning Urban masterplanning for large-scale regeneration projects, brownfield site development, mixed-use schemes, and public space design, including the Author King's Cross masterplan for Related Argent.
• Sports and Leisure Facility Design Specialist design of sports venues including Olympic facilities, cricket grounds, athletics centres, swimming pools, and sports hubs for universities, sports clubs, and leisure organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% record in securing planning approval and listed building consent
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Shielder GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Shielder Group, a leading provider of engineering solutions specializing in fire protection and advanced electrical systems, for sustainable data centre masterplanning. Currently working together on international data centre sites to integrate facilities as part of wider masterplans enabling waste heat recycling.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Panel participant at London Festival of Architecture 2025 for If Timber Could Talk discussion on sustainable timber sourcing and specification.
• Timber Development UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organizer of London Festival of Architecture panel If Timber Could Talk exploring timber's journey from forest to design.
• Abodo WoodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organizer of London Festival of Architecture panel If Timber Could Talk with David Morley on timber's role in sustainable architecture.
• Abingdon SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Ongoing partnership since 2016 delivering multiple phases of estate masterplan including Beech Court Sixth Form Centre, Faringdon Lodge, Beech Court Pavilion dining facility, and New Boarding Houses (Austin House and Crescent House).
• The Royal ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Framework architects for The Royal Parks charity working continuously since 2000 to present. Delivered broad range of projects covering sports, education, masterplanning and hospitality venues within the historic Royal Parks including The Hub, Italian Gardens Café, Albert Memorial Kiosk, The Look Out, and Ignatius Sancho Café.
• Related ArgentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partner for King's Cross development. DMA serves as masterplan architects and lead design architects for Author King's Cross mixed-use development. Also delivered The Coal Office, The Plimsoll Building, King's Cross BTR Development, and King's Cross Construction Skills Centre.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMasterplan and ongoing partnership delivering multiple projects including SportPark Pavilions 1-4, Claudia Parsons Student Village, National Cricket Academy, Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel, Clyde Williams Building, and SportPark 4 (Loughborough University's first Passivhaus building).
• Beard ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for Beech Court Pavilion project at Abingdon School.
• Henry BrothersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for SportPark 4 project at Loughborough University, embracing Passivhaus principles and collaborating on sustainable building delivery.
• Borras ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Greenwich Park Revealed project delivering Vanbrugh Lodge café and Wolfe Kiosk.
• Attune AcousticsTechnology or IntegrationAcoustic consultant for Beech Court Pavilion project.
• RidgeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultant for Beech Court Pavilion project.
• Urban SplashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead developer partner for Lister Mills regeneration in Bradford. DMA converted Velvet Mill to 190 apartments with innovative two-story rooftop extension as part of this transformation.
• Feilden Clegg Bradley StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating architecture firm on Author King's Cross mixed-use development.
• Haptic ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating architecture firm on Author King's Cross mixed-use development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mae Architects: London-based sustainable architecture practice working across education, residential, and community sectors with strong Passivhaus credentials. Comparable sustainability-focused boutique practice with similar client profile.
• WilkinsonEyre: UK architecture practice with deep sports venue expertise (including Olympic and stadia work) and a similar institutional client base. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping sports/leisure specialism.
• Feilden Fowles: Award-winning UK architecture firm of similar scale working across cultural, education, and heritage sectors. Comparable boutique design-led practice with strong award record and institutional client base.
• Haworth Tompkins: London architecture firm with comparable size and specialism in theatre, sports, and cultural buildings. Strong overlap in heritage-sensitive institutional projects and RIBA-recognised design quality.
• Stanton Williams: UK architecture firm with comparable headcount and a portfolio spanning cultural, educational, and residential projects. Directly comparable in scale, sector mix, and award-winning design-led approach for institutional clients.
• Purcell: UK architecture firm specialising in heritage, conservation, and education projects with comparable listed-building expertise. Direct comparable for DMA's heritage/retrofit practice area.
• Allies and Morrison: London-based architecture firm of comparable scale, working across education, residential, heritage, and masterplanning sectors with strong UK institutional client base. Highly comparable mid-size UK architectural practice with overlapping sector portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios: Larger UK sustainable architecture firm with strong education, residential, and mixed-use portfolio and a notable sustainability leadership position. Currently collaborates with DMA on Author King's Cross and competes for similar institutional commissions.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm founded by Norman Foster — DMA founder's former employer. Competes for large institutional and heritage-sensitive commissions at the top end of the UK and international market.
• Grimshaw Architects: Larger UK-headquartered international firm with deep sports, transport, and education portfolios. Provides broader scale and geographic reach, making it a key incumbent competitor for institutional commissions DMA targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/davidmorleyarch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-morley-architects-llp
• Instagraminstagram.com/davidmorleyarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 David Morley Architects