What Nicholas Hare Architects does

Nicholas Hare Architects LLP is a London-based RIBA Chartered architectural practice founded in 1978, operating from a single office in N1 (The Lux Building, London) and serving institutional clients across the United Kingdom with limited international reach (UAE). The firm provides full-service architectural design spanning concept, technical design, and construction oversight, with sector specializations in higher education (University of Cambridge, UCL, Queen Mary, Canterbury Christ Church), independent schools and further education (Warwick, St Paul's, Felsted, Kettering, Brighton, Golden Lane), cultural and performing arts organizations (Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Alexandra Theatre), and commercial workplace clients (Cisco, Nokia, Schlumberger, Immunocore). Approximately 60 school projects and numerous BREEAM-rated buildings (including BREEAM Outstanding for UCL Student Centre and BREEAM Excellent for Alison Richard Building) demonstrate deep sector concentration in education and a strong sustainability positioning.

The practice's underlying technology base is built on BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodologies, sustainable design expertise, and whole-life carbon approaches to retrofit and reinvention projects, exemplified by the award-winning David Attenborough Building refurbishment at Cambridge. Core technical competencies include passive environmental design using thermal mass and natural ventilation, innovative structural solutions such as cross-laminated timber hybrid construction (Royal Opera House Costume Centre), and urban densification strategies for education facilities (Golden Lane Campus). Products are organized into distinct categories: Higher Education Buildings, Arts & Civic Buildings, Schools & Colleges, Offices & Workplace, Masterplanning, Reinvention & Retrofit, and Residential, supported by BIM Services and Sharing Knowledge thought-leadership initiatives.

Nicholas Hare Architects generates revenue through project-based professional services fees derived from competitive tenders, direct commissions, and referrals. With no disclosed pricing model and no public revenue or headcount figures, the firm operates as a privately held LLP without external investment, funding rounds, or parent company ownership. Following founder Nicholas Hare's retirement in 2018 to focus on NH Sculpture, leadership continues under partners Paul Baxter, James Eades, Jayne Bird, Carol Lelliott, Philip Dring, and Director John Leonard (with the firm since 1996). Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise field sales to institutional and commercial clients, supported by earned media and thought-leadership channels including Architecture Today, New London Architecture, RIBA awards, and Open City Green Sky Thinking Week hosting.

Name

Nicholas Hare Architects

Legal name

Nicholas Hare Architects LLP

Website

https://nicholashare.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nicholas Hare Architects LLP is a London-based RIBA Chartered architectural practice founded in 1978, providing full-service sustainable building design across higher education, schools, cultural institutions, and commercial clients in the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

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
• Education sector architecture
• Cultural buildings design
• Sustainable architecture
• Building retrofit 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 fees for architectural design services including concept design, technical design, and construction oversight for building projects across education, cultural, commercial, and residential sectors. Revenue is project-based, generated through competitive tendering and direct commissions from institutional and commercial clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nicholas Hare Architects LLP is a London-based RIBA Chartered architectural practice providing full-service building design across the project lifecycle, from concept design and masterplanning through technical design, construction oversight, and retrofit. The firm specialises in higher education, schools and colleges, arts and civic, and commercial office buildings, with particular expertise in sustainable design, BIM (Building Information Modeling), and whole-life carbon approaches to building reinvention and retrofit projects.

Product overview

Nicholas Hare Architects is a RIBA Chartered architectural practice offering full-service architectural design for buildings across multiple sectors. Their portfolio includes specialized services for Higher Education, Schools & Colleges, Arts & Civic, Offices & Workplace, and Masterplanning, supported by BIM expertise and Reinvention & Retrofit capabilities. The practice is particularly known for sustainable design achieving BREEAM certifications and has completed projects for prestigious clients including University of Cambridge, University College London, Royal Opera House, and Glyndebourne. Key project types span research facilities, theatres, schools, office campuses, and public realm works.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services
• Masterplanning Services
• Reinvention and Retrofit Services

Quantifiable outcome

• BREEAM Excellent rating achieved through passive environmental design, exposed concrete thermal mass, natural ventilation with night-time cooling, and ground source heat pump.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MEPC UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper MEPC commissioned Nicholas Hare Architects for Schlumberger Technology Centre at Milton Park. NHA worked for both developer MEPC (shell-and-core) and tenant Schlumberger (fit-out design), requiring effective balance of development criteria with tenant operational requirements.
• South Essex CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Essex College partnered with ROH and University of the Arts London to establish a BA degree course in Costume construction at the Costume Centre. Students train with ROH staff gaining first-hand experience on live briefs.
• University of the Arts LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of the Arts London partnered with ROH and South Essex College for BA degree course in Costume construction at the Costume Centre.
• Thurrock CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurrock Council partnered with ROH for High House Production Park development. The Costume Centre is a partnership between Royal Opera House, South Essex College, and Thurrock Borough Council.
• ArupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup provided M&E engineering services for Glyndebourne Production Hub project.
• Max FordhamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMax Fordham provided services engineering and acoustics for Glyndebourne Production Hub.
• GlyndebournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Hare Architects designed Glyndebourne Production Hub - the biggest capital development since opera house rebuilding in 1994. Building brings together technical departments for props, scenery, and costumes.
• ArupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup provided project management, cost planning, and acoustics for Warwick Independent Schools Foundation masterplan.
• MaceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMace partnered with Nicholas Hare Architects as contractor under IESE framework for University Centre Farnborough project.
• CharcoalblueminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTheatre consultants Charcoalblue provided acoustic advice and detailed auditorium studies for St Paul's School Drama Centre and Samuel Pepys Theatre.
• High House Production ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHA completed masterplan for High House Production Park in Thurrock and designed multiple buildings including ROH Production Workshop and Costume Centre. The park creates creative industries hub.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Allies and Morrison: London-based RIBA Chartered architectural practice with comparable scope across education, cultural, and masterplanning work, and similar institutional client base in the UK.
• Stanton Williams: London-based architecture practice with deep education sector expertise (e.g., UCL Here East, University of Limerick) and cultural building portfolio, directly overlapping NHA's Higher Education and Schools segments.
• AHMM (Allford Hall Monaghan Morris): UK architectural practice of similar size and reputation, with strong portfolio in higher education and commercial sectors, frequently shortlisted alongside NHA for UK institutional commissions.
• Haworth Tompkins: UK architectural practice known for cultural and education buildings including theatres, schools, and performing arts venues — directly comparable to NHA's ROH, Glyndebourne, and school portfolio.
• Mikhail Riches: Stirling Prize-winning practice with award-winning education and sustainable housing portfolio; comparable sustainability credentials (Passivhaus, BREEAM) and BREEAM Outstanding experience overlapping NHA's whole-life carbon expertise.
• Feilden Fowles: RIBA Award-winning UK architecture practice with strong education and cultural portfolio (e.g., Sheffield School of Architecture, Magdalene College), competing for similar higher-education and arts commissions.
• Wilkinson Eyre: Major UK architecture practice with comparable institutional, cultural, and infrastructure commissions, including higher-education and cultural-sector work that overlaps NHA's vertical specializations.

Broad incumbents

• Zaha Hadid Architects: Globally recognized architecture practice with major cultural and higher-education commissions; competes for marquee cultural projects where NHA also bids (e.g., cultural sector commissions).
• Sheppard Robson: Major UK architecture practice with broad portfolio across higher education, cultural, and commercial sectors, frequently competing for institutional commissions similar to NHA's work.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with extensive UK higher-education and cultural portfolio (e.g., Bloomberg HQ, Battersea Power Station); competes for the largest university and cultural commissions where NHA is also active.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nha_llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Nicholas Hare Architects