What BCHN Architects does

BCHN Architects LLP is a UK-based architectural practice headquartered in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, formed in 2023 through the merger of Baart Harries Newall Architects (tracing back to Leonard Baart Associates, founded 1963) and Bott Cruise Architects. The nine-strong practice is led by four directors — Dr Paul Harries, Mark Newall, Barbora Bott, and Michael Cruise — bringing over 100 years of collective design experience across conservation, education, residential, commercial and community sectors. The firm delivers full-service architecture from concept through construction completion, with documented strengths in heritage and conservation (including appointed architect roles for multiple dioceses and Heritage Lottery Fund projects), education-sector design, and sensitive contextual work on listed buildings across the West Midlands and Shropshire.

The practice operates as a professional services firm using conventional architectural design tools (including Graphisoft ARCHICAD BIM software) and a collaborative, client-led engagement model. It does not sell software products, APIs, or proprietary technology platforms; its deliverable is design service revenue per project engagement. Services span five practice areas: Education, Residential, Community, Heritage & Conservation, and Workplace/Commercial. The firm is an LLP with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company.

Revenue is generated via project-based professional services fees, with disclosed project construction values ranging from £150,000 to £8,150,000. Distribution is direct-to-client through competitive tendering, framework agreements with local authorities (e.g., Worcestershire County Council), and reputation-led repeat commissions. The firm has no public-facing app, no disclosed ARR, and no app store presence; its primary commercial surface is its portfolio website and word-of-mouth referrals supported by an extensive regional awards record.

Name

BCHN Architects

Legal name

BCHN Architects LLP

Website

https://bchnarchitects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BCHN Architects is a UK-based architectural practice headquartered in Shrewsbury, formed in 2023 from the merger of Baart Harries Newall and Bott Cruise Architects. The nine-strong, four-director firm delivers full-service architectural design across education, heritage conservation, residential, community, and commercial sectors in the West Midlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Heritage conservation
• Education architecture
• Urban regeneration
• Community architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional architecture services including project design, conservation, masterplanning, and interior design delivered through collaborative client relationships across all project stages

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

BCHN Architects is a UK architectural practice that designs buildings and spaces across education, residential, community, heritage/conservation, and workplace/commercial sectors. The firm guides clients from initial concept and planning through detailed design and on-site completion, delivering newbuild, extension, refurbishment, and conservation projects as integrated professional services.

Product overview

BCHN Architects is a multi-award-winning UK architectural practice formed in 2023 through the merger of Baart Harries Newall and Bott Cruise Architects. The practice operates as a unified full-service architectural firm offering design services across five main sectors: Education (schools, colleges, sixth form centers), Heritage & Conservation (historic building restoration, Listed building work), Community Buildings (village centers, libraries, civic facilities), Residential (private homes, student accommodation, boarding houses), and Workplace/Commercial (offices, restaurants, retail spaces). The firm does not offer separate software products or modules—all services are delivered through their integrated architectural practice, with projects ranging from small-scale residential conversions to large institutional buildings like schools and community centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Services
• Education Architecture
• Heritage and Conservation Architecture
• Community Architecture
• Residential Architecture
• Workplace and Commercial Architecture

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple RIBA West Midlands Awards, Civic Trust Awards, and Shropshire Building Excellence Awards won for projects across education, residential, community and heritage sectors

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Plincke Landscapes LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape design partnership on heritage restoration projects including Mary Stevens Park restoration and Hanley Park restoration projects funded by Heritage Lottery Fund
• Simply PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning consultants engaged for Soho Tavern project to achieve listed planning consent
• Keystone HeritageminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHeritage consultants engaged for Soho Tavern project to achieve listed planning consent
• Morris PropertyminorOthersConstruction contractor for Redhill Nursery project
• RidgeminorOthersStructural and services engineers for Redhill Nursery project
• SynergyminorOthersCost consultants for Redhill Nursery project
• PaveawaysminorOthersDesign Build contractors for Oakengates Tennis Centre project

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based regional architecture firm of similar size and portfolio breadth, with shared focus on heritage, education and community-led design across the Midlands/North.
• Purcell Architecture: UK heritage and conservation architecture specialist with deep listed-building expertise, comparable to BCHN's heritage/conservation practice around Shrewsbury Abbey and Heritage Lottery projects.
• Glenn Howells Architects: Birmingham-based architecture practice where BCHN director Michael Cruise spent 15 years as Studio Director, including delivery of the National Arboretum Remembrance Centre. Comparable in Midlands education, residential, and landmark project focus.
• Manser Practice Architects: UK architectural practice comparable in scale with comparable education, residential and conservation credentials; competes for similar regional UK public-sector commissions.
• Levitt Bernstein: UK architecture practice with strong education and community-building portfolio and an emphasis on sustainable design — closely comparable to BCHN's education and sustainability positioning.
• Feilden+Mawson: Practice specialising in heritage, conservation and education architecture — direct overlap with BCHN's education and conservation portfolio including RIBA and Civic Trust credentials.
• Donald Insall Associates: Specialist conservation and heritage architecture practice with extensive listed-building portfolio — directly comparable to BCHN's Grade I and Grade II heritage commissions.
• Associated Architects: Birmingham-based architecture practice where BCHN director Barbora Bott spent a decade as Senior Architect before founding her own studio. Similar profile in education, healthcare and complex institutional commissions.

Broad incumbents

• BDP (Building Design Partnership): Major international architecture practice with significant UK education, civic and heritage work — represents the larger-incumbent competitive set against which BCHN competes for institutional briefs.

Regional players

• One Creative Environment: Midlands-based architecture and design practice serving education and community sectors across the same regional footprint as BCHN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bchn-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 BCHN Architects