What MawsonKerr does

MawsonKerr is an employee-owned architecture practice headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, founded in 2010 by Will Mawson and Dan Kerr, with a second office opened in Leeds in 2025. The firm designs sustainable buildings and places across the residential, education, cultural, and commercial sectors, with a particular specialism in Passivhaus-certified low-energy design and the conservation of heritage buildings and landscapes. Its underlying technical approach combines low-carbon, fabric-first design methodology with conservation-accredited expertise, evidenced by project work for clients including English Heritage, the National Trust, and The Auckland Project, and validated by 80-plus awards accumulated since 2012.

The practice generates revenue through traditional UK architectural fee structures — typically percentage-of-construction-cost or fixed-fee project commissions — earned across competitive tender wins for public-sector, higher-education, heritage, and private developer clients. Key clients named in the available evidence include York City Council, Northumbria University, Sunderland College, Theatre Royal Newcastle, Igloo Regeneration, and The Auckland Project. The firm transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOB) governance model, and has published a Climate Action Plan committing to Net Zero Carbon operations by 2028, positioning sustainability as both an internal operating principle and an externally marketed service differentiator.

Name

MawsonKerr

Legal name

MawsonKerr Architects

Website

https://mawsonkerr.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MawsonKerr is an employee-owned UK architecture practice founded in 2010, based in Newcastle with a 2025 Leeds office, specialising in Passivhaus-certified sustainable design and heritage conservation for public-sector, education, cultural, and residential clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture
• Passivhaus design
• Heritage conservation
• Architectural services
• Masterplanning urban design

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services providing bespoke design solutions for residential, commercial, heritage, education, and leisure projects. Revenue generated through project-based fees structured around RIBA Plan of Work stages.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MawsonKerr is an employee-owned architectural design studio providing bespoke architectural services from concept through construction administration. The practice delivers sustainable, contextually sensitive design across residential, heritage, education, commercial, and cultural building sectors, with specialist expertise in Passivhaus-certified ultra-low energy buildings, heritage conservation, masterplanning, retrofit, and whole life carbon assessment.

Product overview

MawsonKerr is an employee-owned sustainable architectural design studio offering bespoke architectural services across multiple sectors including residential, heritage, education, commercial, and leisure. The practice specializes in Passivhaus-certified sustainable design, heritage conservation architecture, masterplanning, retrofit and adaptive reuse, and sustainability consulting. Their core offering is bespoke architectural design from early concept through to construction delivery, supported by specialist capabilities in Passivhaus standards, heritage building work, and sustainable design using tools such as BIM software and PHPP for energy modeling. The studio works on projects ranging from one-off houses to theatres and major education buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Architectural Design Services Full architectural design service from initial concept through construction delivery, provided to enterprise clients such as local authorities, housing developers, universities, and private homeowners across the UK.
• Passivhaus Design
• Heritage and Conservation Architecture Architectural services for historic buildings ranging from non-designated heritage assets to scheduled ancient monuments and Grade I listed interiors, delivered to heritage bodies, councils, and trusts such as English Heritage and National Trust.
• Masterplanning and Urban Design Large-scale planning service for housing masterplans, urban regeneration schemes, and community-focused development frameworks, provided to housing associations, developers, and local authorities.
• Retrofit and Adaptive Reuse Service focused on reimagining existing buildings, including sensitive renovations of listed structures and sustainable retrofit solutions for improved energy performance, delivered to cultural institutions, councils, and private owners.
• Sustainability Consulting Climate action planning and sustainable design consulting covering net zero carbon pathway development, whole life carbon assessments, and environmental performance modeling using One Click LCA and PHPP tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passivhaus certification achieved on multiple residential projects including Tynemouth home, Oak Tree Passivhaus (first in Tyneside), and Walmgate 42-unit scheme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sunderland City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partnership on Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) - a ground-breaking facility for training in digital construction and modern methods of building, situated next to Stadium of Light using a disused engine shed.
• Sunderland CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partnership for HICSA providing skills training in construction innovation alongside Sunderland Council and Education Partnerships North East.
• MOBIE (Ministry of Building Innovation and Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with George Clarke's organization MOBIE on HICSA project to advance modern methods of construction education.
• Igloo RegenerationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on housing regeneration projects including Vaux Housing Sunderland, Malmo Quay masterplan, and Home of 2030 competition winning scheme. Working as part of Igloo team on multiple developments.
• CoHousing Upon Tyne (CoHUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with CoHUT group to design their homes in East End of Newcastle - a mixture of 25 houses, flats and duplexes as first cohousing development in North East, designed to certified Passivhaus standard.
• TOWN (Enabling Developer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with TOWN as enabling developer alongside CoHUT to deliver the cohousing project.
• Open Studio ArchitectsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint winners of Home of 2030 government competition alongside Igloo. Both practices working on Vaux Housing development within Riverside Sunderland masterplan.
• Education Partnerships North East (EPNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EPNE (comprising Sunderland College) on HICSA project for construction skills training.
• Brims ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor on HICSA project.
• Pip Morrison (Landscape Architect)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on Walled Garden at The Auckland Project - landscape architect for the garden design creating a 'feast for the senses' through productive and sensory garden spaces.
• The Auckland ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Walled Garden glasshouse project at Bishop Auckland - part of Castle's transformation into major visitor destination.
• STP ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist contractor on Walled Garden glasshouse project.
• True North ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor on Passivhaus Tynemouth project and Byre House.
• Robertson GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor partnership on Bailiffgate project shortlisted for awards.
• Meldrum GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor on Green Room and 100 Grey Street Theatre Royal projects.
• NE1 (Newcastle Business Improvement District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner on Bigg Market Regeneration - £3.2 million heritage-led regeneration project with Newcastle City Council.
• Newcastle City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Bigg Market Regeneration and various public sector projects including Theatre Royal and education buildings.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient partner on Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre alongside Seascapes - gateway building to The Leas coastline with community and conservation facilities.
• SeascapescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with National Trust on Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre project.
• English HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient partner for Hadrians Wall Visitor Centre at Birdoswald and Grimes Graves Neolithic Mine projects - both heritage sites requiring sensitive design solutions.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPractice is a RIBA Practice Role Model; supporters of regional and national RIBA; involved in RIBA Mentoring and Architect Ambassador programmes.
• Newcastle UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with local universities for tutoring and lecturing; involved in student workshops and mentoring programmes; hosts students from Newcastle University Architecture programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Haworth Tompkins: London-based award-winning architectural practice of comparable size, focused on theatre, cultural, heritage, and education buildings. Highly relevant peer due to similar UK cultural/education client base, comparable award profile (RIBA Stirling Prize-shortlisted), and emphasis on sensitively refurbished historic buildings.
• Levitate Architects: Small UK practice focused on sustainable, Passivhaus-certified residential and small-scale community projects. Comparable on Passivhaus specialism, residential/private housing work, and sustainability-first design ethos.
• Purcell Architecture: UK heritage and conservation architecture specialist with a national practice. MawsonKerr's existing consultancy partner on the Auckland Estate masterplan; comparable on heritage work (English Heritage, scheduled monuments, Grade I listed) and conservation specialism.
• Stanton Williams: London-based practice with strong cultural, education, and heritage portfolio including RIBA Stirling Prize winner. Comparable on award-winning cultural/education design and sensitive heritage interventions within major UK institutions.
• Architype: UK Passivhaus specialist architectural practice with deep expertise in low-energy design and timber construction. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized, sustainability-first firm working across education, housing, and civic buildings with Whole Life Carbon and Passivhaus methodologies.
• Feilden Fowles: Award-winning Leeds and London architecture studio recognised for sustainable design, contextual modernism, and cultural/heritage projects. Comparable on scale, RIBA award profile, and focus on contextually sensitive contemporary architecture across the UK.
• Donald Insall Associates: Long-established UK heritage conservation architecture specialist working on listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and historic estates. Comparable on heritage sector work for clients such as English Heritage and National Trust.
• Proctor & Matthews: Award-winning UK architecture practice with strong residential, masterplanning, and heritage portfolios. Comparable on housing-design awards (Housing Design Awards, RIBA recognition) and sustainability-led residential and regeneration work.
• Coffey Architects: Independent UK architecture practice with similar profile of award-winning residential, heritage, and small cultural commissions. Comparable in size, design-led ethos, and emphasis on contextually driven contemporary architecture.
• Cullinan Studio: UK architectural practice with a long-standing reputation for sustainable design, education buildings, and conservation work. Comparable on sustainability commitments, public sector education clients, and award-winning built work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 MawsonKerr