Simon Branson

Background

About Simon Branson

Simon has over 25 years of experience delivering award-winning buildings, including the Stirling Prize Shortlisted Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. He is passionate about the value of design and delivering environmentally and socially sustainable buildings. He has an extensive portfolio of cultural project experience which includes the Lowry in Salford, Newlyn and Penzance Art Galleries and the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries at the V&A. With all projects Simon looks to develop an environmental agenda and his most recent Oldham Performance Space project is set to be one of the most carbon conscious theatre projects in the UK. Recently completed work with FCBStudios includes two projects for Staffordshire University: The Catalyst and New Woodland Nursery. A key building on campus, The Catalyst developed a spatial response to a new digital learning environment for student and apprentices. New Woodland Nursery and forest school provides childcare in a net zero carbon development, using bio-based materials and modern methods of construction. Simon has experience of working on many heritage assets and creative reuse projects and led the transformation of award-winning Murray’s Mills, the world's oldest standing steam-powered cotton mill, into a residential development. He also renovated the 1881 Ormond Building, including Emily Pankhurst’s office, for Manchester Metropolitan University amongst others. He has been involved with a range of residential projects from one off houses through to accommodation for older persons. Common to all these projects is a desire to create a place specific architectural response. An example of this is the three projects in Ancoats with FCBStudios which are focused on a strong place making ethos to reinforce the qualities of the ‘world’s first industrial suburb’. Simon is regularly invited to teach at Manchester School of Architecture, the University of Liverpool, and The University of Sheffield. He co-authored the level 6 architectural apprenticeship programme as a member of the Architectural Trailblazer group. He is currently an external examiner for the Level 7 Apprenticeship course at Nottingham Trent University and prior to this was an external examiner at the University of Greenwich.