Education environments can have an enormous effect on learning and teaching. Through constant engagement with those who teach, those who learn and those who manage, we’ve grown to understand their needs and how to meet them.
Buttress has designed education projects from primary to university level both nationally and abroad. With an array of challenging briefs and education pedagogies, our design responses have produced award-winning projects for leading schools, colleges, and universities. Whatever the budget, we create distinctive inspiring buildings that are conducive to learning.
Creating a home from home
Associate Director, Matthew Burl, shares the key things we consider when developing boarding house design.
Unlocking potential
When working with existing estates, we advocate for the sustainable choice of retaining and reusing where possible.
Where legacy buildings are listed we will draw upon the deep understanding of heritage within Buttress' studios and work with you to unlock their potential and retain them at the heart of the estate.
Featured journals
Buttress' Alison Haigh, Certified Passivhaus Consultant
Congratulations to Buttress Associate, Alison Haigh, who has achieved becoming a Certified Passivhaus Consultant.
Five principles for successful school design
How can good design promote excellence in teaching and learning?
Buttress starts work at Chetham's School of Music
After months of planning and inspection, Buttress is set to embark on a significant project to restore Whiteley Hall at Chetham's School of Music, in the heart of Manchester.
Matthew Burl
Matthew is an architect and director at Buttress who has led the successful design and delivery of new build and refurbishment projects across a range of cultural, academic and community-led sectors, both regionally and internationally.
He also coordinates the practice's sustainability activities and has led Buttress' B Corp journey helping the company achieve certification at the end of 2022.
Chris Whelan
Chris works across various sectors within the practice and brings an exceptional eye for detail and creative solutions to all.
With over 25 years of experience as a qualified architect, Chris’ extensive experience includes architectural designs for some of the country’s leading independent schools, residential schemes, masterplanning exercises, and various community, sports and leisure projects.
