History
The practice was formed in 2000 by the merger of S T Walker & Partners, Chartered Architects in Birmingham and David Duckham, Chartered Architects of Worcester. S T Walker & Partners was established over 50 years ago by Maurice Foreman and S T Walker. David Duckham’s practice was established in 1990, in succession to a practice originally established in Worcester in the 1940s by Maurice Jones, Surveyor to the Cathedral.
Resources
The practice operates from a single office near the centre of Worcester and is a RIBA “Chartered Practice” which means that we operate to the higher than normal standards required by the institute for this system. The six technical staff are supported by one full time and three part time secretaries, administrators and book keepers.
We occupy our own 16th / 17th century office building which has a partly oak framed interior concealed behind a Georgian facade on The Tything. Most facilities are available in house supplemented by bureau services close by.
Worcester is conveniently placed for easy access to the motorway and to rail networks which enables us to respond to projects over a wide geographical area. We have our own car park and are a few minutes walk from the mainline railway stations.
As with most offices, virtually all documents are produced electronically. Increasingly, drawings are produced by this system as well. The office has a networked computer system which is connected to the internet. Vectorworks CAD programme is used for drawings which is compatible with all the other major CAD systems. Other software we use includes bar chart programme generators, Photoshop and Sketchup. We have A1 size colour printing equipment and alarge scanner which enables us to export A1 size hand drawn drawings in electronic format. All electronic documents are backed up off site each workday evening.
Special expertise
The practice is best known for conservation work but, also, has received awards for high quality new buildings. For many years, some of these designs have incorporated features to minimise energy consumption, etc. The Technology Building at Malvern College (1993 RIBA award) was an early example of this type of work.
Senior members of staff have extensive experience and extra formal qualifications in conservation work. We are able to offer the service of CDM Co-ordinators and frequently act in this capacity. David Duckham is qualified in law and in arbitration and works regularly as an expert witness.