adpractice Ltd Hertfordshire architects
About us
Founded in 1992, A D Practice Ltd is a small, well-established and multidisciplinary Chartered RIBA architectural practice located in The Mill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire.
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We offer a full range of design services including specialised planning advice and design development; initial feasibility studies; planning permission consents and appeals; building regulations; sustainable design; energy efficiency advice; contract administration. We also offer Passivhaus design and are members of the Passivhaus Trust, the AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building) and The Green Register.
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Our key strength is our ability to listen and learn from our clients and work together in order to create better spaces that both work for people and improve their quality of life. We design in BIM (Building Information Modelling) meaning that we can offer 3D visualisations of all our schemes, no matter how small, which can aid the understanding of the design for both clients and planners.
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Sustainability is at the heart of this philosophy and every design we produce. As members of several sustainable building associations and Certified Passivhaus designers, we design buildings that are healthy for both the planet and occupiers, using natural construction materials and renewable energy sources where possible, minimising the energy used by our buildings and setting them sensitively in nature to maximise natural daylighting and enhance local biodiversity.
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We have a varied client base from both the public and private sectors, commissioning bespoke and developer-led schemes.
Completed work includes individual residential new-builds and developments; extensions and refurbishments; commercial schemes; conservation and listed building work; primary, secondary and tertiary level education projects; restaurant and retail fit-outs; ecclesiastical; healthcare and community projects.
The Team
This is our lovely team, we are a small team and work as a collective on projects so you will likely be speaking to each and everyone of us on your project.
David Parry
David founded the practice some 30 years ago and has an extensive local knowledge and background in planning and the local built environment. He served time as a St Albans District Councillor and Chair of the Planning Committee and more recently as a Parish Councillor for Park Street. He was heavily involved in the preparation and successful adoption of the St Stephen Neighbourhood Plan and is also a member of St Albans District Agents Forum Advisory Panel.
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In addition to work, David continues to campaign on a local and national issues, often disrupting the work environment to instigate office discussions on the news of the day! He also continues with his lifelong involvement with youth volunteering through scouting and the Duke of Edinburgh’s award. In fact, despite being old enough to retire, we suspect that he never really properly made it past 18!
Director
Heather Johnson (McNeill)
Director and Architect Heather started working at A D Practice Ltd at the age of 16 as a CAD Assistant which prompted her to study her Part 1 Architecture at the University of Bath. After a period of time in practice in Suffolk, she went on to complete her Part 2 at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, North Wales and returned to to the practice in 2018. Heather completed her Part 3 studies at Kingston University and was accepted into the ARB and RIBA in 2021. As our Certified Passivhaus Designer, she specialises in sustainable and energy efficient design and has broad experience in the residential and conservation sectors. Her most recent achievement was being named as one of the RIBA Journal's Rising Stars 2024 - Please click here for link.
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When Heather is not in the office she can be found in the mountains as a qualified ski and snowboard instructor or out in the fields with Winston the lovable dog!
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ARB: 098095A
RIBA: 20005896
Director | BSc(Hons) Dip Arch PG Dip ARB RIBA CEPH
Emma Warren
Associate and Architect Emma has had previous experience working in architectural practices in Devon and Cornwall. She undertook her Undergraduate and Masters studies at the University of Plymouth, Devon. Since undertaking her qualifications, she has specialised in listed buildings, high end residential projects and highly sustainable and environmentally conscious architecture.
Emma completed her Part 3 at the University of the West of England and was accepted into the ARB and RIBA in 2023. She has a huge flair for Interior Design and we'd class Emma as the creative soul in the office.
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When Emma is out of the office, She enjoys being active, going for runs and baking. She enjoys getting out and about in the countryside and frequently visits Devon to enjoy the beach and Moors.
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ARB: 100474C
RIBA: 20052738
Associate | BArch(Hons) MArch PG Dip ARB RIBA
Alison Ross
Office Manager Alison has an enormous amount of experience in the construction industry as well as managing the logistical side of businesses. From her QS background she has developed a strange love of contracts, health and safety and CDM, which naturally took its turn into HR, making her an invaluable member of the team!
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When not keeping us on the straight and narrow and plying us with tea and chocolate, Alison is involved in the running of several other businesses within the construction industry and looking after her growing menagerie at home!
Office and HR Manager
Winston
This is our lovable Sheepadoodle who keeps us entertained and as our resident therapy dog who offers much needed cuddles!
Lead Barkitect | Woofing Division