Niven Architects

10/05/2018

Three members of our team, Stephen Abbott, Stu Kent and John Adams, have signed up for the Coniston Challenge on September 15th to help raise funds for one of our two chosen charities, Guide Dogs for the Blind. This exhilarating multi-disciplined event consists of a 10k hike to the summit of Coniston Old Man, a 12k bike ride through the forest of Grizedale plus a 1k kayak across Coniston Water.

As it's going to be quite a tough event, you won't be surprised to hear that the training has already started!

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a wonderful charity whose work significantly improves the independence - and thus the quality of life - of people who are blind or partially sighted.

However, at a cost of £44,600 to train each puppy and their new partner and £12,000 to support the partnership going forward the charity needs all the help it can get. We're therefore trying to raise as much money as possible to help the charity with these costs through this and other activities throughout the year.

If you would like to support Stephen, Stu & John by making a contribution to our final total please click on https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/NivenWizards to donate and make a difference.

If you would also like to find out more about the costs of training a puppy https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/how-your-money-is-helping/ tells you everything you need to know..

Everyone loves a Guide Dog..........

Help us change the world! Make a donation now.

30/04/2018

Niven joined in the event on the 27th April to help raise funds for bowel cancer research and the Bobby Moore Fund Squad. Whilst the football team photo reveals no West Ham supporters there were a surprisingly wide variety of football shirts on display.

19/12/2017

Last Friday may have been typically busy business-wise however, the real action happened at 12.30pm when 'Secret Santa' took place and then later at 7.30pm when we all met up for the Niven/BIM Strategy Christmas Meal.
As always, the level of imagination exhibited by some members of the team (only they know who they are) in relation to their choice of presents never ceases to amaze - unfortunately, some cannot be displayed here.
Also, whilst it may have been Simon's first day back at work for a few weeks he took on his role as the chief 'dispenser of presents' with considerable enthusiasm.
He even donned his special Santa waistcoat for the occasion!

21/11/2017

Many thanks to Mike English, his team and the wonderful residents of CVT's Larchfield Community at Hemlington for inviting us to their Christmas Fayre at the weekend.
We have been working with CVT - who provide care for adults with complex learning disabilities - for a number of years, most notably on the award-winning Daffodil House (at Larchfield) which provides independent living for 9 adults and also currently at their sites at Botton and Malton.
It was great to see how Daffodil House is developing and to also to 'bump' into some of the team and residents who worked with us to help make the project such a success.
The Christmas Fayre provides a great 'showcase' for the impressive range and quality of crafts and produce made by the residents - which, fortunately, were busy being 'snapped up' by the many visitors to the event.
Thanks again for the invitation.
P.S. Can anyone tell us who the 'speediest' sheep was?

17/11/2017

Thanks to all the businesses in Business Central who joined us in a Quiz at lunchtime to raise funds for .
Thanks, in particular, to Senior Architect, David Hardcastle (aka 'the demon quizmaster'), who devised the event and also the team at Business Central who kindly donated their time as well as some great raffle prizes.
A really enjoyable way to support the charity - plenty of laughter, plenty of and a bit of !
Thanks to everyone who helped us raise £180!








&Hugo

31/10/2017

We've been having a Feast today - somehow we have too much food !

26/10/2017

This week we welcome Sanjay Kumarendran who has joined us on work experience.
Since arriving, Sanjay's been busy working with architects Stu Kent and John Adams who have focused on introducing him to some of the fundamental principles of the design methodology we use in the Niven studio. He's been involved in modelling concept forms based on site analysis using Trimble Sketchup and then working iteratively through the sketch plan and section concepts before returning to the 3D forms to test, refine and define concepts based on room uses, daylighting and views. By the time he finishes he should leave us with a fully developed design concept, a 3D model and an appreciation of our
iterative design approach.
Sanjay is currently a student at Ripon Grammar School where he's studying Art, English Literature, Mathematics and Psychology.
Sanjay says:' I hope that by participating in work experience at Niven, I will gain a better sense of whether or not architecture is something I would want to pursue as a career. I also hope to benefit from the advice and opinions of professionals within the field who can offer an insight into what it’s like to be an architect on a day to day to basis, as well as explaining some of the terminologies I might otherwise be unfamiliar with.'
Hopefully, he will leave us with a much better understanding of what 'being an architect' involves.

26/10/2017

http://bit.ly/2yOwcgS
BIM Strategy's John Adams channelling his 'inner Bob Monkhouse' as host of 'Digital Transformation at Teesside University.

Hosting 'Digital Transformation Event'

16/10/2017

Director, Simon Crowe, accompanied by team members Peter Wharton (Wharton Construction), Euan Moir (Anglia Water) and Nicholas Crowe (Fast Stream) took part last month in a Charity Golf Day to help raise funds for St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington.

This year the event - organised by Sally Pickersgill of Heritage Healthcare - attracted well over 30 teams and raised an amazing £13,500. This takes the total raised by this event to £210, 000, which is an incredible achievement.

Thanks, once again, to Sally, Glenn and the team at Heritage, for all the hard work they put in to make this event both a pleasurable and highly successful one.

02/10/2017

Last week, John Adams (Director of BIM Strategy - our digi sister company), Stephen Abbott (Technical Associate), James Anderson (Senior Technologist) and David Hardcastle (Senior Architect) took part in the annual Tour de Kielder organised by Planning Consultants, Lichfield's, to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The 26 mile ride around the stunning Kielder reservoir is always a challenge no matter how experienced a rider you are. Stephen and John have taken part a number of times, however, this year the team contained two 'first- timers' - James and David, both of whom did extremely well.

The question is .....will they do it again next year?

Our thanks go to Lichfields, who once again organised a brilliant event for a very worthwhile cause.

Well done, everyone!

19/09/2017

http://www.nivenarchitects.co.uk/news/polishing-the-jewel/

Niven is delighted to report that we have been commissioned to oversee a multi-million pound renovation of the historic Blackwell Grange Hotel, on the southwestern edge of Darlington. Built in the early eighteenth century for a wealthy industrialist, the impressive Grade 2 listed Georgian building i...

03/08/2017

Whilst we may not have made the shortlist this year that didn’t stop John, Lyndsy and the children from Sedgefield Hardwick School from having a brilliant time at this years’ for the charity, Children North East.

However, apart from a wonderful day at the beach, everyone taking part has just heard that they have contributed to helping the charity raise the amazing sum of £25,000.

Founded in 1891, Children North East is the region’s oldest independent children’s charity. Today, the charity’s role in the region is to ensure that all children have the right to good health, education, safety, play, family life, protection from harm and support when things go wrong. By hosting fantastic events like this the charity has been able to change the lives of so many.

The is definitely one of those occasions where it’s not the winning that really matters but........ the taking part!