James Brooks

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Overview
People
Projects
Sectors
Values
The Story So Far

Everything architecture

Our goal is simple, to improve the quality of the world around us and, in doing so, improve people’s lives. An approach embedded in the origins of Ryder which remains a touchstone today.

Architecture is rooted in simplicity, usefulness, and elegance. It connects people to places, from rooms to cities, while serving society and the planet. It blends science, technology, and art, guiding the journey from vision to design, creation, and use, learning from each project to improve the next.

more than

350

empowered people

turnover of

33.5m

for year ended April 2024

Trusted with over

9.9bn

of client investments

Their skill in managing the design process and dialogue with stakeholders internally and externally helped to smooth the process of design and delivery.

Hugh Pearman Architectural Critic

They bring a rare blend of creativity and pragmatism — every idea feels fresh, yet completely grounded in real‑world constraints.

Amelia Rios Head of Brand, Larkspur Ventures

From kickoff to launch, their communication was flawless. We always knew exactly where the project stood and what came next.

Kevin Obeng Senior PM, Orion Digital

Our brief was complex and the timeline unforgiving, but they delivered a solution that exceeded our expectations on every metric.

Dr Sara Villeneuve Director of Innovation, MindWave Health

What impressed me most was their empathy for end‑users. The final product feels intuitive and human‑centered in every detail.

Luka Petrovic UX Lead, NovaBank

They turned a tangle of stakeholder opinions into a coherent vision—and then brought that vision to life with precision and flair.

Charlotte Meyer COO, Helix Manufacturing

Inside the Studio: Our Process

Julie Hutchinson

Reimagining the Urban Environment

Julie Hutchinson

Architecture That Shapes Communities

Julie Hutchinson

Inclusivity

As leaders in the construction industry, we have a responsibility to champion change, support diverse talent, and promote a working environment embracing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Ryder’s inclusivity group takes ownership of our policy, which centres around four measurable areas to ensure accountability. Together, we play our part in creating a more inclusive industry.

Community Impact

As leaders in the construction industry, we have a responsibility to champion change, support diverse talent, and promote a working environment embracing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Ryder’s inclusivity group takes ownership of our policy, which centres around four measurable areas to ensure accountability. Together, we play our part in creating a more inclusive industry.

Tombola HouseWorld class facilities for an expanding workforce.

Selected Specialisms

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Modern Methods of Construction

Pioneering in our approach to MMC, we advise and share knowledge with to develop a platform systems methodology, supporting the adoption of MMC and providing research into design and construction techniques.

We have extensive experience in delivering MMC enabled projects. These include the MMC development charter, co developing strategies for informed decision making, and the flexible framework approach scoring matrix, ensuring that designs keep MMC options open to reduce risk and increase supply chain resilience.

Post Occupancy Evaluation

Debriefing each project for the benefit of the next. POE helps to improve the built environment for the benefit of our clients, future design and the people who use the spaces we create.

Our pursuit of excellence is continuous improvement for all stakeholders and for the future of all our projects. Our approach is to integrate the concept of quality evaluation into the earliest stages of the project.

Retrofit

Understanding the significance of historic environments is the foundation of our whole life approach to the reuse and regeneration of our built assets to deliver sustainable social, environmental and economic benefits.

We adopt a holistic approach for addressing retrofit through our unique categorisation system, where each of our categories is interconnected and when we address one aspect we will often benefit another, maximising the end result.

Heritage

Understanding the significance of historic environments is the foundation of our approach to heritage led regeneration. Our experience includes adaptive re use and repurposing of listed buildings, conservation, refurbishment and placemaking within historic environments.

College

Further education represents a significant transition in young people’s lives and for those changing careers. For many, it is their first real introduction to independent learning and working life. The user population is as diverse as the range of courses on offer.

Values

We aim to attract likeminded people who share our values and our ethos of Everything architecture.

Passionate about our people, clients and architecture.

Collaborating across communities and the construction industry to deliver the best outcomes for our clients and the environment.

Empowering everyone to fulfil their potential and deliver unrivalled client experience.

Pioneering in our approach to reinventing architectural practice.

Defence

We have a thorough understanding of the regulations, controlled procurement, and sensitivities required when working in the defence and security sectors. Often with complex end user groups, we have experience in new build and refurbished defence establishments to meet modern building control and counter terrorism measures.

Manchester Central Library Revitalising heritage into a dynamic regional hub.

Interior Design

We often negotiate complex planning challenges, which allows us to design spaces that evolve to incorporate a rich mix of uses that are highly permeable and integrated urban environments.

Ryder’s inclusivity group takes ownership of our policy, which centres around four measurable areas to ensure accountability. Together, we play our part in creating a more inclusive industry.

Their skill in managing the design process and dialogue with stakeholders internally and externally helped to smooth the process of design and delivery.

Hugh Pearman Architectural Critic

Heritage

Sustainability

Ryder is committed to becoming net zero through a reduction in its emissions in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This requires a reduction of carbon emissions by a minimum of 46% by 2030 and 90% by 2050, with residual emissions offset.

Safety

We’re committed to implementing health and safety practices in line with the changing pace of legislation. By designing and creating safe buildings, we can contribute to the quality of life and wellbeing of the people and the planet.