A bright future after four decades for architectural firm

Established in 1985 by architects Max Elliott and Adrian Manning, both now retired, the practice has transitioned into a new era under the ownership and directorship of Nick Bailey, complemented by the leadership of director Chris Staniowski, who assumed the role in 2023 after eight years with the firm.

They are both focused on ensuring the business continues to grow and diversify for many years to come. Over the past four decades, Manning Elliott has played a pivotal role in designing and constructing a wide range of building projects spanning various sectors.

In recent years, it has broadened its horizons and aims to expand its client base into previously untapped sectors of the industry.

“My objective is for Manning Elliott to continue to exist long into the future as the practice continues to evolve in line with technologies and changes within the industry,” says Nick.

Manning Elliott’s diverse portfolio covers almost every sector, including around 25 private hospitals, with recent projects for One Healthcare, in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and Ashford, Kent. The practice has also left its mark internationally, designing hospitals in Malta, India and Nigeria, and has undertaken high-profile commercial works in Monaco.

House building has also been a particular specialism of the practice for many years;  the team at Manning Elliott has delivered specialist design services to a range of established housing developers. It has been heavily involved in shaping the landscape of social housing delivery in south-west Scotland, having designed and built developments in Annan and Sanquhar, both of which have been nominated for regional design awards. The design of bespoke, one-off houses has also been an important part of the practice’s workload. The team takes great pride in working with domestic clients to help them define and realise their aspirations for their new home.

Chris says the demands of its housing clients vary depending on the market they are trying to appeal to and how established they are.

"We work with established developers, with pre-defined templates for how they work with house types that have been built as a product over numerous developments,” he says.  “We also work with a number of emerging developers, designing a complete set of new house types in accordance with the development of their brand and specific market aspirations. These types of clients are drawn to us because of our extensive experience in this field.”

In addition to hospitality and licensed retail projects for well-known brands, such as Jennings and Marstons, the practice has worked on local hotels like the Glenridding Hotel and the Lakehouse and Windermere Rooms in Ambleside for the Inn Collection Group. It has also undertaken bespoke public house refurbishment work, including the award-winning and highly respected Duncombe Arms, in East Staffordshire. The practice’s expertise extends to diverse commercial developments across the country, as well as community projects in Cumbria itself, including Warcop Village Hall, Penrith Football Stadium and currently Keswick Rugby Football Club. One of Manning Elliott's most exciting current projects involves the development of designs for the new Cumberland Sports Village at Borough Park, the historic home of Workington AFC.  

The practice has always tried to rise above competitors by offering services and expertise, drawing on the significant experience and the diverse backgrounds of its team of architects and designers. Nick says the practice offers “commercially astute” service for its clients. This involves employing business acumen, commerciality and strategic thinking, together with detailed knowledge of the construction industry, market trends and opportunities, and factoring in legal and regulatory compliance, risk management and project management skills.

“Coordinating architectural projects of varying scales and complexities can be challenging but through effective coordination and maintaining communication pathways with clients the practice has always been able to deliver successful projects on time and on budget whilst embracing innovation and efficiency,” says Nick.

The practice is collaborating with Manchester's School of Architecture to offer students practical and vocational experience in redeveloping a site at Cleator Mills, in Cleator.

"The university looks for real world sites to base projects on and selected one of our client’s sites for their current year of study. The students are very good at rooting out all the issues in an area to provide a well-researched and thoughtful architectural solution,” says Chris.

It is Chris’ intention to continue to tutor the students on a longer-term basis and he hopes to explore other aspects of architectural education that has remained an interest since he graduated from the University of Manchester himself in 2008. “As well as putting something back into the growth of the industry at grass roots level, this also helps the practice with the challenge of finding new professionals and skillsets,” he says.

As Manning Elliott continues to evolve under the senior management team of Nick, Chris and Lily Street, a recently qualified architect, the practice remains optimistic about its future.

Nick says he hopes bringing in fresh talent, combined with a full order book and the future direction of Chris and Lily will ensure Manning Elliott remains just as busy for another 40 years.