Project Office: Empowering communities through ethical architecture and student collaboration

Project Office is an initiative to provide architectural input to those most in need, but who can’t afford to work with a commercial practice. This is achieved through mobilising the student endeavour at Leeds School of Architecture as a ‘Force for Good’. Project Office is an architecture consultancy making ethical, social and resilient architecture, aimed at supporting third sector organisations and contributing to Leeds Beckett University’s Anchor Institution commitment. Project Office are a design and research collaboration of staff and students, where student participants are always paid for their time; either through the university currency of ‘credits’ awarded towards their degree, or financially when external funding has been secured.

Working with like-minded communities and individuals, Project Office have undertaken over 40 projects to date, offering a full architectural service that includes feasibility studies, design guides, design advocacy, research, fabrication and construction. This has led to a range of new buildings, including a community centre, primary school playground, and charity office.

This semester, Project Office are exploring ideas for the Future High Street, with Architecture and Law students collaborating to propose creative, interdisciplinary strategies for reimagining Leeds City Centre. Working with colleagues from Leeds Law School, Leeds City Council and Leeds’s Quality Places & Spaces group, the intention is to develop a policy engagement initiative, centred on addressing urban regeneration and sustainable community development. These proposals engage directly with Leeds City Council’s consultation on the Leeds Local Plan 2040, Connecting Leeds Strategy, and findings of the recent House of Lords Select Committee report, High Streets: Life Beyond Retail?

The project aligns with Leeds Beckett’s priorities of creating Inclusive, Prosperous Communities by fostering knowledge exchange between students, academics, local businesses, and policymakers. Key activities will include collaborative workshops, stakeholder engagement events, and a public-facing exhibition in a non-campus location, culminating in a policy briefing document that consolidates findings and delivers actionable policy recommendations.

Further information can be found at the Project Office website or by emailing projectoffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

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