John joined Orms in 1998 and became Associate Director in 2012, bringing depth of experience across residential, masterplanning, healthcare and commercial sectors. His primary expertise lies in delivering large-scale commercial projects on challenging sites in the City of London and West End. Notable projects include the refurbishment of 81 Chancery Lane—fully let prior to completion—and developments at 20 Red Lion Street and 20 St James's Street. This portfolio demonstrates his ability to transform existing buildings into successful commercial spaces through clear understanding of market drivers and client requirements.
What does ultrapractical mean to you? Ultrapractical architecture means creating spaces that work efficiently for both developers and occupiers. Throughout my career at Orms, I've applied this principle to new build and refurbishment projects on Wigmore Street, Gracechurch Street and Finsbury Square, whilst currently developing major schemes on Oxford Street and Grosvenor Street. Beyond project delivery, I lead the implementation and development of our IT, BIM and Documents Control systems across the studio, ensuring consistent quality assurance. This dual focus on architectural excellence and technical rigour enables our practice to deliver buildings that satisfy commercial objectives while enhancing the urban fabric of London.