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INSIGHTS
“We aim to fi ll a gap in the market, by providing well-designed, humanised architectural and landscape solutions” Chris Pollard
quality which means maintaining the integrity of the original vision. “Without a design champion, the ambition and impact of infrastructure projects can be diminished by well-intentioned changes,” says Pollard. He says this potentially endangers already- included design features that matter to communities. Toward the goal of upholding design excellence in major infrastructure schemes, he says that integrating key design principles at the earliest project stages via collaboration is vital. Fereday Pollard has successfully applied this on three major programmes, Silvertown and Thames Tideway Tunnels, and the Lower Thames Crossing, working closely with civil engineers in each case. The practice reports that infrastructure client teams are increasingly seeing this early integration as essential for projects to progress without opposition, and not just as a ‘nice to have.’ Sustainability aims are generally embedded in the practice’s projects, such as reducing road traffi c or improving river water quality. Functioning as a small part of large multidisciplinary teams, Fereday Pollard aims to contribute to projects’ overall sustainability strategy collaboratively. Nonetheless, the fi rm plays a key role in shaping sustainability outcomes, infl uencing signifi cant elements such as reusing excavations from new reservoirs to create landscape features, or carefully specifying hard landscaping materials. For example, the fi rm pioneered the use of timber structures over operational railway lines at the RIBA award-winning Abbey Wood station, which is now being adopted in the design of new stations at Cambridge South and Beaulieu Park, both due for completion later this year. Pollard acknowledges that the company tends to perform a different role from a typical architectural practice, as in infrastructure projects, the Lead Designer role is usually held by civil engineers. This dynamic has required the fi rm to fl ex in order to master the art of collaboration; “creating impact through advocacy and infl uence, and above all, being great team members who understand when to lead and when to follow,” says Pollard. A crucial element of the technical service Fereday Pollard provides is the creation of “Design Principles’ which underpin DCO (Design Consent Orders) in projects, and which inform the subsequent Design & Build contractors and their design teams. Pollard says that having supported fi ve DCOs to date, including the recently approved Lower Thames Crossing, makes the practice “unique in the profession.” The Bradford City Centre Transport and Public Realm Project, undertaken between 2020 and 2024, is a key demonstration of the fi rm’s human-centric design philosophy in infrastructure projects. Appointed to lead the feasibility and concept design stages, the team “reimagined key streets and connections” between the train station and a retail area, placing emphasis on low-carbon travel, accessibility, and high-quality public space. The scheme introduced pedestrian- and cycle-friendly streets, simplifi ed junctions, and autonomous ‘pods,’ all integrated within an enhanced public realm. The project transformation of Bradford Interchange through an ambitious public art programme was delivered in 2023-2024.
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Lower Thames Crossing © Fereday Pollard
Spanning over 1,500 m2, the murals and wayfi nding installations create a vibrant new gateway to the city, aligning with Bradford’s UK City of Culture role in 2025. The project is a standout example of Fereday Pollard’s ethos of “fusing infrastructure, landscape, and cultural identity to achieve sustainable and inclusive urban regeneration.” In general, the fi rm is studio-based, but a fl exible working model also enables staff to work from home. A more complex challenge is posed by the need for team members to co-locate with clients and project partners, often away from the offi ce for part or all of the week. This requires staff to make a “conscious effort to sustain the practice’s culture, identity, and shared ways of working across dispersed teams.” The practice’s 30th birthday coincides with the completion of several landmark projects. Among these is the delivery of surface sites for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, and the RIBA award for Abbey Wood Station on the Elizabeth Line. Both achievements refl ect nearly two decades of dedicated involvement and exemplify the fi rm’s long-term commitment to “transformative infrastructure.”
Future Fereday Pollard growth Pollard is hopeful looking forward, boosted by the current momentum in the infrastructure sector. “There is huge public and political interest in infrastructure, so our sector is buoyant.” However, he acknowledges ongoing challenges, particularly around “increasing the visibility of what we do,” to promote the importance of architecture in infrastructure. To support new infrastructure client teams, the fi rm is currently developing a publication designed to be a practical tool outlining how architects and designers can contribute in the early stages of a project to help “ensure long-term programme success.” As with many practices, attracting top talent remains a challenge. However, again Pollard is optimistic, based on past experience: “Those who do join soon start to appreciate the professional fulfi lment and sheer excitement of working in infrastructure.” Pollard sees the next phase of the practice as including exporting its expertise in rail, highways, water, and power and energy to other sectors including small modular reactors, data centres, fl ood defence projects, and airside aviation. He concludes: “We aim to bring best practice from our core sectors into other highly regulated environments where assets directly impact communities.”
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2025
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