Our core team are experienced in all aspects of the project stages and the project lead will remain with the job throughout, you will have one highly informed point of contact to guide the process from start to finish.
neil brown
A qualified architect and RIBA member since 2000, Neil leads the brown + company team, both in York and nationwide.
An exceptional designer with a creative insight and a proactive approach, Neil’s management expertise and ability to lead numerous teams simultaneously, is fundamental to the running of the practice. A visionary leader with a proven ability to pre-empt and resolve planning and construction issues, Neil has overseen several high-profile projects including the redevelopment of Edgbaston cricket stadium and grade II* Ashton Old Baths in Greater Manchester.
His architecture has been shortlisted for several prestigious awards over the years including the Greater Manchester Building of the Year, Historic England Best Rescue of a Heritage Building and the Sunday Times British Homes Awards.
stephen clewes
Steve is a driven architect who has worked on a wide range of projects globally, ranging from large-scale masterplans and mixed-use developments to complex heritage restorations and conversions. Previously working in Manchester and with over 15 years of practice experience, he has worked on a number of high-profile schemes in York, including The Gasworks and The Crescent developments.
With a meticulous approach to project delivery through ambitious solutions, creative design and understanding of quality construction, his mindful responses to conditions of the site, context and client have resulted in the delivery of a number of award-winning residential projects as lead architect, including The Welsh Streets in Liverpool.
rachel crooks
Rachel graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2023 and was awarded the Rowand Anderson Silver Medal for best final year Scottish Student for her thesis project which focused on material reuse and circular economy.
With a passion for respectful and sustainable design Rachel has worked for award winning practices based in Glasgow and Durham. She has experience contributing to the design of commercial, residential and cultural projects in sensitive heritage sites around Scotland.
emma croyle
Emma has a wide range of experience designing large scale projects across the UK and worked in architectural practices based in London and Manchester for over ten years before relocating to York.
She has worked across a broad variety of sectors; leading international teams of designers on residential masterplans, office, leisure and mixed use projects, and has delivered complex new build and refurbishment schemes across London and the South East.
Emma is highly experienced in developing designs from conception through to completion, with a particular interest in collaboration with artists and specialist craftspeople to deliver unique and exceptional buildings.
toby harling
Toby has 20 years experience working in large and medium sized commercial practices in London, Bristol and Leeds. Recently Toby has focussed on student accommodation and has worked on a number of schemes, most notably the Coney Street Riverside masterplan. Prior to this Toby was responsible for leading the design and delivery of medium to large scale office, retail, leisure and residential schemes across the country. Toby relishes the challenges inherent in repurposing existing buildings and a number of his most notable schemes are renovating listed and locally listed buildings.
Toby is interested and experienced in all stages of the construction process, from the initial concept design that can unlock the potential of a site to the technical detailing required to make that sketch a reality.
didem hatton
Didem has a wide range of experience working in several AJ100 practices based in Manchester for 9 years before relocating to York.
Her experience covers high-rise residential, office, hospitality, heritage and mixed-use projects. She is very passionate about conservation, previously worked on large scale heritage projects such as the Restoration of Westminster Palace and the restoration of Ducal Palace of Guastalla in Italy.
She has a particular interest in sustainability. She embraces the challenges of upgrading the sustainability aspects of historic buildings while giving them a new life.
rob miller
With over ten years of experience in the field, Rob boasts a diverse portfolio of completed projects, spanning from sensitive conversions of listed buildings to large-scale mixed use developments. Since relocating to York in 2019 he has played a key role in several high-profile projects in the city including The Roman Quarter and Coney Street Riverside.
Rob brings a strong understanding of design, a creative approach to problem-solving and a dedication to sustainable practices to every project he undertakes.
lottie ramsey
Lottie qualified with a degree in Architecture from Northumbria University, Newcastle in 2022 and gained experience redeveloping existing buildings, designing commercial interiors, and working on smaller scale residential schemes within York, Newcastle and across the UK. She holds a particular interest in how sustainable technology can be used to enhance architectural design.
Now after relocating to York, she is looking forward to using this experience within her role at brown + company to work on a range of projects.
jess turner
Jess worked in architectural practice in Birmingham for 7 years before moving to York in 2024. She completed her RIBA Parts I and II, and qualified as an Architect, after completing her Part III, in 2022.
A passionate advocate for sustainable design, Jess embraces the challenge of finding appropriate solutions to reduce embodied and operational carbon emissions in projects across various sectors. Her experience covers residential, including student and high-rise, masterplanning, higher education, mixed use and heritage projects, with her involvement on university projects fuelling her interest in sustainable and low carbon design.