New Director on Board at Innovative Cornish Architectural Firm

In a significant development for Cornish architecture, Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole (PBWC), a firm renowned for its innovative and sustainable architectural solutions, has appointed Laura Highton as a new director at their St Ives office.

Laura, a senior architect who is registered as a Specialist Conservation Architect with the RIBA, joins the existing team of directors: Cian Spowart, Chris Turner, and Simon Burgess. With a rich background in conservation and a vast array of experience with historic buildings, Laura brings a new depth to the already robust team.

Committed to Excellence and Innovation

“I’m very pleased to take on the role of director at PBWC. It’s a well-founded practice with high aspirations, and the team consistently pushes themselves to be the best architects they can be and to find the right projects,” Laura said. Her appointment is seen as a strategic move to bolster the firm’s commitment to quality and its people-first ethos.

Heritage and Design at the Forefront

Laura has led several high-profile projects, including the £2.5 million renovation of the historic Market House in Penzance. Her expertise in managing large-scale community and public buildings alongside smaller, bespoke projects like new build residences and house renovations positions her as a multifaceted asset to PBWC.

From Dreams to Reality

Laura’s connection to PBWC goes back to her childhood. “I remember coming on summer holidays to Cornwall and going past the PBWC offices in St Ives,” she recalled, highlighting a lifelong dream to be part of a leading firm far from the urban centres. PBWC’s unique position in the picturesque south of the UK continues to attract top talent who prefer the quality of life away from bustling city environments.

Ethical and Sustainable Practices

Recently embracing the ethical B Corp movement, PBWC aims to integrate sustainable technologies at every stage of their designs. “The climate challenge continues to be highly relevant to us. We push our clients to achieve the best, highly sustainable building for the right cost, while also considering the carbon footprint of our business and its impact on the projects we design,” Laura explained.

A Look Ahead

Chris, one of the current directors, expressed his enthusiasm about Laura joining the team: “We are very excited to announce Laura’s appointment as a director. Her expertise lies in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, and she is particularly skilled at bringing new life and contemporary design into historic settings.”

A Future Built on Past Success

Founded in 1973, part of the community architecture movement, PBWC has grown to become one of the South West’s largest architectural practices. Their conservation and heritage team boast over 100 years of combined experience, underscoring the firm’s foundational strengths and its forward-looking trajectory.

Laura’s induction as a director not only reinforces PBWC’s strategic direction but also enhances their capacity to innovate within the architectural domain, particularly at the intersection of heritage conservation and sustainable design. This appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for PBWC as they continue to set benchmarks in the architectural landscape of the South West and beyond.