peak-stoat - About Us

A Practice Built on Public Service

Peak-stoat was established with a singular conviction: government buildings deserve architects who truly understand them. While many practices treat public sector work as one segment among many, we made it our entire focus.

This commitment has shaped every aspect of how we operate. Our team members have worked within government, not just for it. We know the approval processes, the stakeholder dynamics, the funding cycles, and the operational realities that determine whether a building succeeds or merely exists.

The result is architecture that responds to genuine needs rather than aesthetic assumptions. Buildings that facilitate government functions while welcoming the public they serve. Spaces where civic pride and practical utility coexist without compromise.

Modern office workspace with architects at work

Our Principles

Public Accountability

Every decision we make considers how it will be judged by the citizens who fund these buildings and the officials who must justify them.

Operational Primacy

Architectural expression follows operational requirements, never the reverse. Government buildings must work before they can inspire.

Civic Character

Public buildings communicate values. We ensure that message is considered, appropriate, and enduring rather than merely fashionable.

Architectural model and design materials

Expertise Refined Over Two Decades

Our portfolio spans nearly every type of government facility. Council chambers and administrative centres. Courts and tribunals. Emergency service headquarters. Cultural institutions receiving public funding. Educational buildings serving state schools and universities.

This breadth means we approach each project with relevant precedents and tested solutions. We know what works because we have built it, occupied it, and learned from it across dozens of completed projects.

Equally important, we know what fails. The security measures that create intimidation rather than protection. The flexible spaces that nobody ever reconfigures. The sustainable features that maintenance teams cannot operate. These hard lessons inform our design decisions daily.

Leadership

Senior directors who bring both design excellence and public sector understanding to every engagement.

Professional portrait of senior architect

Richard Pemberton

Founding Director

Catherine Wells

Design Director

James Okonkwo

Technical Director

Working With Government Clients

We speak the language of public sector procurement. Framework agreements, OJEU notices, pre-qualification questionnaires, stakeholder engagement protocols. These are not obstacles to navigate but familiar territory where we guide clients confidently.

Our project managers understand the approval chains, the committee cycles, and the documentation standards that government projects require. We build realistic programmes that account for political calendars and budget cycles.

This fluency allows design conversations to focus on design rather than process. When procedural expertise is assumed, creative dialogue can flourish.

Discuss Your Project Requirements

We welcome conversations about government building projects at any stage of development.

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About Our Practice