HeritageFounded in 1953, we now have teams collaborating internationally, with a shared commitment to our ethos of Everything architecture.
Two pioneering young entrepreneurial architects, Gordon Ryder and Peter Yates, who worked with Le Corbusier and Ove Arup, first met in the office of Berthold Lubetkin. They went on to form Ryder and Yates in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Beginnings built on inspiration. From the minds of two pioneering young architects.
Le Corbusier, Lubetkin and Newcastle-born Arup, had a powerful influence on the design philosophy of Gordon and Peter which can still be seen in Ryder’s work today.
Ted Nicklin, who later became a mentor to Peter Buchan, joined Ryder and Yates in 1963, bringing with him a commitment to social architecture. In the same year Leszek Kubik, a Polish structural engineer, joined. By 1965, building services engineer Jack Humphrey and electrical engineer Geoff Brown were also part of the team.
The death of Peter Yates in 1982 resulted in the formation of Ryder Nicklin Partnership, which continued until the retirement of Gordon Ryder in 1990. Following the sudden death of Ted in 1994 it was left to Peter Buchan, who had joined in 1977, and Mark Thompson, who had joined in 1988, to take the practice forward to what it is today.
This basis for integrating architects and engineers in a single practice stemmed from the experience both Gordon and Peter enjoyed while working with great designers. This pioneering approach remains in Ryder’s work today – inclusive and collaborative. There is passion in every aspect.
“One thing is certain – Ryder will keep evolving…”
Rutter Carroll, Architectural Historian
An insight into our history. Highlighting Ryder through time.
There is a rigour running throughout Ryder’s approach and a deceptive simplicity in our work, a determination for useful and functional design. This has not changed in over 70 years.
Ryder & Yates is founded in Newcastle upon Tyne by pioneering young architects Gordon Ryder and Peter Yates
Former partner Ted Nicklin joins
Former senior partner Peter Buchan joins
Ryder Nicklin is formed following the death of Peter Yates
Current managing partner Mark Thompson joins
Buchan and Thompson take the reins leading the new philosophy behind Ryder Nicklin’s renaissance
Becomes Ryder Architecture
UK presence expands with London office opening
Established joint venture with US based firm HKS
BIM Academy is established in a joint venture with Northumbria University
Ryder Alliance is established with co founding partner i2C in Australia
Ryder establishes charitable foundation AzuKo
PlanBEE (Built Environment Education) higher education programme is launched with Gateshead College
Devereux Architecture joins Ryder
Peter Buchan retires
Manchester office opens
Ryder crowned Building’s Architectural Practice of the Year
Okana is created from Ryder Alliance and BIM Academy, and Ryder is once again crowned Building’s Architectural Practice of the Year
Ryder becomes an Employee Ownership Trust
Hugh Pearman
Architectural Critic
AwardsRyder and our work has been recognised with over 200 awards.
They include the prestigious Queen’s Enterprise Award for International Trade, ranking world class in the Best Companies to Work For tables and being named Building’s Architectural Practice of the Year 2021 and 2024, and finalist nine times since 2012.
Civic Trust Awards
Regional Finalist: Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden
Constructing Excellence in the North East: Building Project of the Year
Highly Commended: The Story
European Healthcare Design Awards: Healthcare Design (Under 25,000 sqm)
Winner: Highgate East
Insider Media North East Property Awards: Fit Out/Refurbishment of the Year
Shortlisted: Gateshead Community Diagnostic Centre
Insider Media North East Property Awards: Commercial Development of the Year
Shortlisted: Maker and Faber
Insider Media North East Property Awards: Commercial Development of the Year
Shortlisted: Monkwearmouth Hospital
RIAS Awards
Shortlisted: Chryston Community Hub
RIBA North West
Winner: Aviva Studios, home of Factory International
Scottish Design Awards: Education Building
Shortlisted, Chryston Primary School
Scottish Design Awards: Health Building
Shortlisted, Chryston Community Health Clinic
Scottish Property Awards: BTR Development of the Year
Winner, Moda, Holland Park
Best Companies to Work For
Winner: Learning and Development Award, Architecture & Surveyor
BCO Northern: ESG
Winner: One Strawberry Lane
BCO Northern: Corporate Workplace
Commended: One Strawberry Lane
Building: Architectural Practice of the Year
Winner
Constructing Excellence North East: Building of the Year
Shortlisted: Bank House, Durham Constabulary Investigative Hub, Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden
Constructing Excellence North East: Client of the Year
Shortlisted: Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Constructing Excellence North East: Delivering Value
Shortlisted: Durham Constabulary Investigative Hub
Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber: Project of the Year
Winner: Tower Works
Education Estates: Architectural Practice of the Year
Winner
Education Estates: Pupil Experience
Shortlisted: Whitley Bay High School
Housing Design Awards
Shortlisted: Grace House
Insider Media Yorkshire Property Industry Awards: Residential Development of the Year
Winner: Tower Works
Learning Places Scotland: Architectural Practice of the Year,
Shortlisted
Learning Places Scotland: Pupil Experience
Shortlisted: Chryston Community Hub
New London Awards: Healthcare
Winner: Highgate East
RICS UK: Land Management and Sustainable Development
Highly Commended: Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden
RICS Yorkshire and Humberside: Residential Development of the Year
Winner: Tower Works
Scottish Design Awards: Education Building
Shortlisted: Boclair Academy
AJ100: Community Impact of the Year
Shortlisted: NUCASTLE
BCO Midlands and Central England: Best Commercial Workplace
Winner: 103 Colmore Row
BCO Northern: Corporate Workplace
Shortlisted: New Billingham House
Constructing Excellence North East: Building Project of the Year
Shortlisted: Dogger Bank
Constructing Excellence North East: Net Zero
Winner: Dogger Bank
Inside Housing Development: Best Affordable Housing Development £20m+
Winner: Grace House
Insider North East Property: Commercial Development of the Year
Winner: One Strawberry Lane
RIBA North West
Shortlisted: India Buildings, HMRC
Scottish Property: Architectural Excellence Award (Public Use)
Shortlisted: Winchburgh Sport and Well Being Hub
UKReiiF: People and Skills Torchbearer
Shortlisted: PlanBEE/Mark Thompson
BCO Northern: Corporate Workplace
Commended: Pipewell Quay
Best Companies to Work For
Top 10: Best Large Companies to Work For
Edinburgh Architectural Institute: Large Project Award
Winner: Queensferry High School
Education Estates: Project of the Year (Schools)
Winner: Queen Elizabeth High and Hexham Middle Schools
International Property Awards: Best Social Housing Europe
Winner: Grace House
Insider Media Property Awards North East: Fit Out/Refurbishment of the Year
Winner: Pipewell Quay
Insider Media Property Awards North West: Development of the Year
Winner: India Buildings, HMRC
Mixology North: Project of the Year, Public Sector
Shortlisted: India Buildings, HMRC
RICS North East: Community Benefit
Winner: NUCASTLE, Newcastle United Foundation
RICS North West: Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project
Winner: India Buildings, HMRC
Building: Architectural Practice of the Year
Winner
Edinburgh Architectural Institute: Large Project
Winner: Queensferry High School
International Property Awards: Social Housing United Kingdom
Winner: Grace House
Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade
Winner
OkanaLet’s shape tomorrow.
Okana was created in 2024 to build on the success of BIM Academy – an internationally respected digital consultancy founded by Ryder, and Ryder Alliance – a global network delivering collaborative projects around the world.
Combining the strengths of both, we launched Okana, a pioneering global built environment consultancy, placing visionary thinking alongside economic viability.
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