LONDON BASED ARCHITECT, SARAH WILLIAMS OF S WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS IS A STRATEGIC RIBA CLIENT ADVISER AND EDUCATION SPECIALIST WORKING WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, IMPLEMENTING HIGH PROFILE SCHEMES OF UP TO £150M
Sarah Williams of S Williams Architects, works with clients across a diverse range of projects, and builds close relationships to understand the design challenges, and project opportunities.
We never start with a preconceived outcome in mind. We generate ideas and add value, preferring to be involved as early in the process as possible, so we can shape and define your needs.
S Williams Architects, headed by Sarah Williams, has a creative yet pragmatic approach. We offer strategic advice through to a full design service, totally committed to delivering high quality schemes that are both viable and deliverable.
Sarah's calm and reassuring demeanour and cohesive and considerate leadership was truly a masterclass in advising clients. She managed to keep not only the committee members and staff aligned, but also in her frequent reports to Council (the 60 architect strong policy head of the RIBA) gained a significant reputation for the logic of her approach and subsequent work.
Jane Duncan President RIBA 2016-2017
SARAH WILLIAMS
BA (HONS), DIP ARCH, ma (cambs), riba client adviser
Working at both a strategic and project level, Sarah can undertake site analysis, develop briefs and feasibility studies, build the design team, manage stakeholders, deliver planning approvals, providing expertise at every stage.
Sarah Williams set up S Williams Architects in 2013 having spent the last 25 years working in private practice in the UK and overseas. She advises the Education Funding Agency on a number of school projects in London, and is working on mixed use, residential, and other educational schemes in London and the South East.
As a former London board member, and equity director, of one of the largest international and independently owned architectural practices, Aedas, Sarah Williams ran the London office with fellow partners. Here, she delivered a huge variety of award winning buildings including schools, academies, colleges, law courts and health centres. She also has experience in residential, commercial, retail, mixed use and arts sectors.
Sarah is known for her collaborative approach. She has participated in a number of design review panels, speaks at conferences and has judged various competitions. She is a passionate advocate of design quality, and won the 'Women in the City’ award for the Built Environment in 2011.
A SELECTION OF CURRENT AND PREVIOUS PROJECTS
We employed Sarah Williams as a Client Adviser to help us deal with design issues for both temporary and permanent sites for our new Free School. We found her to be experienced, creative, pragmatic and very committed to helping us achieve our objectives.
I have worked with Sarah on a variety of projects and have always been im-pressed at the quality of her design coupled with the pragmatic and commercial response to the problems each site has thrown up
As RIBA Client Advisor to Winchester City Council on the Station Approach project over the course of the last 2 years, Sarah Williams has provided the role of reassurance and technical oversight to the process of advising on the design competition, selection and appointment of design team, and continuing now with a reassurance role on the proposed scheme moving forward. She has particularly helped in advising on governance matters to ensure the scheme moves forward in an optimal way. Her professional manner, responsiveness and technical experience all give strong independent reassurance in the steps we are taking for a big project initiative which needs exactly the range of skill sets that Sarah so capably brings to the table, and provides invaluable, respected assistance to the Council.
.jpg)
 (2).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Sarah has acted as a vital bridge between the world of professional architecture and passionate, but less technically minded, stakeholders; allowing them to feel involved in the design process, and work towards a final design that hopefully the Council and all aspects of the community will feel proud of. Our project is far from over, and we look forward to working with Sarah over the coming months and years to deliver the project safe in the knowledge that she’ll continue to guide us through the numerous design stages with her characteristic patience and ability to translate complex information into layman’s terms. We would absolutely recommend Sarah to any client that needs someone to demystify the world of architecture and help to facilitate community involvement in a project''.
_0 (1).jpg)
.jpg)
'We have been working with Sarah for the last couple of years and have now appointed her as our RIBA Client Advisor on our 500,000 sq ft regeneration scheme in Maidenhead town centre. During the early stages of this transaction, before purchase she exhibited great architectural, commercial and diplomatic skills. This included evolving and sketching up the essence of a large scheme in front of Local Authority Officers and Councillors at large meetings. With her charming dialogue and persuasion, she achieved a general consensus and an excellent, professionally-designed development brief. Her tenacity, continuing enthusiasm, skill and energy make her a delight to work with whist adding great value to projects''.
.jpg)
 (2).jpg)
We appointed Sarah to oversee a particularly tricky procurement process and ended up asking her to stay on in an advisory role for the rest of the scheme. Her knowledge and expertise proved invaluable and the fact that she is so reliable and friendly meant that she was an asset to the design team. If you’re looking for a safe pair of hands, an impartial viewpoint and a RIBA seal of approval you’ll get all three with Sarah.”
PUBLIC REALM AND URBAN DESIGN
REGENT STREET, LONDON, THE CROWN ESTATE
The Crown Estate has commissioned S. Williams Architects as their RIBA client adviser to assist with delivering their strategies in Central London and within their regional portfolio.
REGIONAL PORTFOLIO, THE CROWN ESTATE
The Crown Estate has commissioned S. Williams Architects as their RIBA client adviser to assist with delivering their regional portfolio place making framework.
SchoolS and Academies
TRINITY SCHOOL, SEVENOAKS, KENT
S Williams Architects were commissioned by the Trinity school to provide Client Advisory Services for the development of a new £12 million, four-form entry secondary school. An office building in Sevenoaks was also converted to provide a temporary school, whilst the new building was being developed.
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
With her significant experience in the school’s sector, Sarah was a Design Adviser to the Education Funding Agency and worked on large batch schemes for the department from 2013 until 2019. She undertook the role of an expert client for the Priorities Schools Building Programme.
ERITH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Sarah assited the Anderson group, advising on two of their school projects which are required as part of wider housing developments in the South East.
WATFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL, WATFORD
S Williams Architects was commissioned by Berkeley Homes as their RIBA adviser, working with Lifschitz Davidson Sandilands on a two-form entry Primary School as part of a wider residential development in Watford.
Stockley Academy, London
A new £20m academy for 1,250 pupils situated in the London Borough of Hillingdon specialising in Science and Technology.
Holland Park School, London
A new £60m secondary school in the London Borough of
Kensington & Chelsea for 1,500 pupils replacing existing school buildings. A new residential scheme also formed part of the development.
Loxford School Pathfinder, London
A new £30m secondary school for 2,000 pupils in the London Borough of Redbridge, which included a 500 place 6th Form Centre.
Essex Building Schools for the Future programme
Client Design Adviser for two new academies and seven secondary schools in Essex. Services included technical advice, feasibility studies and on-going advice.
Southwark Schools for the Future programme, London
Client Adviser for a new academy and four secondary schools in Southwark. Services included technical advice, feasibility studies and on-going advice.
Brunel HSBC Academy, London
A new 6th Form College specialising in Performing Arts and Technology located at the Brunel University Campus, Uxbridge.
CIVIC AND INSTITUTIONALRE-IMAGINING 66 PORTLAND PLACE, RIBA HQ
Sarah Williams has been appointed to conduct the Royal Institute of British Architects strategic review of the options for the future of its headquarters at 66 Portland Place in London. Sarah will help the institute develop a vision for the next 80 years of the building, which continues to be used by the public with its cafe and restaurant as well as exhibition space.
BAT AND BALL STATION
S Williams Architects was commissioned by Sevenoaks Town Council as their RIBA Client adviser to assist with the Bat and Ball station project in Sevenoaks.
HIGHBURY FIELDS, ISLINGTON, LONDON
Sarah Williams was appointed to help LBI select a design team for this important project in Highbury Fields. The existing buildings are at the end of life and feasibility work had already been undertaken to assess the options available. This considered refurbishment, demolition and new build of a number of buildings on the site.
BAT AND BALL COMMUNITY CENTRE, SEVENOAKS, KENT
Sevenoaks Town Council ran an RIBA competition to replace the existing community centre in the Bat and Ball area of Sevenoaks with a new building housing conferencing and community facilities, alongside offices for the Town Council.
CLORE STUDIO AT RIBA 66 PORTLAND PLACE
Sarah Williams was appointed to assist RIBA in producing a feasibility study for a new learning centre within the Grade 2* iconic building in Central London, following which the Design team responsible for developing and delivering the final scheme, would be appointed through an RIBA competition, chaired and led by Sarah.
Commercial AND MIXED USE
STATION APPROACH, WINCHESTER
Sarah Williams was approached by RIBA competitions to be part of the panel responsible for selecting a winning team for this very significant mixed-use scheme in the centre of Winchester. She has also been retained by the City council as the RIBA Client advisor for this high-profile project.
THE LANDING, MAIDENHEAD
S Williams Architects was commissioned by Ryger Maidenhead Ltd for a key site in the centre of Maidenhead next to the station. The £200 million, 500,000 square foot mixed use scheme comprises apartments, retail units and offices and is due to complete in 2019.
COITBURY HOUSE, WINCHESTER
S. Williams was commissioned by Winchester City Council as their RIBA Client Adviser for the Refurbishment of a key building within the Central Winchester Regeneration (CWR) area. The building will sit within the redeveloped CWR site for years to come and therefore must take account of its potential future surrounding both in design and use.
TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE PROJECT, LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND UPON THAMES
Sarah Williams was selected as the RIBA client adviser to lead and manage the selection of architects and teams with the RIBA competitions office for the redevelopment of an important riverside site in Twickenham.
Waveney Campus Development, Suffolk
A new £30m new office development for Waveney DC, Suffolk County Council & Cefas with laboratories and associated facilities in Lowestoft.
Curious, Branding agency, London
Refurbishment of an existing warehouse building in Covent Garden to provide contemporary office space for a design agency.
Reliance Insurance, Rockefeller Centre, New York, USA
Refurbishment of Head Quarter offices to provide commercial office space.
American Express offices, New York, USA
Refurbishment of Head Quarter offices to provide commercial office space.
rESIDENTIAL
CROYDON RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
S Williams Architects was commissioned to design a £20 million, residential led project in central Croydon of approximately 113 one, two and three-bed apartments with a small retail unit, parking facilities and associated public realm. The proposals respond to the sensitive nature of the setting which includes locally listed buildings and Croydon Minster in the Old Town and an adjacent conservation area. The building is four along its edge along Cairo New Road which comprises smaller scale terraced housing and a 14 storey element that sits centrally within the site.
RETAIL
REGENT'S STREET WINDOWS, LONDON 2018
Sarah Williams, with RIBA competitions office were appointed to lead and manage the selection of architects and teams for the 2018 Regent Street windows project which comprised of the creation of captivating architectural installations in store windows along and around London’s historic shopping street.
THE CROWN ESTATE
REGENT STREET, LONDON, THE CROWN ESTATE
The Crown Estate has commissioned S. Williams Architects as their RIBA client adviser to assist with delivering their strategies in Central London and within their regional portfolio.
REGIONAL PORTFOLIO, THE CROWN ESTATE
The Crown Estate has commissioned S. Williams Architects as their RIBA client adviser to assist with delivering their regional portfolio place making framework.
Car park
BROADWAY CAR PARK, MAIDENHEAD, RBWM
S Williams Architects was commissioned by London and Aberdeen on behalf of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to support them in the development of a new 1400 place, 10-storey carpark and ground floor retail units in the centre of Maidenhead.
Health
Child Development Centre, London
A new £4m CDC on the site of Petchey Academy in Hackney.
Law CourtsEssex Magistrates Courts, Essex
Client Adviser for HMCS developing the Outline Business Case and feasibility studies for Essex portfolio of law court buildings.
Chelmsford & Colchester Magistrates Courts
Two new town centre Magistrates Courts buildings: Chelmsford Court incorporating five magistrates and one crown court, and Colchester Court incorporating five magistrates courts. Combined value £26m.
Arts Projects
Baltic, Contemporary Art Gallery, Gateshead at EWA
A new gallery for contemporary art in Gateshead comprising the conversion of an existing mill, on the banks of the Tyne, to create galleries, black box space and a top floor restaurant and café.
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Arts, New York, USA
A new museum and offices for an ornithological society in New York.