Meet the Team

Architecture Team

Babak

Sasan

Director

Sonia joined BMJ Architects in 1992 and has gone on to become Board Director with overall responsibility for quality throughout the practice. She is a highly experienced design team leader and project architect with highly developed organisational and design skills, a well-developed understanding of project buildability and specialist experience in complex research laboratory projects, higher education campuses and specialist healthcare facilities.

Sonia is a specialist in detailed briefing and lead consultancy on large highly serviced building projects. She was lead consultant and architect for the £82m Scottish Government Crime Campus at Gartcosh, which includes forensic laboratories and specialist offices.

Sonia maintains an overview of BMJ’s total service along with leading service performance appraisals ensuring targets are achieved whilst developing continuous improvements. She is highly adept at interpreting Clients’ project needs, ensuring these are properly defined and understood and subsequently carried through to project delivery on time, within budget and quality.

Sonia

Scott

Director

Nick has extensive experience on complex highly serviced new and refurbishment schemes in both private and public sectors ranging from £30k to £50m. He has a wealth of in-depth knowledge, acquired over 20 years working with various healthcare, education and specialist laboratory Clients. He is highly experienced in managing design teams and the design process.

He has an established track record in the delivery of design solutions, from project inception with the development of feasibility studies and business cases, the formulation of outline and detailed briefs and the co-ordination of comprehensive scheme design information. Nick advocates a best value management approach on all projects from the outset, working in close collaboration with the cost consultant and other design team members.

Nick is also a highly skilled Project Manager, liaising directly with the Client’s team whilst developing project execution plans, detailed pre-construction programmes and advising on alternative procurement routes.

Nick

Benn

Director

Duncan has two decades of experience in developing briefs and design responses for award winning buildings for complex, multi-headed stakeholders and user groups on higher education, research and translational medicine projects. He has the skills to manage complex projects, creating elegant well-crafted buildings that are conceived, planned and detailed with clarity and rigour, often in sensitive site contexts.

Duncan’s projects range from single room installations to £300m translational medicine research facilities, for Clients that include 12 Russell Group Universities.

His experience spans all project stages, allowing him to inform early design decisions with a thorough understanding of subsequent processes and detail. He will interrogate and challenge a design, proposing enhanced or innovative solutions, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

Duncan employs an innovative Visioning process to assist Clients define the common vision and aspirations for new facilities. He focuses on understanding and developing Clients’ requirements into proposals; controlling design development to ensure these are achieved.

Duncan

Leach

Director

Helen joined BMJ Architects in 2004 and has extensive experience in the Healthcare, Higher Education and Research sectors for new build and refurbishment projects. She has provided management support for project teams for many years and acts as the main day-to-day contact with Clients, design team members and other consultants.

Helen’s years of experience, on complex, highly serviced, new and refurbished buildings, was acquired on projects ranging from £30k to £65m. She has worked closely with some of the UK’s leading healthcare providers and has been involved in managing frameworks within some of the country’s leading universities.

Helen focuses on understanding and developing brief requirements and controlling design development, ensuring Clients’ requirements are achieved. Her creative thinking turns potential issues into design opportunities. Helen’s added value comes from her specialist knowledge, acquired over time within various frameworks and working with our directors to ensure the right people are chosen for each project.

Helen

Gamble

Associate Director

Daniel has very strong conceptual, graphical and design skills combined with excellent job running experience over a range of sectors and project values. He is experienced in detailing, contract administration (including JCT), specification writing, as well as leading and managing others within a team and has a natural aptitude for working with Clients and other consultants.

He is proficient in the use of CAD, Sketch-Up, NBS and Adobe packages but also has excellent hand drawing and sketching skills. Daniel has significant refurbishment experience particularly within the education sector and has worked on refurbishment schemes for Bushey Meads School, Emanuel School and London Nautical School, as well as for barrister’s chambers within the commercial sector. He is currently working on a project for the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine combining both new build and refurbishment. Daniel was also responsible for developing masterplanning proposals for parts of London’s historic Middle Temple.

Daniel

Maloney

Associate

Allan has over 25 years’ experience as a project architect successfully taking projects from initial briefing through to completion. He has a wide breadth of experience across a range of sectors including education, sports stadia, commercial, healthcare, residential and science. He has led and managed design teams on medium and large-scale developments and is extensively experienced in engaging with Clients and end-users, understanding their requirements and developing robust project briefs.

Allan has a wealth of knowledge of construction and technical solutions including the integration of specialist services and technology. His approach is methodical, consistent and thorough, ensuring that project information is rigorously crosschecked and coordinated.

Allan’s involvement in Science and Healthcare projects has included: Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews; Teaching & Learning and ICE Developments, University of Glasgow / NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde; A&E and Combined Assessment Units at Crosshouse & Ayr Hospitals, NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

Allan

Martin

Associate

Charlie joined BMJ in 2018, as Principal Designer. Charlie is highly regarded within the commercial construction industry. He brings a wealth of health and safety knowledge gained through working with some of the country’s leading construction firms in a variety of roles from General Manager to Company Director.

Charlie’s specialisms include the preparation and maintenance of health and safety files, pre-development health and safety plans, construction phase health and safety plans, monitoring production, build quality, cost controls and health and safety audits.

He uses his expert knowledge for managing site audits, mentoring staff, preparing accident investigations and report writing. Charlie maintains policies, processes and procedures in line with legislation. In recent roles Charlie has utilised his expertise to obtain statutory consents including planning permissions and building warrants. Before joining BMJ, he managed a large health and safety department which included the prestigious new V&A Museum in Dundee in its portfolio.

Charlie

Finn

Principal Designer

Walter joined BMJ in 2018 bringing his 11 years’ of knowledge to our complex project on the Pears Building, a £43m new building for University College London Immunology Department and is already proving to be a hard-working and popular member of the team. He is an Italian national who has worked on a selection of projects throughout Europe, primarily France and England, across a variety of sectors including residential, healthcare, education, commercial and industrial.

He has a sound technical knowledge, which is mixed with a strong design base helping him achieve the delivery of successful buildings. He possesses the technical design skills on most external and internal architectural packages achieved through working within a range of practice and team sizes.

Walter’s extensive experience includes space planning, urban planning, planning application drawings, presentation and visualisation drawings as well as studies and analysis, leading teams, managing the input and output of design and stakeholder teams and ensuring briefing meets stakeholder, end user and service providers’ expectations. Walter has gained valuable experience on a variety of procurement routes, working with multiple clients and differing client bodies.

Walter

Eliskases

Senior Architect

Adrian

Kacz

Senior Architect

Alan joined BMJ in 2021 bringing with him over 7 years experience of architectural projects working for a variety of practices, on projects from a micro to macro scale. Alan has worked across a diverse range of sectors, including Retail, Leisure, Hospitality, Office, Residential and Interiors; Alan has extensive experience over all project stages, with a keen interest in the design development process.

Alan has worked on numerous retro-fit and renovation projects, breathing new life into existing buildings. These projects tend to have complex briefs, require a full understanding of the Employers Requirements, adapting and improving the environmental impact of the project as well as meeting targets and deadlines.

Alan

Austin

Architect

Andrew joined BMJ in 2016 bringing with him over 13 years’ experience of architectural projects working for a variety of practices, on projects from small scale interventions to large scale masterplans. Working across a diverse range of sectors, including Healthcare, Higher Education, Commercial, Police Authority Work, and Listed Buildings, Andrew has extensive experience at all architectural stages and a thorough understanding of building regulations and statutory requirements.

Andrew has specialist architectural knowledge and experience in working in occupied buildings for healthcare projects within live hospital sites many of which required phasing and full understanding of the Clients’ operational needs. This is complemented by equivalent experience working on new build projects with complex briefs and exacting standards of delivery, across both the higher education and healthcare sectors.

His experience taking schemes through all stages makes him a highly skilled Project Architect, able to take a building from feasibility to completion in a efficient and effective manner to the highest standards. His skills encompass all aspects of the role including concept and technical design, client liaison, team leading, site delivery and contract administration.

Andrew can also draw on skills working in a wide range of software packages including Autocad and REVIT in addition to a wide range of graphics packages. He is also experienced in BIM strategy and implementation.

Andrew

McIntyre

Architect

Cristian has over 5 years’ experience of leading architectural projects internationally, working with a variety of projects scales. His experience stretches multiple sectors, from Healthcare and Higher Education to Commercial Listed Buildings, Historical Restorations and Residential Developments. As part of his qualifications, Cristian has a Diploma in Sustainable Architecture with a focus on passive building methods.

With an outstanding attention to detail and technical knowledge, Cristian adds value to all architectural project stages from feasibility and early concept to on-site completion and project delivery. With a creative mindset, he is able to manage complex briefs whilst exceeding client’s expectations. Cristian’s skills encompass all aspects of the role including concept and technical design, client liaison, team leading and site delivery.

Cristian is experienced in working with a wide range of software packages including AutoCad, Vectorworks, Archicad and Revit as well as multiple graphics, rendering and presentation packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Lumion.

Christian

Bucataru

Architect

Joanna

Mrozek

Architect

Jonathan has over 10 years’ direct experience as a project architect. Successfully taking projects from initial briefing through to completion. He has a breadth of experience across a range of sectors including science, healthcare and residential. As a designer, Jonathan works with project stakeholders to optimise plan layout efficiency to realise the maximum benefit of architectural solutions for client user groups. He has led and managed design teams on medium and large-scale developments and is experienced in engaging with client users to understand their requirements and develop robust project briefs, from high level campus master planning to individual bespoke projects, implemented under a variety of procurement methods including traditional, PPP, Design and Build and framework.

His responsibilities include controlling, programming and monitoring design development and production information by various members of the design team at each stage of the plan of work. He sets targets and checks that team members are clear about relationships, monitoring progress on these targets, if issues are developing. He enables appropriate action to resolve issues before they affect objectives. He also has a wealth of technical knowledge of detailing for interior design, including specialist joinery and bespoke furniture as well as technical solutions for acoustics. Jonathan has worked with specialist consultants, suppliers and sub-contractors for the integration of building services including state of the art video and audio technology and specialist lighting display installations. His approach is methodical, consistent and thorough and he ensures project information is rigorously crosschecked and coordinated.

With a long history of delivering projects in BIM he has a deep understanding of this technology, from generating enhanced visuals to assisting with the user group process through to complex technical handover requirements.

Jonathan

Lindsay

Architectural Designer / BIM Manager

Narcis joined BMJ in 2016 as an Architectural Assistant following valuable site experience working as an assistant site project manager for a contractor. Since then Narcis has gained valuable experience working with universities, consultants and users in the process of design development on complex science projects.

Narcis has worked on projects from small-scale refurbishments to major new build projects ranging from £1m to £150m in Central London, involving complex briefs and technical requirements, and excellent co-ordination.

Narcis is highly skilled in a number of software packages, especially in BIM and brings to BMJ a depth of specialist knowledge and BIM co-ordination. He has developed particularly strong skills at live modelling in 3D during remote user consultations.

Narcis

Dobos

Architectural Assistant

Romans recently joined BMJ to join the team on a highly technical project for the Pirbright Institute. Romans is a highly skilled Assistant Architect with significant BIM & BIM Management skill. His role on the project is to manage the BIM process. Romans brings to BMJ a wealth of specialist equipment knowledge and BIM co-ordination.

After getting is first degree is architecture, he began his career in Latvia (REM pro). He was involved in various projects around Latvia and Belarus. Projects range from house extensions and refurbishment of old buildings, library for Riga Technical University, and designing and detailing the yacht club in Belarus.
He then moved to China and gained is second degree where he continued to work in the construction industry. He worked on projects as small as the company portfolio, to as big as many square kilometres of urban design and planning.

Romans has 5+ years of experience including participation in all stages of design and construction: from site assessment and preparation of the project brief, to detail drawings and author’s supervision.
He is skilled in AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Rhino3d, Grasshopper3d, Sketchup. He is proficient in Adobe Suites, Lumion, Piranesi, Twinmotion and Artlantis.

Romans

Slinko

Architectural Assistant

Serena joined BMJ in 2017 with broad professional experience gained over 6 years working in Italy and the UK since graduating and is a very creative and cheerful addition to the BMJ team. In recent years, she been exposed to a considerable range of work on design projects and working with clients, contractors and craftsmen. She has been involved in projects on all scales and phases, from the development of design concepts on a larger scale to the meticulous detailing of customised furnishings.

In addition to surveys Serena has developed reports and presentations, created graphic content and models, chosen furniture and lighting. Serena also has extensive experience in architectural drawings, 3D modelling, technical detailing and working with craftsmen designing bespoke elements of a contract, on projects ranging from small interior design projects to large new builds.

Her responsibilities included the creation and development of strong relationships with clients, consultants and building users whilst making sure entire design teams were always kept up to date on all aspects of the project.

She is proficient in the use of Archicad, AutoCAD and the Adobe Creative Suite.

Serena

Sembiante

Architectural Assistant

Raine joined BMJ Architects in 2021. She is a highly skilled Architectural Designer and is a valuable member of our team.

During the course of her degree, she took placements in both Singapore and Glasgow and was heavily involved in the design development of several international projects in Singapore, China, India, Vietnam and UK.

She started her career in Singapore where she was heavily involved in the design development of several local and international projects in India and Singapore, specialising in mainly commercial, hospitality and residential developments.

With 7 years of professional experience, she has a wide range of relevant skills such as design, project management, authority compliance and client management. Her technical skills including 3D modelling and graphic design and is proficient in Autocad, Sketchup, Lumion, Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, word and Powerpoint.

Raine

Gibson

Architectural Assistant

Ivanna joined BMJ in 2021 and is an experienced Architect and Interior Designer and is a valuable member of our team.

She started her career in design, responsibilities included site surveys, developing commercial and residential projects design including extensions, loft conversations, change of use (AutoCAD) and preparing 3D models (SketchUP). Her technical skills including ArchiCAD, Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, SketchUP, 3D modelling, Corona Renderer, V-ray Renderer and Microsoft Office.

Ivanna

Zahynailo

Architectural Assistant

Sin Ting

Wong

Architectural Assistant

Cameron

Lewis

Architectural Technologist