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Together we can…create a legacy
Together we can…create a legacy
The Practice has continuously evolved since being established in 1879. Now with a team of more than 70 people, we have gained a national reputation for being highly capable designers, with a focus on the technical management of projects across a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, heritage, residential, arts and culture, science and research, masterplanning, sports and leisure, and industrial and commercial.
Practice Founded
1879
John Alfred Gotch (1852-1942) set up a private architectural practice in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.
Charles Saunders Joins the Practice
1887
Charles Saunders (1858-1944) joined Gotch in a growing partnership. The foundation of this joint enterprise then led to 50 years of prosperity and productivity until their joint retirement on 31st December 1937.
Henry Ralph Surridge Joins the Practice
1899
Henry Ralph Surridge (1885-1954) joined the firm as an office junior in 1899 and was made a Partner in 1930. It was at that time that the partnership took on the name by which it is now known: Gotch, Saunders and Surridge.
Gotch and Saunders Retire
1937
Following 50 years of success, Gotch and Saunders jointly retired on 31st December 1937. During these 50 years, Gotch and Saunders invited only three other architects to join them as Partners. The first was Arthur George Leighton (1867-1943); the second was John Alfred’s nephew Laurence Mursell Gotch (1881-1964); and the last, but most significant, was Henry Ralph Surridge (1885-1954).
Midland Bank
1939
In an extraordinary 9-year period following World War I, Gotch and Saunders designed and built over 140 branches for the Midland Bank. Their crowning achievement was the construction of the Bank’s headquarters in Poultry, London, in association with Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Midlands Head Office
1969
The Practice moved to 35 Headlands, Kettering, which remains the location of our Head Office to this day.
Centenary Celebration
1979
An exhibition was held at the Sir Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering, a building designed by the Practice in 1913, celebrating the work of Gotch Saunders and Surridge over 100 years.
Expansion in the South West
2000
The Practice expanded nationally with the opening of our South West Office.
Expansion in Yorkshire
2009
Further expansion saw the opening of our Yorkshire Office, which is located in Harrogate.
Further National Expansion
2016
The continued expansion of the Practice saw the opening of the Newcastle and Milton Keynes offices, both of which have since relocated to larger premises to accommodate the growing teams.
New Senior Partner and Managing Partner Appointed
2018
Following the retirement of David Allsop as Senior Partner, Tom Lyons and Ian Bray were appointed as Senior Partner and Managing Partner respectively.
140th Anniversary Celebrations Held Across the Practice
2019
As part of the celebrations, Teams from across all five offices took part in numerous activities, one of which being the Volunteer 140 Initiative. Surpassing our initial goal of undertaking 140 hours of volunteering, we were delighted to achieve over 150 hours!
Multiple Award Successes
2020
2020 was a fantastic year for project successes, with a number of completed projects scooping high profile awards, most notably The Catalyst, which secured 8 awards alone.
Practice Secures Investors in People Gold Status
2021
As a result of achieving the second highest survey score internationally for an architectural practice, and securing Investors in People Gold status, the Practice also celebrated being shortlisted for the Investors in People 2021 Awards.
Leeds Collaboration Hub Opens
2022
In the summer of 2022, GSS celebrated the opening of a new collaboration hub in the heart of Leeds. This new space, which provides a city centre base to meet and engage with consultants and clients, is a result of continued growth within the Yorkshire region.
GSS Open Sixth National Office
2023
After the successful opening of our Leeds Collaboration Hub in 2022, GSS opened a permanent studio in the centre of Leeds in June 2023. The fifth-floor office space provides a modern and flexible working environment that promotes collaborative working. In addition to the Leeds studio, our Harrogate studio relocated to a new premises in a more central location, just a 10-minute walk from the town centre.
GSS Appoint Jonathan Hunter as Senior Partner
2024
Following the retirement of Tom Lyons after 36 years at GSS, Jonathan Hunter has been appointed as Senior Partner, whilst Ian Bray continues as Managing Partner.
Practice Founded
1879
John Alfred Gotch (1852-1942) set up a private architectural practice in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.
Charles Saunders Joins the Practice
1887
Charles Saunders (1858-1944) joined Gotch in a growing partnership. The foundation of this joint enterprise then led to 50 years of prosperity and productivity until their joint retirement on 31st December 1937.
Henry Ralph Surridge Joins the Practice
1899
Henry Ralph Surridge (1885-1954) joined the firm as an office junior in 1899 and was made a Partner in 1930. It was at that time that the partnership took on the name by which it is now known: Gotch, Saunders and Surridge.
Gotch and Saunders Retire
1937
Following 50 years of success, Gotch and Saunders jointly retired on 31st December 1937. During these 50 years, Gotch and Saunders invited only three other architects to join them as Partners. The first was Arthur George Leighton (1867-1943); the second was John Alfred’s nephew Laurence Mursell Gotch (1881-1964); and the last, but most significant, was Henry Ralph Surridge (1885-1954).
Midland Bank
1939
In an extraordinary 9-year period following World War I, Gotch and Saunders designed and built over 140 branches for the Midland Bank. Their crowning achievement was the construction of the Bank’s headquarters in Poultry, London, in association with Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Midlands Head Office
1969
The Practice moved to 35 Headlands, Kettering, which remains the location of our Head Office to this day.
Centenary Celebration
1979
An exhibition was held at the Sir Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering, a building designed by the Practice in 1913, celebrating the work of Gotch Saunders and Surridge over 100 years.
Expansion in the South West
2000
The Practice expanded nationally with the opening of our South West Office, now located in Gloucester.
Expansion in Yorkshire
2009
Further expansion saw the opening of our Yorkshire Office, which is located in Harrogate.
Further National Expansion
2016
The continued expansion of the Practice saw the opening of the Newcastle and Milton Keynes offices, both of which have since relocated to larger premises to accommodate the growing teams.
New Senior Partner and Managing Partner Appointed
2018
Following the retirement of David Allsop as Senior Partner, Tom Lyons and Ian Bray were appointed as Senior Partner and Managing Partner respectively.
140th Anniversary Celebrations Held Across the Practice
2019
As part of the celebrations, Teams from across all five offices took part in numerous activities, one of which being the Volunteer 140 Initiative. Surpassing our initial goal of undertaking 140 hours of volunteering, we were delighted to achieve over 150 hours!
Multiple Award Successes
2020
2020 was a fantastic year for project successes, with a number of completed projects scooping high profile awards, most notably The Catalyst, which secured 8 awards alone.
Practice Secures Investors in People Gold Status
2021
Leeds Collaboration Hub Opens
2022
In the summer of 2022, GSS celebrated the opening of a new collaboration hub in the heart of Leeds. This new space, which provides a city centre base to meet and engage with consultants and clients, is a result of continued growth within the Yorkshire region.
GSS Open Sixth National Office
2023
After the successful opening of our Leeds Collaboration Hub in 2022, GSS opened a permanent studio in the centre of Leeds in June 2023. The fifth-floor office space provides a modern and flexible working environment that promotes collaborative working. In addition to the Leeds studio, our Harrogate studio relocated to a new premises in a more central location, just a 10-minute walk from the town centre.
GSS Appoint Jonathan Hunter as Senior Partner
2024
Following the retirement of Tom Lyons after 36 years at GSS, Jonathan Hunter has been appointed as Senior Partner, whilst Ian Bray continues as Managing Partner.
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