Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Architectural Services in Ipswich
Established in 1912 by architect Harold Ridley Hooper, our practice has cultivated a legacy of architectural excellence rooted in conceptual innovation. We specialise in regeneration projects, working with clients to repurpose and adapt buildings while minimising environmental impact. Our expertise spans sectors including healthcare, education, residential, sports, and heritage buildings, with a particular focus on creating nurturing environments for mental health facilities. As an RIBA Chartered Practice and supplier on the NHS SBS Framework Agreement, we bring decades of experience in delivering projects that balance design excellence with functional requirements. Our team of skilled architects collaborates closely with clients who share our passion for architecture and placemaking, addressing contemporary urban, social, and environmental challenges across diverse settings. We maintain a commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration, particularly through partnerships with organisations like PSYCH.RAUM, to develop therapeutic spatial strategies aligned with clinical guidelines.With a client list including the NHS, local authorities, and cultural institutions, we prioritise creating spaces that enrich communities and stand the test of time. Our founding principles of craftsmanship, innovation, and social responsibility continue to guide our work as we build new relationships with clients seeking sustainable, thoughtfully designed environments.
Services
Healthcare Architecture
Education Design
Residential Development
Historic Restoration
Commercial Architecture
Community Spaces
Urban Regeneration
Mental Health Facilities
Sustainable Design
Placemaking
Details
- Year established: 1912
Highlights and features
- We have over a century of architectural design expertise since 1912
- RIBA Chartered Practice with NHS Framework Agreement accreditation
- Specialists in healthcare environments for mental health recovery
- Experienced in historic building restoration and sustainable regeneration
- Award-winning team with proven expertise in public and private projects
Associations and certifications
- RIBA Chartered Practice
Services
Healthcare Architecture
We design therapeutic healthcare environments with a particular focus on mental health facilities. Our approach integrates light, materials, and spatial planning to support clinical treatments while creating welcoming spaces. This includes acute care units, rehabilitation centres, and pharmacy facilities that balance functionality with patient wellbeing.
Education Design
We create inspiring educational environments ranging from primary schools to university facilities. Our work includes science labs, assembly halls, and SEND units that prioritise natural light, accessibility, and flexible learning spaces. Each project considers the unique needs of students and staff while integrating with surrounding environments.
Historic Restoration
We specialise in preserving and repurposing historic buildings while incorporating modern functionality. Our expertise maintains architectural integrity while meeting current standards for listed buildings and conservation areas, ensuring sensitive adaptations that respect original craftsmanship and materials.
Residential Development
We design new homes and adapt existing properties with a focus on seamless indoor-outdoor integration. Our approach creates character-driven residential spaces that respond to site context, from single dwellings to social housing schemes that promote positive community interactions and sustainable living.
Urban Regeneration
We transform underutilised urban spaces into vibrant communities through strategic redevelopment. Our expertise encompasses mixed-use schemes, social housing upgrades, and infrastructure projects that address environmental challenges while enhancing civic spaces and promoting economic growth.
People
Craig Driver
Director
RIBA Chartered Architect with extensive experience leading complex architectural projects. Specialises in strategic design leadership and client collaboration, with a focus on delivering high-quality built environments that meet diverse client needs across multiple sectors.
Jamie Alston
Senior Associate
Architect with expertise in managing large-scale projects from concept to completion. Focuses on design excellence and technical delivery, ensuring innovative solutions align with practical construction requirements while maintaining architectural integrity.
Ross Warren
Senior Associate
Registered architect with a strong background in healthcare and education projects. Specialises in translating complex client briefs into functional spaces that prioritise user wellbeing and operational efficiency across both public and private sectors.
Scott Alexander
Architect
Practicing architect with experience across residential, commercial, and heritage projects. Skilled in balancing design creativity with practical constraints, contributing to schemes that achieve planning approvals and successful construction outcomes.
Aaron Padmore
Architectural Assistant Part II
Emerging architectural professional working towards full qualification. Provides design and technical support across diverse projects while developing expertise in sustainable design principles and construction documentation processes.
Questions
Which architectural sectors does Hoopers specialise in?
We specialise in healthcare, education, residential, historic buildings, commercial, and community sectors, with particular expertise in mental health facilities and heritage restoration projects.
Do you work with NHS healthcare projects?
Yes, we're approved suppliers on the NHS SBS Framework Agreement for architectural services, specialising in mental health facilities and hospital regeneration schemes across East Anglia.
Do you handle historic building projects?
Yes, we have extensive experience in restoring listed buildings and adapting heritage structures for modern use while preserving architectural character and meeting conservation requirements.
What awards have Hoopers won?
We've received the RIBA Suffolk Design Award for The Nest project and LABC Building Excellence Award for Grimwade Street social housing development in 2023.
