Our People

We take pride in having a business that clients and colleagues respect because we do the right thing. Having highly skilled and motivated staff that share our values and ethos is fundamental to gaining this respect and we recognise that it is our staff who are able to deliver the quality design and committed service that we believe our clients should expect.

James Macdonald

Associate

James started his career with LSI from university in 1981, and as a senior associate in the practice for many years, has had significant involvement in all the key sectors – retail, workspace, education, church and community, health, housing and masterplanning – and many of the practice’s flagship projects: the Castle Mall Shopping Centre; Norwich Union’s (Aviva) HQ atrium; and the successful Brook Farm planning consent for a 600-unit residential masterplanning scheme on the edge of Norwich.

James has designed and overseen projects at all scales, including newbuild and conversions, with a large portfolio of projects in Norfolk, but also substantial work elsewhere, such as the Queensgate Centre, Peterborough. A keen sailor himself, James has also worked on a number of projects in the Broads. He is well-versed in traditional and modern methods of construction, and has undertaken conservation work independently, as a DAC approved Architect and with external specialists.

Exposure to a growing number of masterplanning projects in the Eastern Region has developed a detailed knowledge of planning processes, EIA work in collaboration with specialists and various approaches to public consultation.

Related Projects

Castle Mall

The brainchild of Michael Innes, who nursemaided the project from start to finish, the 7 level ‘underground’ shopping centre remains LSI’s largest project at well over £80M when built, and some 35Km² in area.

Aviva Atrium

Two LSI teams provided segregated roles on this prestigious development converting Aviva’s HQ. One provided client liaison services for Architecture and ID, the other worked with developer LST to design a new, 1,000+ sqm atrium linked to offices and forming a new visitor entrance from the Grade 1 Listed Surrey House.

Diss Masterplan

South Norfolk District Council instigated this project with the aim of producing material for a public consultation, and the objective of creating an Area Action Plan.

Brook Farm

A masterplan for 600 new dwellings on 50 acres of greenfield site, provided material for a public consultation, and submitted a successful OPA.

Nar Ouse

Our client surprised the LA by purchasing the core of this ‘4th Millennium Village’, giving LSI the opportunity to revisit the OPA, introduce a better commercial layout, and a stronger character to the housing based around Home Zones and community stewardship. We obtained a revised consent supported by a Design Code.

Notre Dame High School

The £350K scheme was the only refurbishment to receive funding in the Classroom of the Future programme. The 220m2 redevelopment created an innovative environment for teaching and learning.

St Mary’s School

The design proposals for the extension & improvement works to St Mary’s CEVA Primary School in Mildenhall were developed in response to the identified need to improve access, staff and administrative accommodation at the school and to enhance the existing facilities to create a more exciting and inspiring environment for the delivery of the curriculum to its 286 pupils.

Related News

31 Mar 2020

Covid-19: LSI Architects Statement

10 Mar 2020

Plans Approved for Ziggurat Refurb

The project is to return the upper three floors of Suffolk Terrace, to residential accommodation for students.

03 Mar 2020

Time Capsule Marks Official Handover of new Hospice for Southend

After 65 weeks, construction of Southend’s only adult hospice has reached completion.

02 Mar 2020

Norwich City’s Lotus Academy Shortlisted for Two RICS Awards

LSI’s project for Norwich City Football Club has been shortlisted for two categories at the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards.

20 Feb 2020

Five Times a Sunday Times Best Small Company To Work For!

LSI Architects has been named in the 2020 Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work for, the fifth successive year that LSI Architects has made the prestigious list.

19 Feb 2020

Plans for New State Primary Boarding School Approved

The Sapientia Education Trust (SET) plans to offer 452 day places and 32 boarding places through the scheme.

17 Dec 2019

Green Light for £22.6M new building at Burnham Grammar School

The scheme, which forms part of the ESFA's Thames Valley B Batch, will see the demolition of an existing collection of disconnected non-compliant teaching spaces and provision of a new “superblock” which will provide secondary education for 11- 18 year old pupils and includes a sixth form.

12 Nov 2019

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