Neal Hemingway

Nomination

Images

Threesixty Architecture Dundreggan Rewilding Centre The Visitor Approach © Mcateer Photo

Threesixty Architecture First Featured The Port Of Leith Distillery A Distillery That Reaches For The Sky © Simon Messer Photography

Neal Hemingway Sda Innovation And Creativity

Videos

Direct link: https://vimeo.com/894469411/9be5deb35a

Direct link: https://vimeo.com/1001490748

Company

Summary

Neal combines a refined design sensibility with a passion for innovation to create elegant, human-centred designs. He uses the power of narrative in architecture to engage, excite and deliver places and spaces that feel joyful and absolutely appropriate to the context they sit within.

A significant milestone in Neal’s career came last year, acting as Project Architect for two SDA Award-winning projects: The Port of Leith Distillery and Dundreggan Rewilding Centre. Both projects showcase a commitment to integrating sustainable and inclusive design principles into complex, context-sensitive environments. Neal’s portfolio continues to expand with high-profile current projects such as Buchanan Galleries and Highcross Leicester, both with High Street regeneration at their core.

Neal has demonstrated a dedication to sustainability and research, collaborating on initiatives like NearHome, with Ecosystems, Transport Scotland, and BE-ST to develop a circular economy toolkit for retrofitting office spaces. He was also key member of the PORTAL project team, developed with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, to provide a blueprint for circular economy / low-embodied carbon industrial buildings.

Neal has played a key role in shaping the Threesixty’s 2030 Vision and is an active member of the Vision Board. He is responsible for Marketing and Brand, leading the creation of a new brand-vision, website, and an overall strategy that highlights his dedication to Threesixty’s growth.

He has also has consistently contributed to fostering a positive company culture. He curated Threesixty’s SDA award-winning company cookbook, which promotes diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Neal is also actively involved in internal design reviews and actively encourages younger staff members through mentorship. He supported colleagues to enhance the maternity policy to six months of full pay and took a leading role in Threesixty’s EDI Group paternity initiative, further demonstrating his commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Neal has also been actively involved in wider industry and academia. He served as the former Chair of BCO NextGen and remains an active member of both the BCO NextGen Committee and REVO Hub. He hosted Strathclyde University’s annual "Routes Through Practice" lectures and participated in the University of Glasgow’s Urban Design Module.

Neal is a team player and his enthusiasm and passion for architecture and design carries across to everyone involved. This means both the project team and clients feel ‘ownership’ and pride in the projects being worked on. His work balances innovation with sensitivity, creating architecture that fosters sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities – architecture that brings joy.

Reason for nomination

Alan Anthony – Architect/Managing Director – Threesixty Architecture I am very proud to nominate Neal for this award. At the core of this nomination is our recognition that Neal both demonstrates what it is to be an exemplar architect whilst also embodying the collective values and behaviours of the practice. The strength of the practice values is evidenced in our BCorp Status in which Neal has been instrumental in securing and maintaining. Neal has a highly developed design sensibility which is married with a depth of humanity and this shows in how he has listened to clients, communities and end users to deliver designs that are both elegant and humane in their responsiveness. He is a passionate storyteller and has a wonderful grasp on the power of narrative in architecture and uses it to engage, excite and deliver places that feel joyful and absolutely appropriate. His passion is infectious and spreads to everyone involved in the project – they all shape and buy into his narrative and they are all proud. Neal’s power to deeply engage has ensured that all the participants in the Client, Design Team, Clients, Contractors, Officers, etc. have been more inclined to ‘protect’ the design intent and this has delivered buildings of excellence (both Port of Leith and Dundreggan winning at last year’s Scottish Design Awards). In the 12 or so years that he has been with the practice, the practice has grown in recognition and in purpose and Neal has not only grown with us but has been instrumental in achieving this growth. He is an enthusiastic ambassador for the profession and the practice and represents us on various industry forums often engaging in public speaking. One of the roles he has grasped is in developing our brand and enthusiastically telling our story. It is almost entirely down to Neal’s efforts that we were recognised as Scottish Practice of the Year at last years SDA awards which was enormously energising for all of us. He is in a rare position having worked in both our Glasgow and Inverness studio and held a key role in ensuring we are gelled and work as one team. Within the practice Neal is well-liked and works harder than any to ensure that all are engaged through design reviews and he has a great balance of listening to others, filtering the opinions and coming to the right conclusions. He was the driving force behind the design submission that has won the practice its largest project to date and he is now the lead architect on the project. Perhaps what best demonstrates my/our belief in Neal is he is only one of 4 that sit with me on our Vision Board which has the responsibility to shape the future direction of the practice. Along with one of his peers, Gina Colley, Neal has been clearly identified as a future leader of the practice.