Ellen Kitson RIBA is a chartered architect and director of KITSON Architecture Ltd based in Altrincham. The practice recently reached a milestone, celebrating a decade of fantastic growth.
“A university friend visiting from the USA recently asked me why I had a framed print of the Sheffield University Arts Tower in my home. I had never studied there, hence her curiosity; however, Sheffield was my hometown, and as a teenager I was invited to spend a day at my local university.
“I had always been artistic and was continually drawing, but in the eighties we were told that science was the future, so I was interested in a career as a biochemist. I had a great morning in the laboratories with the scientists; however, in the afternoon I took the paternoster lift to the top of the Arts Tower to visit the architecture department and immediately knew that was my destiny.
“After many years of study, I qualified as an architect in 1998 and became a chartered member of the RIBA.
“I spent 16 amazing years working in Manchester city centre for an established commercial firm. I dipped my toe in the water and started networking. Women in Property really opened up the world in terms of meeting like-minded professionals, and I soon joined the committee and started organising events. Then came the shocking news that the company was closing, a casualty of the recession.
“Five days later, KITSON Architecture opened for business. Since then, we have built a busy commercial architectural practice from our office in the heart of Altrincham.
“We were welcomed with open arms by the vibrant local business community, and soon the company started to thrive. We now work across the length and breadth of the UK and across all sectors, including data centres, hotel and leisure, retail, commercial, healthcare, and residential.
“As a director, I am still extremely ‘hands-on’ at all stages of a project, and I love working with clients old and new. I also enjoy mentoring the future generation of architects.”
Learn more about the amazing work Ellen has completed:
ellen@kitsonarchitecture.co.uk
0161 637 2764
kitsonarchitecture.co.uk
