Helen James

Associate Director

An education sector leader managing high end projects with exemplary delivery

Helen-James,-Associate

Qualifications:
BSC (HONS) BARCH RIBA

Helen joined David Morley Architects in 2000, after studying at the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University. Helen progressed quickly through the practice working on a variety of projects and was made an Associate in 2007.

During her time at David Morley Architects, Helen has developed a specialism for education projects and has a particular passion for designing school projects that provide an exemplary learning environment which allow children to flourish and succeed.  Notable award-winning school projects include the Campus School at Weston super Mare, and The Plimsoll Building, a multi-storey school and residential development at King’s Cross.

In addition to education projects, Helen has also worked across multiple sectors and enjoys the wide range of experience and cross-fertilization of ideas between projects that this brings. She was Associate project lead for the design of The London 2012 Olympic Waterpolo Venue from concept design to achieving planning permission.   Designed as a temporary structure, the building was described by the athletes that competed there as ‘a building with real soul and personality’.   90% of its components were returned to the supply chain after the games making it a highly environmentally friendly building that was awarded ‘Sustainable Building of the Year’.   Another notable project was the Coal Office, King’s Cross; which involved the remodelling of the 19th Century Fish and Coal buildings in King’s Cross, combining  a light touch to the majority of the existing heritage fabric,  with some carefully focussed interventions which have greatly transformed the way the buildings can  be re-used to provide office space, retail units and  a restaurant which all serve as a new gateway to the  retail emporium of Coal Drops Yard.

Outside of work, Helen enjoys cross country running, and is proud of completing a half marathon in under 2 hours, and recently completed her first triathlon.  She also juggles a family of two young boys and loves cooking for friends and family when she gets any spare time!

Key Projects