Directors

After running his own practice Russell joined Assael in 1987. He is a co-founder, shareholder and a member of the board of directors.

He studied at the School of Architecture, Plymouth University and at Oxford School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University. He qualified as a registered architect in 1986 and received his masters in urban design at Westminster University, London, in 2004.

He has led on the design and implementation of a number of completed developments in London, including: Regency Apartments, 240 dwellings structured along a new linear park in Westminster; Prince Regent’s Gate, providing 500 homes adjacent to Regents Park; and in Manchester, Century Buildings, a restoration of a Grade II* listed building and redevelopment project; and the 25-storey Great Northern Tower in the centre of Manchester, completed in 2006.

He received a Civic Trust award for his contributions to the built environment on a completed project in Christchurch, Dorset, and his work at Assael has also led to a number of design awards.

Russell is currently directing a number of schemes for the practice, including build-to-let residential schemes in the private rental sector. This has involved researching projects in the United States and designing schemes applicable to the emerging UK sector.

Russell is also the director responsible for the practice’s winning design for the Leeds Waterside International Architectural Competition organised by the RIBA - a regeneration scheme of mixed uses and 850 homes in a new waterfront setting. He has also directed on public and private sector joint ventures, such as with London Borough of Lewisham and Barratt, to deliver a new mixed-use regeneration project, a new leisure centre, facilities for cultural industries and 800 homes in Lewisham, South East London. He is responsible for overseeing all international and national competition entries for the practice.

He is a fellow of the RSA, a member of the Urban Design Group, The Architecture Foundation, the Urban Land Institute and a keen yachtsman, with a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore licence.

Niall has been with the practice since 1999 as senior and project architect. He has been responsible for the design of large-scale urban regeneration projects.
 
Niall began his career at Ian Campbell and Partners in Belfast, working on the RIBA award-winning Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. This was followed by a stint with Regan Young Architects in New Jersey, USA, where he was a member of the design team for a number of commercial and school board projects.

Niall has recently gained planning for a number of projects in Wandsworth, ranging from one of the tallest residential buildings in the borough to a low-rise development of significant importance between two listed buildings.

Currently directing a number of schemes for the practice with an emphasis on feasibility studies and gaining planning consents, Niall’s projects include a mixed-use scheme in Hammersmith which combines commercial space with 1,000 residential apartments and houses, a 300-unit residential scheme in Wandsworth and numerous sensitive urban regeneration projects.

Niall has been a visiting tutor at the Canterbury School of Architecture and judged awards for the Royal Institute of British Architects and for What House Overseas magazine.

He is currently a trustee and board member of the Richmond Parish Land Council and member of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Design Review Panel.

Gigi has run our accounts and personnel departments for over fourteen years now. She first joined Assael as administration and human resources manager. She was promoted to company secretary and became a member of the board in 2001.

She is responsible for maintaining statutory records and financial planning, monthly accounts, salaries and reports; ensuring all staff records and practice policies are up to date.

Gigi graduated from the Gothe Institute in 1987 and spent five years working in the design and fashion industry before joining Assael in 1994.