Níall McLaughlin Architects names new Directors

November 2025

Níall McLaughlin Architects is excited to announce significant changes to its leadership, with four long-standing Associates being promoted to Directors. With a combined seven decades of experience at the practice between them, Anne Schroell, Tim Allen-Booth, Tilo Guenther and Tom McGlynn will shape the future of Níall McLaughlin Architects. This promotion rewards their commitment and contribution to the practice, recognising their leadership, work on key projects, business development and office wide initiatives. The new Directors will work closely with founding Principal Níall McLaughlin to build on the practice’s reputation for design excellence and promote a model of practice that is equitable, diverse and inclusive, and sustainable.

Tom McGlynn joined the practice in 2014 and was the Project Associate on The International Rugby Experience in Limerick voted as Ireland’s favourite building in 2023, and West Court Jesus College in Cambridge winning an RIBA Project Architect of the Year Award in 2018.

Tim Allen-Booth joined the practice in 2006 and was the Project Associate on The Bishop Edward King Chapel in Oxfordshire which was RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlisted in 2013, and The New Library Magdalene College in Cambridge winning the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2022.

Anne Schroell joined the practice in 2006 and was the Project Associate on the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland which won the RIBA North East Building of the Year in 2024 and Grand Prize Winner of the Building Beauty Awards in 2024, and is currently the Project Associate on the Maggie’s Centre in Cambridge.

Tilo Guenther joined the practice in 2006 and was Project Associate on Darbishire Place in Whitechapel, which was RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlisted in 2015, and Saltmarsh House, which was Shortlisted for House of the Year in 2023.

Ayr Masterplan

February 2017

In collaboration with acclaimed international land artist Charles Jencks the masterplan for Ayr has been given planning consent. The project has been conceived as an urban square next to the River Ayr that will be used for festivals and events.

The scheme, focuses around a new glazed structure, that will open up a number of views blocked by post-war development and includes commercial, cultural, leisure, community, hotel and residential buildings. South Ayrshire Council has already committed to building a new council office for 350 of its staff as part of the scheme.

Ayr Renaissance began purchasing the mainly 20th century buildings on the site almost four years ago with funding from the council and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Demolition will begin immediately on the buildings within the plot, which falls inside the Ayr Central Conservation, following the approval for the masterplan by South Ayrshire Council last week.

Archaeologists will work alongside the demolition contractors in preparation for a six-month dig.

James Knox, chairman of Ayr Renaissance, said: ‘This decision marks a turning point in the fortunes of Ayr. Decades of blight will be swept away, opening up the river to the town’s people for the first time in generations. ‘Our masterplan offers a humane and beautiful solution to the transformation of this key site, which will act as a magnet for visitors, office workers and inhabitants alike. It marks a sea change in the economy of the town.’