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Percy Thomas Partnership was the trading name of the award-winning British
architectural Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings o ...
practice established some time between 1965 and 1973 as the successor to a series of earlier partnerships originally set up by
Percy Thomas Sir Percy Edward Thomas OBE (13 September 1883 – 19 August 1969) was an Anglo-Welsh architect who worked in Wales for the majority of his life. He was twice RIBA president (1935–37 and 1943–46). Biography Percy Edward Thomas was born on ...
(1883–1969) in
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
in 1911/12. Percy Thomas and the Percy Thomas Partnership put their name to a number of landmark buildings in the United Kingdom including the
Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...
, Cardiff. It opened offices overseas and completed a number of prestigious buildings in Hong Kong. Percy Thomas Partnership came to an end in 2004 when they went into
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
and were bought by Capita Group.


History

Percy Edward Thomas was born in the
northeast of England North East England is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. The region has three current administrative levels below the region level in the region; combined authority, unitary authority ...
in 1883, but was well-travelled and started work as at a young age in Cardiff, Wales.National Library of Wales ''Dictionary of Welsh Biography'
THOMAS, Sir PERCY EDWARD (1883–1969)
retrieved 2011-10-14
He was articled to study architecture, and won the
National Eisteddfod of Wales The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Eur ...
architecture competition in 1903. He returned to England to work, but began collaborating with Ivor Jones of Cardiff, in architectural competitions. In 1911 they won the competition to design Cardiff's new Technical College (now known as the
Bute Building The Bute Building ( cy, Adeilad Bute) is a Cardiff University building in Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales. It houses the Welsh School of Architecture. It is a Grade II listed building. The neoclassical building was designed by architects Percy ...
), and Thomas returned to Cardiff to work in partnership with Jones. Percy Thomas's architectural practice was set up in 1911/12.PTP Architects (HK) website
HISTORY
(retrieved 2011-10-26).
During the 1920s and 1930s the practice won a large number of commissions to design important civic buildings in Wales and England, including county offices for
Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...
and
Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...
, Lord Davies' Temple of Peace,
Swansea Civic Centre Swansea Civic Centre ( cy, Canolfan Ddinesig Abertawe) – formerly known as County Hall – is the principal administrative centre of Swansea Council. Standing some 800 m southwest of Swansea city centre, by the seafront and overlooking Swanse ...
,
Aberystwyth University , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment = ...
campus and a redesign of London's
Euston Station Euston railway station ( ; also known as London Euston) is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden, managed by Network Rail. It is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line, the UK's busiest inter-city railw ...
. The partnership with Ivor Jones was amicably dissolved in 1937. In 1946 Percy Thomas was knighted. In the same year Percy Thomas's son Norman joined the practice – which became known as Sir Percy Thomas & Son. In 1952 William Marsden and Wallace Sweet joined the practice. John Francis Vergette joined (in
Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
) in 1955.RIBAJournal.co
Obituary: John Francis Vergette FRIBA 1930–2009
(retrieved 2011-10-18)
Percy Thomas became seriously ill in 1962, retiring from the company in 1963. Percy Thomas died in 1969. In 1965 Sir Percy Thomas & Son were commissioned to design
Clifton Cathedral The Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Bristol (not to be confused with the Church of England Bristol Cathedral). Located in the Clifton area of the city, it is the seat and mother church of the ...
, a new Roman Catholic cathedral for the city of
Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
. The design was by Ronald Weeks, Fred Jennett and Antoni Poremba. The cathedral was consecrated in 1973, by which time the architectural practice was known as Percy Thomas Partnership.Clifton Cathedral websit
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF Ss. PETER AND PAUL, CLIFTON
(viewed 2011-10-14)
Norman Thomas retired as chairman in 1971, becoming a consulting partner until 1976. Thomas was replaced as chairman by Fred Jennet, who initiated expansion into the Middle East In 1992 Percy Thomas Partnership incorporated and became PTP Ltd with John Vergette as Chairman and Chief Executive. John founded the
Royal Society of Architects in Wales The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) is the Wales region of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The society was granted Royal status by the Privy Council in 1994. It is based in Cardiff, with four branches throughout Wale ...
(RSAW) and was president 1971–73. PTP eventually had six offices in the United Kingdom, as well as offices in Malaysia, Hong Kong and elsewhere. One of Percy Thomas Partnership's last works was the
Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...
in Cardiff (2004). It was designed by Jonathan Adams, who had joined the practice in 1998. The award selectors for the Wales National Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture 2005 described the building as "a special place which will provide a focal point for the unique culture, identity and talents of Wales... The large mass of the building has been successfully formed into an impressive edifice as opposed to an oppressive monolith... In terms of texture, colour, selection of materials and spatial experience this is a feast to be enjoyed".thefreelibrary.com
The awards pile up for Wales' delightful 'armadillo'
'. Western Mail, 30 July 2005 (retrieved 2011-10-18)


Awards


RIBA awards

* R.I.B.A. Bronze Medal in 1938 for the design of the
Temple of Peace, Cardiff The Welsh National Temple of Peace and Health, known as the Temple of Peace and Health or commonly the Temple of Peace, is a non-religious civic building in Cathays Park, Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It was designed by the architect Sir ...
.Temple of Peace & Health websit
Building History – Architecture
(retrieved 2011-10-16)
*R.I.B.A. Gold Medal for the design of the Swinton Town Hall.Salford City Council websit
Salford Civic Centre
Updated 16 July 2010 (retrieved 2011-10-16)
*RIBA Wales Award (2005) for the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.


National Eisteddfod of Wales Gold Medals for Architecture

*1970, for the Physics & Mathematics Building,
University College, Swansea Swansea University ( cy, Prifysgol Abertawe) is a public university, public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. It was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. ...
.The National Eisteddfod of Wales websit
Gold Medal for Architecture
(retrieved 2014-10-24)
*1971, for the Great Hall, Students Union and central concourse, University College, Aberystwyth. *1974, for the Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Court for the Elderly,
Porthcawl Porthcawl (, ) is a town and community on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, west of the capital city, Cardiff and southeast of Swansea. Historically part of Glamorgan and situated on a low limestone headland on the So ...
. *1976, for the Parke Davies Pharmaceutical Plant,
Pontypool Pontypool ( cy, Pont-y-pŵl ) is a town and the administrative centre of the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales. It has a population of 28,970. Location It is situated on the Afon Lwyd ri ...
. *1978, for the Welsh Folk Museum, St Fagans, Cardiff. *1983, for the Amersham International Laboratories, Cardiff.PTP Architects (HK) website
AWARDS
(retrieved 2015-12-10).
*2005, for the Wales Millennium Centre.


Other awards

*
Concrete Society The Concrete Society is a UK based Nonprofit organization, non-profit company that was founded in 1966 in response to the increasing need for a single organisation embracing all those interested in concrete. On its formal inauguration, on 13 Octob ...
Award (1974) for Clifton Cathedral (a 'Winner of Winners' Award was achieved in 2007 for the quality and longevity of its concrete).Clifton Diocese websit
'Winner of Winners' Award Goes To Clifton Cathedral
, May 2007 (retrieved 2011-10-18)


Key buildings and projects

*
Cardiff Technical College Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
, Cathays park, Cardiff (opened 1916). Competition to design the building was won by Percy Thomas and Ivor Jones in 1911. * Bristol Police Station and Bristol Fire Station, Bristol (opened 1930). * Aberystwyth University Campus, Penglais, Aberystwyth (1935/1966). Masterplans for the campus were designed by Percy Thomas in 1935 and Percy Thomas Partnership in 1966. * The Guildhall, Swansea (opened 1938). * Swinton Town Hall, Swinton and Pendlebury, Lancashire (opened Sept 1938). Competition to design it was won by Percy Thomas and Ernest Prestwich. * Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff (opened Nov 1938) * Redwood Building,
Cardiff University , latin_name = , image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University , motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord , mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord , established = 1 ...
, Cathays Park (1960–1961) * Queen's Building, Cardiff University,
Newport Road Newport Road is a 4.7 mi (7.5 km) road leading east from the centre of Cardiff, Wales, towards Newport, until it joins the A48 at St Mellons. Description Newport Road follows the route of the A4161 through Roath and the B4487 t ...
- New west wing and rebuilding of main tower (1964) *
Hiatt Baker Hall Halls of residence at the University of Bristol are generally located within three distinct areas of Bristol, the City Centre, Clifton and Stoke Bishop. Clifton halls Goldney Hall Goldney Hall is a self-catered hall situated in Clifton. Th ...
, Bristol University, Stoke Bishop (opened 1966). *
Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Welsh: ''Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth'') is an arts centre in Wales, located on Aberystwyth University's Penglais campus. One of the largest in Wales, it comprises a theatre (312 seats), concert hall (900 seats), s ...
, Aberystwyth University, Wales (opened 1970/2). * Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Clifton, Bristol (consecrated 1973

*
Symphony Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II on 12 June 1991, although it had been in use since 15 April 1991. It is home to the City of Bi ...
(opened 1991). * Swanlea Secondary School, Tower Hamlets, London, in collaboration with
Hampshire County Architects Hampshire County Architects is the old name for Hampshire County Council Architecture, the in-house architecture and design department of HCC Property Services in Hampshire, UK. Over the years the multi-disciplinary team has developed a particula ...
(opened 1993). The school building was passively heated and ventilated. *
City University of Hong Kong City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is a world-class public research university located in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994. Currently, CityU is ...
(completed 1993). This project was won in an international competition, in collaboration with Fitch and Chung. *
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a public research university in Clear Water Bay Peninsula, New Territories, Hong Kong. Founded in 1991 by the British Hong Kong Government, it was the territory's third institution ...
(with Simon Kwan and Associates) *
Second Severn Crossing or cy, Pont Tywysog Cymru, label=none, italic=unset , carries = M4 motorway (6 lanes) , crosses = River Severn , locale = South West England / South East Wales , maint = National Highways , architect ...
(now the Prince of Wales Bridge), between England and Wales (opened 1996) *
Wishaw General Hospital University Hospital Wishaw (formerly known as Wishaw General Hospital) is a district general hospital in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, situated between the areas of Craigneuk to the north and Netherton, North Lanarkshire, Netherton to the south. ...
,
Lanarkshire Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland. Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotlan ...
, Scotland (completed 2001). *
Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...
, Cardiff (opened 2004). £106 million opera house and arts venue.


Administration and buy-out

In June 2004 Percy Thomas Partnership went into
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
after cancellation of a large PFI project for the
Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
and delays of a number of other key projects. At the time, they had a turnover of £6 million, with 100 staff.Gates, C. ''PFI fells Welsh giant'' Building Design, Issue 1630, June 18, 2004, p.1 The company was bought by the large British outsourcing company,
Capita Capita plc, commonly known as Capita, is an international business process outsourcing and professional services company headquartered in London. It is the largest business process outsourcing and professional services company in the United K ...
, who created a new arm of their property consultancy division called Capita Percy Thomas. The staff and several senior directors were transferred to Capita. In 2007 the name 'Percy Thomas' came to an end in the UK when Capita consolidated the architecture divisions within
Capita Symonds Capita Property and Infrastructure (previously Capita Symonds) is a UK multidisciplinary consultancy operating in the building design, civil engineering, environment, management and transport sectors, part of the Capita Group. They employ arou ...
into a new brand called 'Capita Architecture'.Capita Symonds websit
Our history
(viewed 2011-10-14)


References


External links




Wales Millennium Centre website , The Building

Clifton Cathedral
{{Authority control Architecture firms of Wales Defunct companies of Wales Percy Thomas buildings Welsh Eisteddfod Gold Medal winners