About Stead & Co

Every decision we make is shaped by a clear sense of purpose.

We are a practice with purpose. We work within the four pillars of sustainability, reference the UN Sustainable Development Goals, We prioritise adaptive reuse and responsible stewardship helping to create lasting social, economic and environmental value in every project.

We believe good design should also build a better sector. We are active in education — teaching at schools, colleges and universities, developing emerging professionals and working to attract diverse talent into the built environment.

Shared values are the foundation of work that genuinely makes a difference: to places, to communities and to people.

Who We Are

As community architects, we specialise in adaptive reuse, heritage conservation and civic-led projects, working with heritage organisations, faith communities, community trusts, schools, sports clubs and homeowners on the buildings and spaces that matter most to people.

Stead & Co. is led by Stefanie Stead MBE, RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, author and educator. A small practice with a big network, the '& Co.' reflects how we work: every project brings together the right expertise, drawn from years of building relationships with a trusted specialists, consultants and collaborators who share our values and our standards.

We are involved at every stage, from the earliest strategic conversations and feasibility work through to planning, technical design and delivery on site. From a Grade II* listed retreat house in the Yorkshire Dales to a Victorian Methodist church reimagined as a community hub, we bring the same depth of knowledge, care and commitment to every commission, whatever its scale. We know which questions to ask, which problems to get ahead of, and how to keep a project grounded and achievable through whatever complications arise.

We love what we do, and we love collaborating. We bring the same depth of knowledge and commitment to every commission, whatever its scale.

Awards

Highly Commended Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber - SME (2024)

Winner Sussex Heritage Trust Awards - Public and Community Award (2023)

Highly Commended Sussex Heritage Trust Awards - ECO Award (2023)

Finalist Constructing Excellence London & South East Awards - Conservation and regeneration (2023)

Finalist Constructing Excellence London & South East Awards - Value (2023)

Shortlisted Blue Badge Access Award (2023)

Longlisted RIBAJ MacEwen Award (2023)

Meet Our Team

Stead & Co. is led by Stefanie Stead MBE SCA, RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, author and educator. The '& Co.' reflects how we work: the right team, assembled around every project, united by shared values and a commitment to work that genuinely matters.

  • Stefanie Stead

    Stefanie Stead MBE

    DIRECTOR

    Stefanie is a RIBA accredited Specialist Conservation Architect and community architecture specialist with over 15 years' experience. Awarded an MBE in 2019 for Services to Construction and Architecture, she is the Inclusive Environments Champion for the Construction Industry Council and sits as a judge for the Constructing Excellence Awards Yorkshire and Humber.

    She is a studio tutor at the School of Architecture at the University of York, before which she taught HNC Construction for over ten years at York College. As a RIBA Published Author, her book on community architecture draws on years of practice, research and teaching to make the case for buildings that genuinely serve the communities.

  • Gail

    Gail Byrne

    PRACTICE MANAGER

    Gail keeps the studio organised and our projects moving forward. She’s the friendly first point of contact for our clients, helping to make the architectural process as simple and stress-free as possible. Gail loves being part of a team that builds for the community and is always on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

  • Safia

    Safira Hussain

    PART 3 ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT

    Safira supports projects across all RIBA stages, contributing to feasibility studies, option development, stakeholder engagement and the preparation of clear, accessible project information.

    She brings specialist insight into inclusive design, neurodiversity and differing abilities — a valuable perspective on how community-facing environments can be legible, welcoming and genuinely supportive for the full range of people who use them.

  • Andrew

    Andrew Howarth

    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD

    Andrew works with the team to deliver and facilitate community engagement programmes for the practice, alongside workshops on net zero, sustainability and community wealth building. He has particular expertise in grant applications and securing funding for community projects.

    Andrew is currently the Activation Lead for Otley Common, bringing together infrastructure, operations and governance to deliver a community hub for the town.

  • Peter

    Peter Crosland

    HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANT

    Peter is an experienced health and safety professional. Immediate past Chairman of the HSE/CONIAC Tackling Ill Health Working Group and Vice Chair of the ICE Expert Health and Safety Panel, he brings significant expertise and authority, ensuring the practice meets the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the Building Safety Act 2022.

  • A young woman with dark, curly hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black blazer, standing indoors with a green wall and a bulletin board in the background.

    Chloe Mapiye

    COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

    Chloe brings the practice's work to life, managing our online presence across social media and the website and translating our commitment to ethics, sustainability and inclusive design into engaging content for a wider audience. She is our storyteller, finding the narrative in every project and sharing it in a way that resonates beyond the building.