HISTORY
WWA is a multi-disciplinary design consultancy born from the merger of two renowned practices: West Waddy, originally founded in 1885, and Archadia.
In 2014, Oxford’s West Waddy and London-based Archadia Architects formed an association, combining their sector-specific expertise and extensive experience in delivering exceptional, high quality projects for their clients.
The practices already enjoyed outstanding reputations for the standard of their work in architecture, urban design, town planning and delivery of specialist housing.
Since then, the firms have operated as sister practices, supporting and enhancing one another’s specialisms for the benefit of their clients.
In 2021 the two firms combined to create WWA (West Waddy Archadia), a Practice that aspires to be a leader in the built environment, creating outstanding people-centric places and caring for our heritage.
TEAM
CAREERS
Are you interested in joining WWA?
We are a friendly group of award-winning, multi-discipline specialists committed to getting the best possible results for our clients. We operate across multiple sectors with dedicated architectural, urban design and planning teams within our business, which are staffed by industry experts working as a collective to deliver optimum results.
Working at WWA provides additional benefits, including:
As part of our commitment to continuous learning and professional development, each year the practice takes a tour of some of our most recently completed projects, giving our teams an opportunity to receive first hand feedback from the new buildings’ owners and users.
We also have a practice away day where we take a day out of the office to reflect as a team on the successes of the year gone by and discuss the business opportunities presented by the year ahead.
Through a series of team workshop exercises we seek to tailor our business plan, drawing on the skill and passion of the whole team in setting our sights high.
BUILDING VISITS DAY
As part of our commitment to continuous learning and professional development, each year the whole Practice takes a tour of our recently completed projects. Through this experience we learn from the feedback of the new building owners and users, while also providing an opportunity to reflect on the performance of materials and products as part of the continual review of our design approach.
PRACTICE AWAY DAY
Each summer we take a day out of the office to reflect as a team on the successes of the year gone by and discuss the business opportunities presented by the year ahead. Through a series of team workshop exercises we seek to tailor our business plan, drawing on the skill and passion of the whole team in setting our sights high.
CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We are committed to deliver outstanding opportunities for professional development at all career stages, whether providing ‘year out’ placements for undergraduate architects, or supporting the learning aims of colleagues as they develop their careers and specialisms.
RIBA ARCHITECTURAL AMBASSADORS
As a RIBA Architectural Ambassador, Ralph Saull engages with local schools, delivering architecture and design workshops for children of all ages. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange a visit to your local school or college.
UNDERGRADUATE MENTORING SCHEME
Third year students at Oxford Brookes University undertake a study module titled ‘Management, Practice, Law’. In support of this, the Directors at WWA mentor a number of students each year, inviting them to the Practice to gain insight into the operation of a successful design and planning business.
WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENTS
Each summer we offer work experience placements to local secondary and sixth form students, offering them the chance to to shadow our professionals at site visits and meetings. We also and typically run a fictional project, ensuring students have a portfolio of work to show in future interviews.
OXFORD BROOKES AWARD SPONSOR
WWA is the proud sponsor of an annual award at Oxford Brookes University. Each year, we seek out the best post-graduate submission that unites the disciplines of urban design and architecture. Our team look forward to the winning student visiting the office to present their portfolio and collect their prize.
CHARITY FUNDRAISING
Our team is always up for a challenge to raise money for charity; be it a long-distance cycle ride or an office iron man the next idea for a good cause is never far away.