Hoodless returns to lead Broadway Malyan

Architect Harry Hoodless, who previously spent seven years working and lecturing in Manchester, has returned to the city as head of the practice’s northern region.

Hoodless worked at the firm’s Manchester studio from 2003 to 2010 before relocating to its Shanghai operation, where he has worked for the past eight years. He also leads Broadway Malyan’s global education team and sits on the UK board.

He will take overall responsibility for the practice’s northern region, working alongside the studio’s senior leadership team including Danny Crump, Ivor Philips and Simon McAllen.

Hoodless said: “There are probably few cities in the world that have undergone a transformation quite like Shanghai over the past decade so to have witnessed that at first hand was a really fantastic experience, both personally and professionally.

“And while Shanghai and Manchester are very different cities, what they share is a frenetic energy and optimism and what is so exciting about Manchester is that inescapable feeling that it is moving into a defining period in its history – and we think we can play a key role in that story.”

Projects Hoodless led the design and delivery of in his first Manchester stint include Aquinas College in Stockport, Sir John Deans College in Northwich and major residential schemes in Adelphi Street and Derwent Street in Manchester.

Broadway Malyan’s Castlefield studio, which it shares with Nexus Planning, is a mix of landscape, urban design and architectural specialists. Hoodless said: “There is no single sector where we believe there is the greatest opportunity. We are mixed use urbanists with a focus on projects that will support the evolution and rebirth of Manchester and the other great northern towns in the region.

“We already have a fantastic team here in Manchester who really understand the northern context and its connections and we will be looking to build on the excellent pan-regional projects we have been involved in recently such as the GM2080 study and Transport for Greater Manchester’s Streets For All initiative.”