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 construction, constructi ...

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 o ...

(1883–1969) in

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

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 () is Wales' national 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 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on ...

, 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: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...

and were bought by

Capita Group Capita plc 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 Kingdom, with an overall ma ...

History

Percy Edward Thomas was born in the

northeast of England North East England, commonly referred to simply as the North East within England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of County Durham , Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and part of northern North Yorkshire. It is the least ...

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: ') 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 Europe. Competito ...

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 () is a Cardiff University building in Cathays Park Cathays Park () or Cardiff Civic Centre is a civic centre area in the Cardiff City Centre, city centre of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, consisting of a number of ...

), 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 Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the South Wales, south of Wales. Originally an ea ...

and

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

, Lord Davies' Temple of Peace,

Swansea Civic Centre Swansea Civic Centre () – 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 Swansea Bay, the complex houses – i ...

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 stude ...

campus and a redesign of London's

Euston Station Euston railway station ( ; or London Euston) is a major London station group, central London railway terminus and Euston tube station, connected London Underground station managed by Network Rail in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sout ...

. 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 ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

) 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 status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. 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 (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

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. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

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 architec ...

.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 Swinton may refer to: Places England * Swinton, Greater Manchester * Swinton, Harrogate, near Masham, North Yorkshire ** Swinton Estate, including Swinton Park * Swinton, Ryedale, near Malton, North Yorkshire * Swinton, South Yorkshire North ...

.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 () 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. In 1996, it chang ...

.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 Aberystwyth University () is a public research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 students studying across three academic facul ...

. *1974, for the Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Court for the Elderly,

Porthcawl Porthcawl () is a town and community in the Bridgend County Borough of Wales. It is located on the south coast, west of Cardiff and south-east of Swansea. Historically part of Glamorgan and situated on a low limestone headland on the South ...

. *1976, for the Parke Davies Pharmaceutical Plant,

Pontypool Pontypool ( ) is a town and the administrative centre of the county borough of Torfaen, within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshire in South Wales. , it has a population of 29,062. Locat ...

. *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 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 October 1966, the society to ...

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, 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 and Pendlebury, Lancashire (opened Sept 1938). Competition to design it was won by Percy Thomas and

Ernest Prestwich Ernest Prestwich (29 August 1889 – 4 November 1977) was an English architect, working his own interpretation of Classical architecture, via the Streamline Moderne, Style Moderne, Modernism, Modernist and Brutalism, Brutalist styles. He speci ...

. * Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff (opened Nov 1938) *

Redwood Building The Redwood Building is a Cardiff University building, in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales. The building was opened in 1961 by the Welsh College of Advanced Technology, which in 1968 became the University of Wales Institute of Scienc ...

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

, Cathays Park (1960–1961) *

Queen's Building Queen's Building () was a late 19th-century neoclassical building located in Central, Hong Kong. Named after Queen Victoria, it was situated to the west of Statue Square on Hong Kong Island's waterfront with Victoria Harbour at the time. It ...

, 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, Wales, Newport, until it joins the A48 road, A48 at St Mellons. Description Newport Road follows the route of the A4161 road, ...

- 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. ...

, 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 (1,250 seats ...

, 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 Queen Elizabeth II on 12 June 1991, although it had been in use since 15 April 1991. It is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hos ...

(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 The City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is a public research university in Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and formally established as the City University of Hong Kong in 1994 ...

(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 Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong. Founded in 1991, it was the territory's third institution to be granted university status, and the firs ...

(with Simon Kwan and Associates) *

Second Severn Crossing The Prince of Wales Bridge (), previously the Second Severn Crossing () until July 2018, is the M4 motorway bridge over the River Severn between England and Wales, opened in 1996 to supplement the traffic capacity of the Severn Bridge built i ...

(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 (; ), is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and registration county in the Central Lowlands and Southern Uplands of Scotland. The county is no l ...

, Scotland (completed 2001). *

, Cardiff (opened 2004). £106 million opera house and arts venue.

Administration and buy-out

In June 2004 Percy Thomas Partnership went into

after cancellation of a large PFI project for the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

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 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 Kingdom, with an overall ma ...

, 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 aroun ...

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