Client Focused Services

MBO Architects and there predecessor practices have carried out numerous housing and supported housing projects for York Housing Association, over a period of more than 40 years. The practice’s understanding of the needs of our tenants, particularly those with learning disabilities requiring supported housing, has enabled us to provide consistently high quality accommodation, both by new construction and the conversion of existing properties. Close to attention to our brief and close consultation with our staff has been a feature of the relationship between the two organisations. MBO have always shown a willingness to listen and to learn, the latter particularly in relation to the ever-changing requirements of our regulators.

MBO Architects did a first class job for us. The design of our extension is excellent and they supervised the whole projects from start to finish with skill, and eye to detail and friendly efficiency.

Cropton Reading Room is a testament to the skill of the Architects, McNeil Beechey O’Neill and I have no hesitation in recommending them in the future. Our refurbished reading rooms and village hall were officially re-opened by The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne. It is a building to be very proud of and compares with any in North Yorkshire.

McNeil Beechey O’Neill were appointed architects for our schools Lottery funded new build sports and arts centre.

The development itself was part of a regeneration project that demanded close liaison with the local community and school to ensure that facility accurately reflected the needs of both. An additional dimension was the need to ensure the religious and cultural beliefs of the community were taken into consideration throughout the design process.

The school was delighted to work through the design process with MBO Architects. Solutions proposed throughout, balanced creativity, pragmatism and keen desire to ensure the finished product met users’ long term needs.

Following completion of the project the school has a building that has stood up well to community use, clearly delivered fitness for purpose and retains a freshness that uses and visitors appreciate.

Our vision of a building that would set new standards for education and care has now been translated into reality. Thanks in no small measure to the support of MBO Architects. We have been guided through planning procedures, phasing details, organisational, management and financial issues with understanding and empathy. We have found the firm to be persistent, responsive and dependable. Perhaps more importantly however, is that this is a firm that understands schools and how they work. We would be more than happy for anyone seeking further information to visit our school.

Although my care home site is in the Green belt and slopes steeply, MBO produced a creative design that provides a large 3 storey extension to the existing care home. By creating terraces cut into the hillside to the rear of the home, they achieved 29 extra care cottages served by a central lift. Their knowledge and experience of this type of project has been invaluable in helping secure a scheme that maximises the potential of the site.

During the entire process of planning and implementation, McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects worked very closely with operational staff from The Wilf Ward Family Trust. In the early planning process, plans were frequently discussed and changed in order to get the best outcomes possible for the facilities. During the build, McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects were constantly in discussion with operational staff, listening carefully to how staff would use the building on completion and working The Wilf Ward Family Trust and builders to incorporate these ideas.

The result is a modern and efficient facility that can more flexibly enable The Wilf Ward Family Trust to meet the increasing demands and higher expectations over a wider range of service user needs that is proving popular with service users, commissioners and staff.

The outcome of working with McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects on this project has again left us with a building that is fit for purpose, finished to a very high standard and much admired by the people who use the service and their relatives as well as people within the local community.

MBO’s knowledge of the care home sector and their attention to detail was invaluable throughout the planning and detailed design stages. They have designed in flexibility for the future and have worked closely with my Head of Home to make sure that the building will be easy to manage and run. MBO Architects also worked closely with the Design & Build Contractor to ensure that we maintain the quality of the design whilst achieving best value for money.

I would have no hesitation in recommending MBO to anyone who is involved in developing Care or Extra Care accommodation.

The general quality of service we received from McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects throughout the course of this project and indeed, in terms of aftercare services, has been of a very high standard – they always remain professional and courteous yet friendly and responsive.

I contacted McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects to assist me in putting together a portfolio of services that they had provided over more than 30 years to The Wilf Ward Family Trust.

I found them to be very professional as well as being responsive to the needs of the Trust. In including information which we required. The result was a professional document which clearly showed how through partnership working and good design, it is possible to make significant changes to service user’s lives through adaptations to environments.

We were very pleased with the service we had from McNeil, Beechey, O’Neill. The particular strength was in the management of the projects, which all went very smoothly. Inevitably there were some problems and these were handled most efficiently by mbo in consultation with the headteacher and governors subcommittee. Two of our governors were included in regular site meetings and there was an easy relationship between company and school. Considering our budget at the time the extension has been an asset to the school community and we have been able to adapt the space to the constantly changing needs of each new intake of children.