Buttress

Buttress is an employee-owned, B Corp certified design studio that provides a range of services across the built environment. The firm's core offerings include architecture, urban design, interior design, and heritage conservation. Buttress also extends its expertise to heritage consultancy, masterplanning, and sustainability services. The company operates from its offices located in both Manchester and Leeds, functioning as a unified studio that shares knowledge and fosters open collaboration.

The firm's operational philosophy places people at the heart of its endeavors, guided by a purpose articulated as "Architecture for an equitable tomorrow." Buttress believes that architecture is fundamentally shaped by people, place, and purpose. The company asserts that the most successful buildings emerge from a deep understanding of their specific context, historical significance, and anticipated future use. Buttress functions as a community of specialists, bringing together diverse expertise in areas such as conservation, sustainability, design, and project delivery to enhance the value of each undertaking. This integrated and collaborative approach is designed to clarify complex challenges, making project navigation more inclusive and enjoyable for clients.

Buttress achieved B Corp certification in December 2022 and subsequently underwent recertification in 2025, underscoring its commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance. The firm's B Impact score of 141 positions it among the highest-scoring B Corp-certified architecture practices in the UK, notably as a leading practice headquartered outside London. This certification reflects a "triple bottom line" approach, where profit, people, and the planet are considered equally important metrics of success. In 2022, Buttress also secured Planet Mark certification, an internationally recognized sustainability accreditation that tracks its environmental impact and commits the firm to a 5% annual carbon reduction target. The company actively integrates sustainability into its design processes, including adherence to Passivhaus principles on numerous projects and offering specialized sustainability services such as embodied and whole-life carbon assessment.

The firm engages with a broad spectrum of sectors, encompassing Culture, Heritage, Community, Faith, Education, Hotels & Leisure, Residential, and Workplace projects. Within the residential sector, Buttress prioritizes the needs of people and the characteristics of place, striving to create homes and neighborhoods that cater to residents' aspirations and foster a strong sense of belonging. The company collaborates with various entities, including commercial developers, local authorities, and social housing providers, to deliver comprehensive housing schemes. Notable residential projects in their portfolio include Greenhaus, a pioneering Passivhaus apartment scheme, and Willohaus in Salford, which successfully delivered 100 Passivhaus Classic-certified affordable homes. The firm's residential work also features projects such as the Ancoats Dispensary and Timekeepers Square, showcasing its extensive experience in multi-residential and urban living developments.