Darren Wilkins

Managing Director

Having gone from trainee to mentor during his career with Stride Treglown, Darren perceives his role as a chance to give back to a company that has supported and shaped his life.

As managing director, Darren plays an instrumental role in the growth of Stride Treglown. Enacting legislative and legal requirements, he looks for new business opportunities and manages the board of directors to ensure we continue to develop in a sustainable way. He may no longer be at the front end of a project, but Darren is still very much a part of creating something that will stand for years to come.

Darren, what makes Stride Treglown a good place to work?

Working closely with the directors and the whole team. As a board, we are very focused on our company culture and how we can make a positive impact on the lives of our employees. We work together to encourage a work life balance and I think the way we do this is unique to our practice. We are just embarking on the five year business plan. Capturing the essence of that and playing it back to the regional offices, studios and sectors brings about a real sense of purpose.

Interesting fact that nobody knows about you?

I came to our Bath office when it was still Tektus Architects (before Stride Treglown bought it) as a 14 year old boy on work experience. I stayed throughout college and university and in 1994 I was introduced to Stride Treglown, cutting my teeth in Bristol until 2000. Having transferred to the Cardiff office thereafter, my return to the Bristol office as managing director feels like I’ve come full circle.

What is the role of an architect?

My focus lies with managing the team and the technical aspects rather than flamboyant architecture. I enjoy getting the job done, building a building well and receiving good client feedback. I also strongly believe in nurturing talent, and, as a company, this is definitely the direction we are taking with our employee ownership; we want everyone here to flourish.

If you weren’t an architect, what would you be?

Something outdoors. One of my biggest passions is climbing, it’s a complete release from work.

Industry Bodies:
  • RIBA
  • ARB

Related posts