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An ambitious, creative,
hard-working team

Team

An ambitious, creative,
hard working team.

Sarah Harrison (ARB RIBA)

Director

Sarah is adept at negotiating the planning system and finding creative solutions for tricky sites. She ensures that quality management and organisation complement design and creative development.

With a wealth of experience, Sarah is now also an RIBA examiner, mentoring part 1 and 2 students through their office-based employment placements.

Sarah graduated from Liverpool University in 2002, having completed part of her studies at Sheffield University. Before co-founding HSA, she worked at a large commercial practice, reaching associate level.

Su Stringfellow (ARB RIBA)

Director

Su has extensive site and detailing experience, having worked for a number of design practices before co-founding HSA. She also regularly reviews at local universities.

As project architect for the £11m refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Midland Hotel in Morecambe, Su was part of the Urban Splash team which earned the RIBA Crown Estate Conservation Award in 2009. 

Su graduated from Sheffield University in 2001 and, during her studies, travelled to the USA to explore methods of consultation after receiving the Sir HK Stephenson scholarship. 

Michael Noon (ARB RIBA)

Architect

Michael joined HSA having worked in London for several years for residential and commercial practice Moreno Masey where he worked on a number of high-end residential projects, negotiating a mixture of Grade Listed properties on Grosvenor sites across Central London.

Before this, Michael graduated from Liverpool University where he also spent time studying in Berlin developing an interest in temporary architecture and sustainable development.

 

Jessie St. Clair (ARB RIBA)

Architect

Jessie is a creative, organised and collaborative member of the HSA team and recently qualified as an architect having completed her Part 3 in November 2021. She is currently the project architect for the Growing Sudley walled garden and changing rooms projects and ran several online engagement events with community members during the lockdown period. She has particular interest in low carbon materials, and is a member of the ACAN Natural Materials working group supporting an interest in how natural material practice often aligns with traditional building skills and heritage projects. This is being put into practice in the office through several ongoing research and development projects.

Jessie previously completed a term abroad at Lund University Sweden as part of her masters at the University of Nottingham and joined the HSA team shortly after her graduation in 2019.

 

Katie Begley (ARB RIBA)

Architect

Katie is a Certified Passive House Designer, assisting us in our goals to deliver buildings that consume just a fraction of the energy they used to, and to an even higher quality. Passive House buildings are not only energy efficient, but provide users with high levels of comfort and air quality all day, every day. Whilst from an outsider looking in, they may not differ from your usual house next door, they are planned and executed to achieve a higher standard of envelope and technology.

Katie qualified as an architect in 2016 after completing her RIBA Part I and II at Newcastle University. Katie is an experienced Project Architect who, through experience early on in her career of running smaller interior fit out focused projects, has gone on to gain experience running large complex projects in design led practices. Before rejoining Harrison Stringfellow, Katie worked as Project Architect for Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture on a £10M Hindu Temple Hall. Prior to this Katie worked at Foster Wilson Architects, where she was the Project Lead at RIBA Stage 3 for a £2M extension and refurbishment of an existing children’s theatre in London.

Katie’s interests not only lie in creating architecture that is highly sustainable, but in public sector projects that are socially responsive, that truly relate, connect and serve their communities.

 

Bonnie Jackson (ARB RIBA)

Architect

Bonnie completed her Part I at the University of Sheffield and Part II at the University of Liverpool,
before joining HSA in 2022. An Erasmus semester in Berlin broadened her interest in the balance
between art and architecture. Her design ethos comes from her interest in architecture as a social
issue, and how the built environment can be used as a design tool to improve equity and the
wellbeing of its users.

Bonnie’s thesis project focused on translating activism into a new architectural typology which could
initiate sustainable social change, and was nominated for the Architect’s Journal Student Award.

Esmé Mortimore

Finance and Office Administrator 

Esmé joined HSA in 2017 having taken a career break following the birth of her child. Before this, Esmé worked at Bank of America for 13 years where she was the advertising account manager for Direct Promotional campaigns.

Achievements during her career include managing advertising campaigns for some of the world’s most recognisable brands within international sport, leading charities and a variety of blue chip organisations.

Esmé has a keen interest in interior design and has previously worked as an assistant designer for an independent design consultancy and soft furnishings boutique.

Esmé graduated from Liverpool University in 1997, gaining a BA Honours Degree in English and Sociology.

 

 

Lauryn Thomson

Part II Architectural Assistant

Lauryn completed her Part I at the University of Nottingham and her Part II at the University of Sheffield, before joining HSA in 2024. Her master’s dissertation delved into the role of how creativity and community identity can foster a sense of place with architecture. With a strong interest in social architecture and how it can be created with low-impact bio-based materials.

Lauryn’s thesis explored how a regenerative typology could be designed around rewilding the landscape while building a symbiotic community, and was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal.

Lucy Matthews

Part I Architectural Assistant

Lucy graduated from Newcastle University in 2024 and joined us in the summer later that year. Thinking through making, Lucy utilises the tools of model-making, sculpture and theory to access architecture. Lucy’s graduation project was an inner-city Primary school that focused on the preservation of craft from form to function, with the building itself operating as a test-bed for material innovation.

Before joining Harrison Stringfellow, she worked in Newcastle as a Prototyping Assistant for The Hub for Biotechnology in The Built Environment which involved designing and building/growing a 3 metre tall pavilion from mycelium and wool composite. ‘The Growing Room’  was displayed at the National Museum of Scotland for the Edinburgh Science Festival 2024. She also has delivered talks for the Women’s Giving Circle, a social enterprise that aids women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in STEM subjects.

 

Collaborative Team

The team boasts a high level of project management experience in co-ordinating high profile and complex projects. This experience has proven highly effective in exposing and resolving significant challenges.

We develop our staff to become confident and skilled in creative problem-solving at all levels and in all aspects of the job. Every project is unique and we respond by listening and with a ‘can do’ approach. Directors continue learning through hands-on experience of delivering projects from inception to completion – and share new skills and knowledge with staff. This approach has resulted in a loyal, communicative team and good staff retention.  All projects are overseen by an experienced director.

Technical Ability

We are an RIBA-chartered practice which meets new projects with the technical ability to fuse creative, yet pragmatic thought. We look to provide specifications that are achievable and sturdy using research and best practice. In the past, we have developed new products with local suppliers in order to achieve historic finishes using modern materials. We produce models and test ideas through prototypes, and work closely with suppliers, manufacturers and contractors to develop robust, practical and value-for-money solutions.

Skill development, empowerment and learning is at the heart of everything we do.