Q: Tell me about your career path and how you ended up at PLG?
Alison Pressley: I worked for a variety of commercial Architectural practices both during my studies and after qualifying, focussing primarily on Education and housing. After starting a family I set up my own practice which allowed me to juggle parenting and Architecture and I ran this for 12 years. Following a relocation to Nottingham, I decided to return to commercial practice and returned to the world of educational and community buildings. The work focussed on modular buildings and off site construction and I became more involved in contracts and contract management. Unfortunately I was made redundant at the start of Covid but the opportunity with PLG came along and with it a new angle on housing and helping clients.
Q: Did any of your previous roles prepare you for working on adaptable properties?
Alison Pressley: Housing design tends to look at future proofing properties, however specialist disability design is a very niche market which I had not to this stage worked in. In a previous role I had been involved in the refurbishment of GB Canoeing’s headquarters in Nottingham and liaised directly with the athletes who would be using the facilities. Architects are expected to work to building regulations Part M but this was the start of factoring in individual and specific needs.
Q: How does working on adaptable properties differ from your previous work in commercial buildings?
Alison Pressley: I’ve always preferred private residential work because you’re more often involved from the very start of the project and have direct contact with the client. This is more satisfying than working for an anonymous user. Commercial work often feels more about financial gain, while residential, especially accessible design, is about how we can contribute to having a positive impact on someone’s life.
Q: You have a dual role as a project architect and team leader. What does that involve?
Alison Pressley: As a team leader, I assist Andrew with overseeing the architectural side of the business. I help keep track of what everyone is working on, answer queries, and manage workloads. I also have my own project case load so It’s a balance between running projects, managing workload and helping the team develop.
Q: How have you found the team development at PLG?
Alison Pressley: We’ve gone through quite a transformation over the five years I’ve been at PLG. I’ve seen a lot of changes, particularly as we’ve grown from a small unit to a team of 10 based in Leicester. I think people really value their roles here and are proud to be able to make a difference.
Q: Are you still as involved in the design work as you’d like to be?
Alison Pressley: Yes, we aim to have one person look after a project from start to finish for continuity. I still get to do the design work alongside the site management. We also try to ensure that everyone on the team, especially the junior members, gets exposure to all aspects of a project, so they’re learning the full scope of architecture—not just the technical details but the client-facing side too.
Q: What are the biggest challenges when designing accessible properties?
Alison Pressley: One of the biggest challenges is extracting information from the wider client team. We don’t work in isolation and many of our clients will have been working up to the point of a building project for years. It is crucial to have a solid briefing process and to ensure that all parties involved get to have their input. We also face design challenges unique to each property, especially when working with existing buildings. You can’t always know what surprises are waiting, like hidden structural issues that increase costs, and it’s essential to manage the client’s expectations from the start.
Q: How do you handle those surprises during a project?
Alison Pressley: We try to do as much investigation upfront as possible, but there will always be unknowns. For example, we recently spent £28,000 on building foundations for a project that despite carry out ground investigation, through up unexpected issues. We have to plan for these contingencies and make sure the client understands that while we try to predict everything, surprises are inevitable with existing properties.
Q: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work at PLG?
Alison Pressley: Seeing a project completed and knowing it’s made a real difference to someone’s quality of life is incredibly rewarding. When clients come back a year later and tell us how much their lives have improved because of the work we’ve done, it makes all the challenges worthwhile. That’s why I’ve stayed in this field—it’s about making a tangible impact on people’s lives, not just designing buildings.
Q: What have been some standout projects for you?
Alison Pressley: One that stands out is a project in Kidderminster for a young man with cerebral palsy. We designed his home to give him complete independence, and it’s made a huge difference in his life. Another project, for a younger child also with cerebral palsy has also made a huge difference to both the client and to his wider family. We revisited the family and they told us how much easier their lives had become since the project was completed. Those are the moments that make the work feel truly worthwhile.
Q: What is the ethos of PLG from your perspective?
Alison Pressley: It’s about managing the process for the client. Alleviating stress where possible and making the process as easy as possible for them. Our approach is to handle everything—from finding the property carrying out the adaptation works —so the client doesn’t have to worry about the complexities. They already have enough going on in their lives, and we aim to alleviate as much of that burden as we can.
Q: Do you have a favourite architectural style?
Alison Pressley: I’m drawn to functional architecture. If a building works well it’s doing its job. I believe function comes first, and if a building’s design draws too much attention to itself, it’s not succeeding in what it was meant to do. Functional can be beautiful too and if I was to pick a style or era it would be Art Deco.
Q: What challenges do you see in the future of architecture?
Alison Pressley: The biggest challenge is sustainability—managing how much energy we’re using and how we can improve the environmental impact of buildings. In refurbishments, it’s harder to achieve sustainability goals, but it’s something we’re becoming more aware of and need to keep pushing for.
Quick Fire Qs:
What was the first single you bought or downloaded? ‘Rio – Duran Duran’
What are 3 words to describe yourself? Innovative, friendly, diligent
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? Emilia Earhart
People would be surprised if they knew this fact about you… I rowed for England and won (twice)
