OMI Architects has been around since 1993 and the firm is one of the leading design-led practices in the North West. Architect Directors, Nick Berry and Andy James head up the practice’s 21 strong team of architects and graduates, all of whom are based in the former ‘Manchester Baths’, a RIBA Award-winning conversion of a Victorian swimming pool, where OMI has created a number of studios for the creative industries.
The quality of work has been recognised with a series of awards for design excellence including 12 national and regional RIBA Awards. OMI is known for a broad range of work including residential, museums and galleries, offices, churches, education, hotels, leisure, community and public buildings, many of which are within sensitive historic settings. In addition to its architecture output, the practice undertakes Feasibility Studies, Masterplanning, Interior Architecture, Design Guides, Graphics and Community Consultation.
The residential work ranges from large-scale city centre apartment schemes to affordable housing in some of the region’s most challenging communities. OMI has also developed expertise in specialist care provision for adults with complex needs. To date, OMI has built over 4000 homes and its recently completed Manchester apartment schemes in Greengate and Wilburn Wharf are now making their mark on the City’s skyline.
OMI’s work includes complex heritage schemes which involve some of the region’s most important Grade I and Grade II* Listed buildings, including All Souls, Bolton, which was named as RICS North West Building of the year in 2015.
When working with existing buildings, OMI achieve harmony and balance between the new and the old, injecting life into what are often tired structures that have lost their way. OMI combine a real sense of interaction, delight and fun, whilst still respecting the dignity of the buildings and places that they engage with.
In all its work OMI seek out the ingredients that make the difference between a successful building or place that has spirit and life and one that suffers from being soulless and alien to the people that use it.
