commercial architects

Qualifications: RIBA

Fascinated by design, technology and geography from an early age, Keith studied at the University of Greenwich for his degree and diploma in architecture. One of five students to be nominated for a RIBA silver medal award while at university, Keith began his career working in a commercial London practice on high-end projects for blue chip clients. He also worked on-site as a designer, developing new headquarters for a major pharmaceutical company, before moving to Kent to start his own practice.

After two years, he teamed up with Steve Gee to form OSG Architecture. A true commercial architect, as well as managing the business on a day-to-day basis, he specialises in housing design and master planning (anything from five to 250 dwellings), as well as commercial and industrial design.

A talented visualiser, communicator and presenter, Keith believes in developing close relationships with everyone involved in a project – not just those within the practice but also clients, developers, contractors and specialists. His collective, people-centred approach enables everyone to participate, fosters harmony and encourages problem-solving through conversation.

What advice would you give young architects entering the industry today?

“Be persistent and be prepared to work hard. You need to get out there and meet people as well – networking is important. Set high standards in everything that you do and be prepared to listen and ask questions. With the right attitude and approach, whatever skills you have will be enhanced, people will respect you and you will forge long-term relationships that will support you in your chosen career – in the exciting realm of architecture.”

Qualifications: OND, HNC

After training in OND and HNC Building Studies, Steve worked for various practices before setting up his own company in 2007. He then formed OSG Architecture Limited in 2011, with Keith Owen.

Steve has over 30 years’ experience of working in various architectural disciplines and specialises in the educational sector. Whether designing buildings for infants or secondary students, he enjoys the design stage best, deriving particular satisfaction from creating classroom environments that give young people the space they need to grow and develop.

In addition to managing the day-to-day running of the business, Steve works with clients in their offices and on site, developing ideas, scoping proposals, and ensuring the buildings that OSG is involved with are exemplary. Working to tight deadlines and budgets is second nature, and Steve’s attention to detail is legendary – even he describes himself as ‘picky’!

Qualifications: GNVQ, HNC

An accomplished director and senior architectural technician, Dan has a wide range of responsibilities within the practice. Dan's multifaceted role encompasses project management, architectural and technical design, and crucial managerial and client liaison functions.

Dan has a breadth of project experience in Education, SEN (Special Educational Needs), high-end private housing and volume affordable housing in addition to strategic land holdings.

Lately, Dan has been actively heading up the Winterbourne Fields project, a vision for a new village of up to 2000 homes and facilitating developer and investor links.

Dan's dedication to enhancing the built environment, along with his visionary approach, makes him an invaluable asset to our practice.

Alongside his unwavering commitment to OSG, Dan keeps busy with his young family, the occasional ski trip and plenty of golf.

Qualifications: RIBA

Jason, who trained at the University of Greenwich, is passionate about creativity and the challenges involved in developing innovative solutions, particularly for educational, sport and leisure projects.

A commercial architect specialising in design and build projects, Jason uses his skills to interpret clients’ requirements and help them achieve their individual visions, without losing sight of the essential practicalities necessary to achieve their goals.

He is involved in the provision of a wide range of architectural services for OSG, working on every stage of projects from concept to completion, liaising with clients, contractors and statutory authorities to ensure projects meet deadlines, specifications and budgets.

How do you think architectural practice is likely to change over the next five years?

“The building industry has now begun to meaningfully embrace the benefits provided by BIM*, however there is still a lot of work to be done to fully realise the potential of this approach to building procurement and so I feel that this will continue to develop. Notably, probably the biggest issues currently are those of sustainable construction and fire safety and it will be interesting to see how BIM technology can also assist with addressing these areas throughout a project’s development.”

*BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure more efficiently.

Qualifications: RIBA BA(Hons) BArch (Hons) PGDip (Architectural Practice)

Starting her career in 2000 as a commercial architect, Tracey worked with a practice whose work was predominantly based in the broadcasting sector - building and refurbishing television studios/offices for media companies such as Sky, BBC, and BT. In 2003 Tracey joined a local Canterbury practice where she specialised in residential projects ranging from bespoke one-off rural houses to large scale housing developments and master-planning.

Joining OSG in July 2019 as a senior team leader Tracey has worked on a wide range of projects including master-planning, residential developments of all scales, and strategic sites such as gaining planning consent for Kent’s first Community Land Trust scheme. She particularly enjoys liaising with the clients, building the initial meeting into a good working relationship, listening to the clients brief and designing the project mindful of any site or budgetary constraints resulting in an outcome that exceeds client expectations.

Tracey is a keen traveller and will often be found wandering foreign climes photographing or sketching streets, buildings and architectural details much to the embarrassment of her travelling companions.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons)

Lorna has been a steadfast pillar of OSG’s journey since its inception in 2011 when the company first started out as Owen Sheppard Gee LLP. With a degree in Computer Modelling for Business, Lorna’s strategic acumen has been instrumental in creating the systems and processes to manage the business accounts. Lorna plays an invaluable role in underpinning the continued success of OSG.

Although we don’t see Lorna in the office too often as she works remotely most of the time, she brings her competitive spirit to any team socials and events that are organised and is without a doubt the most competitive member of OSG!
Lorna enjoys playing netball and golf and is aiming to get her handicap under 20. She is also a great cook after a couple of glasses of wine!

Qualifications: BA(Hons)

Looking for a change, Nicky was drawn to OSG Architecture through her interest in design. Nicky joined OSG in 2021 with a varied skill set developed from experience across a range of industries spanning furniture, manufacturing, design, interiors and the arts. Having operated at board level for an SME, Nicky brought with her an excellent understanding of the fundamentals of running a business and has been able to transfer these skills to the architecture industry.

As well as heading up the marketing efforts for OSG, Nicky manages the day-to-day running of the practice and works alongside the Directors on the commercial and administrative objectives of the business.

Beyond the office, Nicky keeps very busy with her sport-mad family, enjoying the occasional trip to Greece or the Alps. Nicky is always working on an interiors project at home, but her biggest challenge is yet to come – a self-build project!

Qualifications: OND, HNC, MCIAT

An advocate of learning on the job and from experience, Mark joined OSG in 2016. He is responsible for the management and technical delivery of projects.

Whether he is developing specifications or drawings or working on planning applications, Mark is always working with the team to make sure jobs are completed on time and within budget.

Mark has worked on numerous housing projects, and has worked on commercial projects as diverse as commercial transport hubs and intake and training buildings for domestic animals.

Past Chair of the South East Regional Committee of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Mark is still involved with the committee promoting the discipline to the region.

Away from the office, Mark is a keen horse racing fan, and has previously been a race-winning owner.

Qualifications: NVQ, HNC

Brad is an accomplished architectural technician with a decade of diverse experience spanning various architectural disciplines, with expertise in the residential sector. Starting as a junior team member at OSG, Brad has made excellent progress, now holding a senior position. He leads a team of technicians and plays a pivotal role in mentoring new staff.
Brad specialises in bespoke high-end schemes, high-rise buildings, and residential housing association projects.

These complex projects often demand refined critical thinking and tailored detailing.

Brad is a highly motivated member of the team and effective in collaborative and independent design, with a deep understanding of building regulations and industry standards. His attention to detail and commitment to quality is intrinsic with a proven track record of success.

Outside of his professional life, Brad dedicates time to his young daughter and occasionally enjoys rounds of golf with friends and colleagues.

Glenn began his career, like many people in the industry, as a junior and has worked his way up. Glenn’s career trajectory spanned a couple of practices before finding his home at OSG in 2012.

Glenn is now a senior architectural technician with an impressive tenure at OSG. Glenn’s portfolio of large and complex projects is testament to his unwavering dedication and expertise.

Glenn’s specialist area of expertise lies in residential housing, ranging from affordable social housing to high-end private housing. He also has an excellent knowledge of commercial projects.

Glenn thrives on the more challenging projects, embracing problem solving and bespoke detailing to navigate the trickiest obstacles, liaising with the team to ensure projects run smoothly and clients’ projects are kept on track.
Over the last couple of years Glenn has been working on delivering 150 student accommodation units at Pound Lane, Canterbury. 3 blocks are now complete, with the 4th and final block commencing on site August 2023. Technically challenging with bespoke Heritage Architectural detailing, the project will be a prominent scheme completed in the centre of Canterbury – one that OSG are proud to be delivering.

A commercial architect from the start, Alex worked for many years in central London on large infrastructure projects such as the Northern Line extension to Battersea and HS2. He also spent two years in New Zealand leading the team designing Te Waihorotiu (Aotea) metro station in Central Auckland, part of CRL – New Zealand’s largest ever transport infrastructure project. At OSG, Alex has been responsible for the implementation of 3D design workflows into projects and ensuring BIM procedures are set-up to enable us to work on BIM projects.

In his spare time Alex is a keen golfer and travels around the country most weekends meeting friends and family.

Qualifications: BTEC HNC

Dan joined OSG in 2017, and much like many newcomers in the industry, he kicked off his career as a junior. He has progressed through the ranks to become project lead on many large and complex projects, overseeing the technical design and construction phase.

Dan finds satisfaction in the job's intricate challenges, particularly detailing unique junctions and communicating with the team to ensure the project runs as smoothly as possible.

In his spare time, Dan is a keen sports fan and enjoys both watching and playing football, snooker, and darts. Dan is also interested in cars and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Qualifications: HNC

Lewis is an Architectural Technician at OSG, who began his journey as an apprentice in 2015 and graduated in 2020. With a passion for design, he specialises in 3D software and is rapidly mastering BIM workflows.

Lewis has diverse experience across commercial, educational, and residential projects. His most recent accomplishment includes overseeing a 42-unit housing scheme, comprising 23 houses and 19 apartments, for a local housing association.

Outside of work, Lewis enjoys exploring the south-east playing various golf courses with friends and goes on the very occasional run to maintain optimal fitness!

Qualifications: HNC

Disenchanted by his university journey in finance, Adam sought a more fulfilling career path in the construction industry, joining OSG in 2018 as an architectural technician apprentice. Adam has made great progress since joining OSG and is now an adept architectural technician and an integral member of the team. His fascination with both the design and technical facets of architecture has driven his involvement in diverse projects, contributing to their planning and regulatory aspects.

Outside work, Adam enjoys playing 5-aside football, catching up with local friends and, despite being a relative newcomer to golf, is embracing the challenge of improvement in the sport.

Qualifications: BA(Hons), MArch

Oana has been with OSG since 2021. Alongside working at OSG, Oana recently completed her RIBA Part 3 and now joins the ranks of OSG's fully qualified RIBA architects. Oana shows great promise as a commercial architect.

A creative at heart, Oana’s decision to pursue architecture as a career stems from her love of painting, graphics and sculpture, which she studied before moving to architecture.

Ben is currently a Level 7 Architect Apprentice at OSG – he joined the practice in 2018 after completing his Part 1 at the University of Kent. He is currently enrolled on the Part II & III apprenticeship course at LSBU.

Ben is passionate about design in all its forms, from architecture to film to food to tech - always looking for new ways to challenge and learn new things.

Qualifications: HNC Construction, HND Graphic Design

Sam began his career in 2016 as an apprentice with OSG, graduating with a Distinction in 2020. Sam has since developed into a dedicated architectural technician and works across the full spectrum of sectors covered by OSG. With a background in graphic design, Sam brings a unique lens to architectural projects, blending his understanding of visual aesthetics with the precision of architectural detailing, resulting in designs that stand out in both form and function.

In 2022, Sam took a sabbatical to travel the world with his brother. The transformative experience broadened his horizons and further enhanced his personal and professional growth. We are delighted to have Sam back as part of the technical team at OSG.

Beyond the confines of the office, Sam can be found on the golf course perfecting his swing, supporting West Ham United or travelling abroad.

Drawing parallels from the sports he loves, Sam brings precision, teamwork and commitment to every architectural endeavour he undertakes.

Qualifications: HNC

Joining us in 2019, Max has worked his way up through OSG from apprentice to assisting with complex projects and managing small scale housing schemes. Max’s meticulous nature ensures that a high degree of detail is reflected throughout his work.

In his spare time, Max enjoys playing golf and regularly attends his local gym. He also values time with friends and family and likes to travel.

Qualifications: NVQ, HNC

Zach joined OSG in 2018 as an apprentice. After graduating in 2022, he remains committed to continuous learning and progressing his skills. Zach has worked on a wide range of projects, predominantly focusing on the technical aspect, he has developed a good understanding of the construction process. Recently, he has begun to expand his skillset to incorporate more design orientated work, a challenge he has been enjoying.

Outside the office, Zach enjoys following his favorite sports teams and spending time with friends.

Qualifications: HNC

Oliver started working for OSG in 2018 as an apprentice and has now progressed to become a qualified architectural technician and a valued member of the team. Oliver has worked on a wide range of projects with the majority of the time spent on the technical aspects.

Oliver’s love of Lego combined with a keen interest in travelling are reflected in his detail-orientated work, firmly rooted in reality.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Architecture

Brad is a Part One Architectural Assistant on placement at OSG working towards becoming a Part 3 RIBA Qualified Architect. Brad has worked on several small and large-scale projects across residential, commercial and industrial sectors, dealing with full planning applications, research, social media, graphic design and Revit modelling.
After office hours, Brad enjoys weightlifting, travelling and visiting new places!

Brad also proved to be fiercely competitive on the netball court in our recent Charity Netball Tournament!

Qualifications: RIBA Part 1

Alex has been working as a Part 1 architectural assistant for OSG since 2022 having completed his Part 1 at the University of Kent. His aim is to enhance his practical skills before completing his master's degree in architecture. During his time at OSG, he has worked on various projects across different sectors, and he is currently leading a couple of exciting mixed use projects and is showing promise as a future commercial architect.

Alex is a driven individual with a passion for pushing the boundaries of architecture and developing high-quality designs. His fascination with cutting-edge materials, robotics, parametric architecture, biomimetic design, and neuroarchitecture (how people perceive and emotionally respond to spaces) reflects his ambition to revolutionise the field for a meaningful future impact.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons)

Michael is currently a Level 3 Architectural Technician placement student at OSG – he joined the practice in 2022 after completing his 2 years at the Nottingham Trent University .

Michael is passionate about design. He is an individual who has an ethical interest in the scientific, technological, and environmental aspects of buildings and their surroundings.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys boxing and playing tennis with friends.

After completing his GCSEs, Luke joined OSG as an Apprentice Architectural Technician and is currently studying for his HNC whilst working as a junior at the practice. Since joining OSG in 2022, Luke has worked on a range of projects, giving him a broad perspective of the varying types of architecture that OSG deliver.

Currently the youngest member of the OSG team, Luke has embraced working life and learned the ropes quickly, taking on every challenge that is thrown at him. Luke’s aspiration is to become a fully qualified architect.

Sophie has recently joined the practice as an Assistant Architectural Apprentice and is enrolled on a degree apprenticeship course. While undertaking her tasks as an apprentice at OSG, Sophie has been actively acquiring and enhancing essential skills in various software applications, including Photoshop and AutoCAD.

Sophie enjoys visiting the gym and exploring various destinations across Europe.

Qualifications: HNC, BTEC, BA (Hons) Architecture RIBA Part 1

Through his 19 years’ experience, James finds the process of creating buildings and structures digitally in 3D one of the most interesting aspects of working in the construction industry. Projects have ranged from a proposed medical centre in Slough, a replacement primary school in Gravesend, Nissan dealership in Canterbury, and a factory plus offices facility in Sittingbourne.

During his free moments, James keeps occupied with pen and ink freehand drawings depicting fictional cityscapes from a axonometric perspective. He also enjoys video games, with a specific interest in those centered around problem-solving, survival, and base logistics.