FUSE STUDIOS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- ASSOCIATE
- PROJECT DIRECTOR
Craig worked for careyjones architects from 2000; originally for a one year RIBA Part 1 placement and returning in 2003 after successfully completing his RIBA Part 2 architectural studies. Whilst at careyjones, Craig worked on a series of high profile projects including Thorpe Park (a major 1.8 million sqft business park at a strategic location on the outskirts of Leeds) and the Granary Wharf Development in Leeds where he worked on the multiple award-winning Candle House - an iconic circular twenty-three storey residential tower.
Craig served as project architect, overseeing the overall master planning strategy of the park, including co-ordination of utility services, landscaping and highways, whilst also developing a stand-alone design code for the client, intended to aid land purchase investors with individual plot development.
David, qualified as an interior designer over 20 years ago and has worked since that time across many market sectors, with a particular emphasis on leisure, residential, retail and workplace projects.
In 2005, David joined careyjones interiors in Leeds where he worked on the multi-award-winning GHD Headquarters, and the Grade 2 Listed Liquid & Envy Nightclub in Portsmouth.
He relocated to Manchester in 2007 where he joined Chapman Taylor Architects, during which time he worked on Land Securities Trinity Quarter shopping centre project in Leeds. He also worked on Mediacity, which is a 200 acre £450m development in the North-West, creating the country's first designated digital and creative community. David was responsible for the internal office fit-out of multiple office buildings, and 370 apartments in two high rise residential towers.
From Chapman Taylor, he moved to interiors and branding practice Judge Gill to work on retail projects for Fred Perry, Rostelecom and Adidas stores in St. Petersburg and Shanghai before returning to Yorkshire which eventually led to David joining the Fuse team in 2011.
At Fuse, David has worked on a number of the Hard Rock Café and hotel projects, notably in Almaty, Kazakhstan where he was project interior designer and also in Barcelona, Glasgow, Vienna, Goa and Istanbul.
David has also been closely involved in casino projects in Leeds and Bath, being part of the team that successfully won the new 2005 Gambling Act licenses for both cities for client Global Gaming Ventures. He was the project designer for the £15m Leeds Victoria Gate Casino - a 50,000 sqft venue over multiple levels boasting 140 slot machines, 80 electronic gaming terminals and 24 live gaming tables with two bars and a restaurant. It was a challenging and complex project which lasted 5 years from inception to completion.
More recently, David has just completed the Torsion Trapezium development, and is currently delivering the amenity area concept for Torsion Phoenix which is the fourth tallest building in Leeds. Phoenix will become an integral part of the cityscape, made up of 364 luxury apartments and boasting a 24-hour concierge and a state of the art gym, co-working space and communal gardens. David is currently developing further large scale residential concepts for MODA Living.
Following in his father's footsteps, Mike studied architecture at Leeds between 1986 and 1993. During an extended ‘year-out', Mike travelled to Vancouver where he met and worked for renowned organic architect John Kay. He returned to Vancouver in 1993 when he was awarded the Bedford Scholarship by the West Yorkshire Society of Architects to research Kay's work and theories on architecture.
Mike qualified as an architect in 1996 and joined careyjones architects a year later. He joined the Board of Directors there in 2002. Whilst at careyjones Mike led the practice's largest architectural team; working on projects across all market sectors, throughout the UK.
Notable completed projects within Mike's careyjones portfolio include Dakota Hotel in Edinburgh, The Brooklands Hotel in Surrey and the Casa Hotel and Office scheme in Chesterfield.
At careyjones Mike established an excellent reputation for designing innovative buildings for Higher Education institutes including ‘Soundhouse' for The University of Sheffield. Closer to the practice's Leeds studio, Mike co-led the team delivering several buildings within the Clarence Dock masterplan.
In 2010 Mike founded Fuse with three other former Directors of careyjones. He led the company's work at the University of Leeds and Leeds College of Building. Mike has also led VITA Student projects in Newcastle and York. Most recently he oversaw the delivery of the award-winning Hudson Quarter in York.
Currently Mike is leading the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Bank House office in Leeds city centre and the new 400 home BTR scheme in York for Moda Living.
Rick's interior design career began in 1999, when he started developing his multi-sector knowledge at Esquisse Design Limited prior to his undergraduate degree. Following his qualification, Rick furthered his design capabilities at careyjones interiors from 2004 until 2010.
During this time Rick oversaw the design, planning and delivery of several high-profile workplace, leisure and gaming venues. He was part of the careyjones team that delivered The Isle Casino, Pompano Park, USA - a 155,000sqft split-level gaming venue, containing four restaurants and five bars. Rick also worked on the award winning GHD Headquarters in Leeds and the four-star Casa Hotel in Chesterfield.
Rick has been with Fuse since its formation in 2010, successfully delivering a diverse portfolio of projects. Included within his portfolio are the communal areas for VITA Student in Sheffield. Rick was a key member of the Fuse team that designed and delivered Hard Rock Café projects across Europe and North America, including the Piazza della Repubblica in Florence, La Grande-Place in Brussels and the Placa de Catalunya in Barcelona.
For the Hard Rock Café projects Rick was the Project Interior Designer leading the schemes on a day-to-day basis, including those in Nice, Copenhagen, Hollywood, Florida and their flagship 362 cover Piccadilly Circus venue. He even managed to squeeze a Rock Shop on the end of the Rialto Bridge in Venice!
Rick has overseen the design and delivery of Zizzi restaurants across the UK, including new sites at Derby, Westfield White City, Exeter, Hull, Bradford, Bedford, Sheffield, Southampton, Bracknell, Bath and more lately Lancaster, Canary Wharf and Chester. These sites require great planning and coordination going from an empty shell to fully functioning restaurant within 8 weeks.
More recently, Rick has also worked with CODE Student to deliver the amenity spaces at their Coventry site and the forthcoming Sheffield scheme. Rick has also been part of the team working on Hard Rock Hotel Prague, overseeing the vast hotel lobby and conference suite, as well as successfully delivering Channel 4's new Headquarters in Leeds with Overbury.
Simon joined careyjones architects in 1999, having completed his studies at the University of Plymouth and Mississippi State University. Simon quickly established himself within the practice as a strong designer with excellent project running ability and was soon promoted to an Associate position. His rise through the practice culminated when he became a Director there in 2007. Whilst at careyjones, Simon's interest in the regeneration of urban brownfield sites developed and he became responsible for the design and delivery of some of practice's most complex mixed-use projects, including the BAE Technology Park in Stevenage for MBDA, Granary Wharf in Leeds for ISIS Waterside Regeneration and Townside in Bury for Ask Developments.
As careyjones grew and sought to expand its North of England base, Simon was the obvious candidate to spearhead the practice's drive into the north-west, building upon established relationships within the construction industry. In 2007 Simon opened careyjones Manchester studio and became responsible for the development and continued expansion of a portfolio of work in the North West of England.
Fuse was established in 2010 by Simon and three other Directors. Since Fuse's formation, Simon has been responsible for delivering major VITA Student projects in Southampton, Sheffield, Leeds and Nottingham. The success of these projects in setting a new standard for student housing design has led to further new commissions in this sector in Kingston upon Thames, Sheffield, and Belfast. More recently our latest design for VITA Student in Coventry, is now onsite and will provide 496 studios.
Simon also led the practice's team designing Angel Gardens in Manchester - the first UK development for Build to Rent specialists - Moda Living. This landmark 450 apartment scheme has set a new benchmark for regional BTR schemes and as a result, Fuse is now working on others across the UK with Moda.
Simon's is currently overseeing the refurbishment of Derwent Halls of Residence for the University of York. Simon and his team are working closely with the University to provide a fresh and contemporary design within the 1960's buildings, on campus.
Graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University with a first class degree Stephen joined architecture practice careyjones in 2003 where he worked under the leadership of Fuse Directors Mike Harris and Simon Clarke.
During his time with careyjones architects Stephen was involved with projects in a variety of sectors, including office, residential, hotel and transport, working on some of the practices most high profile schemes such as the New Victoria Place mixed use master plan, BREEAM excellent Digital Campus incubator office, Langwith College student accommodation and hub building for the University of York, refurbishment of the grade 2 listed Algernon Firth Building and 150 new build apartments at Milliners Wharf located in Manchester.
Taking a lead role at careyjones, Stephen was the project architect overseeing design and delivery of the £3.85m No.10 Wellington Place, a 33,000 ft² office development for client MEPC, the first constructed building of the £250M master plan located in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Joining Fuse in March 2014 Stephen delivered the refurbishment works at Leeds City College Printworks Campus including fit-out of the Grade 2 listed Alf Cooke Small Print Hall. Following the Printworks project, Stephen led the design and delivery of the refurbishment of the Grade II listed convent buildings as part of the 644 bed Vita Student project in York..
Following the successful completion of Vita Student York, Stephen became the lead architect for the design and delivery of the complex Vita Student project in central Leeds, which involved the re-use and extension of a previously half-built hotel project.
Currently Stephen is the project architect for Moda Living's 392 home Build to Rent project at Heworth Green in York, which is part of a major regeneration of a former gas works site.
Steve has over 20 years' experience in interior design and began developing his cross sector experience with roles at London architects S&P and Yorkshire companies DLA and RFA Designers. During that time, Steve worked on projects as diverse as health clubs, museums and workplace schemes. From 2005 to 2010 Steve was employed by careyjones interiors.
At careyjones Steve oversaw the delivery of several high profile leisure and corporate interiors projects. He was part of the careyjones team that delivered the multi-award-winning GHD Headquarters office fit-out in Leeds, the four-star Casa Hotel in Chesterfield and the BCO award-winning offices for Hewlett's and Northern Foods at Thorpe Park in Leeds. His last major project prior to joining Fuse was the Yorkshire Water HQ fit-out at Leeds Dock.
Steve has been with Fuse since its formation in 2010, successfully delivering a diverse portfolio of projects. Included within his portfolio are the Fazenda restaurant at Granary Wharf in Leeds and the 60,000sqft HQ office fit-out for Jet 2. Steve was also part of the Fuse team that has designed and delivered Hard Rock Café projects across Europe, including those in the Piazza della Repubblica in Florence and the Placa Catalunya in Barcelona.
Steve oversaw the delivery of the award winning No1 Aire Street office conversion project in Leeds and was part of the Fuse team that designed the VIP corporate boxes at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Steve also provided the day-to-day lead on Fuse's work at the University of Leeds during the refurbishment of the Grade 2* listed Roger Stevens Building and also took the lead role on the University's Geography re-location project.