Roger Stephenson

Roger Stephenson OBE (born London 1946) is an English architect and is the Managing Partner of stephenson STUDIO in Manchester, England.

Background

Stephenson studied architecture at the Liverpool University School of Architecture. After graduating he worked with Building Design Partnership and was partner at Michael Hyde & Partners in Manchester before founding his own practice, established in 1979.

The Practice has been awarded over 40 national awards for buildings it has designed and was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 1998 for the Quay Bar, Castlefield and again in 2013 for Chetham's School of Music. It has received acclaim for the way he has dealt with new uses in terms of the historical context found in most British cities. As a recognition to his services to architecture, Stephenson was appointed an OBE in the Birthday Honour's List of 2001. Upon learning of his award he stated "I was very surprised to get this award. A fine artist can paint a painting on his own, but an architect can't design a building on his own. I feel honoured, but it's a team effort".

Stephenson has held a number of external positions; he was a visiting professor and external examiner at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, external examiner at Newcastle University, a Civic Trust assessor, jury chairman for the RIBA Awards and was an RIBA national councillor. He was a member of the CABE national design panel for 6 years and Chairman of RIBA North West.

To relax Stephenson enjoys travel, music and reading. He reads biographies of architect and one of his favourite books is Brendan Gill's Many Masks: a Life of Frank Lloyd Wright His prized possession is Helmut Newton's Sumo book.

Stephenson formerly resided in the development the Practice designed at Chorlton Park but now lives with his wife, Margaret in Manchester. Stephenson married Margaret, his third wife, on 28 July 2007.

Notable buildings designed

The Practice has designed a number of buildings in England, including:

Finished

• Chetham's School of Music New Building
• Dale Street Hotel
• North House, Bowden
• Trafford College
• Manchester Central
• Radisson Blu Edwardian Free Trade Hall Hotel
• Alderley Park Research Area Link Infrastructure
• Alberts Shed
• City Tower renovation, Manchester
• Aeroworks
• Chorlton Park Apartments, Chorlton Park, Manchester
• Summerfield Nursery
• Quay Bar
• Smithfield Buildings
• The Haçienda Apartments, Manchester
• Smithfield Buildings, Smithfield Market, Manchester
• Houldsworth Mill, Reddish, Stockport

Under construction

Planned buildings

• London Road Hotel
• New Islington Primary School
• Residential Tower in Birmingham

• "RIBA Awards 2013". 
• "RIBA awards 2012". 
• "RIBA awards 2011". 
• "http://www.exhibitionnews.co.uk/". 
• "www.urbanrealm.com". 
• "www.designbuild-network.com". 
• "Bruntwood City Tower offices". Bruntwood. Retrieved 5 February 2012. 
• "Stephenson Bell Architects Limited". Architect Search. Retrieved 5 February 2012. 
• "Stephenson Bell Architects Limited". Architect Search. Retrieved 5 February 2012. 
• "Stephenson Bell Architects Limited". Architect Search. Retrieved 5 February 2012. 
• "Stephenson Bell Architects Limited". Architect Search. Retrieved 5 February 2012. 

Stephenson's Manchester Buildings

Since the IRA bombing of 1996, Stephenson's practice has played a role in the reconstruction of Manchester, with many of the city's most notable new buildings having been designed by the firm.