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Practices

Basic Biographic Details

William Nimmo & Partners
Architectural practice
Year Only
1956
Date Not Known
William Nimmo studied for the degree of BArch at the University of Strathclyde. He was elected ARIBA in 1954. He set up business on his own account in Wishaw and invited Jean Welsh to join him as a partner, the practice then becoming William Nimmo & Partners. In 1969 the practice moved to Glasgow and two years later the Wishaw office closed. In 1973 James Robertson was assumed into partnership followed by John Carswell in 1975 and by a number of other partners in the late 1980s. David Nimmo, son of William Nimmo, was assumed into partnership in 1993.

David Nimmo writes:
'My father was interested in architecture, and certainly had strong views, but he was probably more passionate about business, project management (he was a natural leader) and quality of construction. While he won the silver medal at Glasgow School of Art, he regarded others as more able designers, and consequently encouraged them to get on with it while he looked for work and ran the practice. These included, within the office, initially Jean Welsh, Jimmy Robertson (who had an outstanding natural design talent and over the key years did most of the conceptual design work within the practice), Iain C Anderson and Alastair MacGregor. What most people will not be aware of is that both Geoffrey Jarvis and Ivor Richards joined WNP as associates, after the dissolution of Boys Jarvis, and the death of Sir Leslie Martin respectively. They did a significant amount of distinguished work, particularly in London. Notable examples included 135-6 Leadenhall Street (immediately next to Lutyens' Midland Bank) with a new Portland stone facade designed by Geoffrey, and Capel House, New Broad Street, which contained interiors by CFA Voysey, and featured a very sophisticated rear facade, facing the George Dance designed church of All Hallows on the Wall. Ivor Richards led the design of that building. A number of well known architects and characters of the profession also passed through the office in their early years, including Tom Elder, Andrew Merrylees, Andrew Neil, Bill Murdoch, John A Russell and Craig Casci.

At its peak around 1990, the practice employed some 135 people, and had offices in Glasgow adn London, with major site offices at CSB Faslane and Britannic House, London. My father initially retired in 1996, when he was 67 and by 2002 had ceased to spend any time in the practice, as he felt that the client contacts of his tiem had themselves retired or moved on.'

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice:

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2

AddressTypeDate FromDate ToNotes
Main Street Wishaw Lanarkshire ScotlandBusinessIn year 1956In year 1971
132 West Nile Street Glasgow ScotlandBusinessIn year 1969In year 1970
Commercial Bank Chambers/3 Stewarton Street Wishaw Lanarkshire ScotlandBusinessIn year 1970
15 Queen\'s Crescent Glasgow ScotlandBusinessIn year 1971
7 Fitzroy Place Glasgow ScotlandBusinessc. 1976

Partners, Employees and Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architectural practice (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2

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Buildings and Designs

This architectural practice was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs

BuildingPartnership GPRoleDate FromDate ToTown DistrictIslandCity CountyCountryNotes
Westwood Parish ChurchAArchitectural practiceIn year 1967East KilbrideScotland
Carnwadric Church and HallAArchitectural practiceIn year 1952GlasgowScotland
Barlanark Greyfriars ChurchAArchitectural practiceIn year 1956GlasgowScotlandMay also be responsible to 1968-70 addtions
Motherwell and Wishaw Civic CentreGArchitectural practiceIn year 1961MotherwellLanarkshireScotlandCompetition design - placed second
North British Locomotive Company OfficesBArchitectural practiceIn year 1962In year 1965SpringburnGlasgowScotlandConversion of offices to College of Engineering
Garrian HotelAArchitectural practiceIn year 1964MotherwellLanarkshireScotland
Church of Scotland Halls, Ryehill RoadBArchitectural practiceIn year 1964GlasgowScotlandExtension to hall
Industrial buildings for United GlassAArchitectural practiceIn year 1965In year 1967BailliestonGlasgowScotland
Golden Circle HotelAArchitectural practiceIn year 1968In year 1969BathgateWest LothianScotlandOriginal design and extension
Hendersons Department StoreAArchitectural practiceIn year 1968In year 1969GlasgowScotland
Block of buildings, 29-31 St Andrew Square for the Norwich UnionAArchitectural practiceIn year 1970EdinburghScotland
Community CentreAArchitectural practiceIn year 1971ArmadaleWest LothianScotland
Braeval DistilleryAArchitectural practiceIn year 1972In year 1973Chapeltown of GlenlivetMorayshireScotland
Scottish Television Studio and OfficesAArchitectural practiceIn year 1973In year 1979CowcaddensGlasgowScotland
116-128 High StreetAArchitectural practiceIn year 1973PerthPerthshireScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architectural practice:

Bib ref

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Bailey, Rebecca MScottish architects' papers: a source book1996Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp146
RIBARIBA Directory 19701970