The founding director of one of Wales' leading architecture firms is standing down.
Huw Lloyd Jones has announced his retirement from Cardiff-headquartered Rio Architects in a phased approach following a 37-year career.
He will continue to work at the company, which also has offices in Edinburgh and London, until the end of the year to oversee the smooth transition of projects and existing clients.
Mr Jones started Rio Architects in 2000 with co-founder Richard Roberts and has since helped grow the practice over the past 22 years.
Before that, he graduated from Plymouth School of Architecture in 1987 and Welsh School of Architecture two years later.
His architectural work includes university buildings, residential developments, office projects and student accommodation buildings across the UK.
Earlier this year, the company announced that it had made 16 new appointments in the last 12 months after seeing continued growth, including three internal promotions to its management team.
Mr Jones said: “After 22 years alongside Richard navigating the Rio ship through calm and stormy waters, the stars are aligned for me to embrace terra firma and retire as a director. My experience has been enriched by the people I have worked with and the clients who have put faith in our ability to make a difference.
“Good architecture thrives on the energy and talent of motivated people, and good business relies on leaders to nurture and encourage that latent potential. Leadership demands its own energy and it’s important to recognise when those demands are best served by others.”
He added: “My decision to retire has not been taken lightly, but it is done in the knowledge and reassurance that Rio is very well placed without me to go from strength to strength and thrive.”
Mr Roberts takes ownership of the business and will work closely with co-directors Andrew Baker and Mike Dacey and the company’s senior management team.
Further announcements from the board will be made over the following months in relation to the practice structure and future plans for further development.
Mr Roberts said: “It seems like yesterday that Huw Lloyd Jones and I were sitting in a café in Pontcanna deliberating the creation of what has now become one of the largest architectural practices in Wales and a thriving design studio. Since then, Rio Architects has built a strong reputation for the successful delivery of innovative, stimulating and responsible designs across a wide range of sectors and now boasts offices in Edinburgh and London as well as its Cardiff HQ.”
He added: “Working alongside Huw for over 20 years, and as a colleague in other practices before that, has been a blast. Huw’s architectural legacy speaks for itself but he has accomplished much more. Having devoted the best part of a quarter of a century to the business, Huw leaves Rio in a very strong position, both financially and architecturally.”
The firm's projects include the design of the award wining 1 Central Square office building in the centre of Cardiff. It has also devised plans for Rightacres' Central Quay mixed-use development scheme at the site of the former Brains brewery, also in the centre of the capital.
