As Development and Project Director Neil led this early transformative office-to-hotel project, this scheme redeveloped the iconic Aviva building in central York into a new 4* boutique hotel for Malmaison, delivering 150 bedrooms, lounges, and business suites in the heart of the city centre.

The hotel design is anchored around Malmaison’s innovative Work + Play concept, seamlessly integrating business-ready technologies into a traditional hospitality setting — a particular challenge when working within an existing structure.

Respect for the building’s prominent heritage setting was central to the project, requiring careful design to preserve key architectural features, such as the original stone cladding and rhythmic window patterns, while achieving modern standards of thermal and acoustic performance.

A centralised ventilation system and careful rooftop plant integration ensured minimal visual impact, maintaining the integrity of the building’s façades and complex roofline.

This highly sensitive, technically challenging retrofit project was recognised for its excellence, being shortlisted as a finalist at the Architects' Journal Retrofit Awards for Best Hotel, Retail or Leisure scheme.