Architecture practice Grimshaw has announced the death of its founder, Sir Nicolas Grimshaw.
A statement from the practice was posted on social media yesterday afternoon (15 September 2025) along with his obituary.
Grimshaw set up the practice in 1980. It completed high-profile projects including The International Terminal at Waterloo in London, the British Pavilion for the Seville Expo 1992, and the Eden Project in Cornwall.
Andrew Whalley, chairman, Grimshaw, commented: ‘From the very first day I arrived at the practice in 1986, I felt the warmth and generosity of Nick’s leadership. The lack of hierarchy in the studio, shaped by his amiable and open personality, was its true strength.
‘It created a collegiate spirit, a place where people genuinely enjoyed working together, supporting one another, and finding the tenacity to deliver some of the most complex buildings. His architecture was never about surface or fashion, but always about structure, craft, and purpose – about creating buildings that endure because they are both useful and uplifting and, in Nick’s words, “bring some kind of joy.”‘
Grimshaw was knighted in 2002 for his services to architecture, served as president of the Royal Academy from 2004 to 2011, and was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Lady Lavinia, and children Chloe and Isabel.
