Shaping spaces and cultures that support people.
Editors
- Chun-Li Reid (Graphics & Part 2 Architectural Assistant)
- Niamh Darlington (Bid and Business Development Manager)
Last Thursday we were delighted to host Emily Watts and Georgia Collard-Watson, of Grimshaw, for an insightful discussion centred around their industry initiative: The Architecture Mental Wellbeing Forum. It is recognised that Architecture as a profession can be stressful, the mental health of professionals within the industry, and the pressure they can be under is often overlooked.
Policy, procedure, and the tools that teams use to communicate play a significant role in individuals’ mental wellbeing within the industry. The session allowed for an honest reflection and shared experience, and we were able to gather a deeper understanding of how practitioners can better support both themselves and each other. Overall it was incredibly educational and though-provoking, with Emily and Georgia’s toolkit setting out key elements to support our team members’ mental health in the workplace.
Team members’ Nella Kusikumala and Stephanie Hogarth reflect on the session:
Nella Kusikumala:
Looking back on the event, what stood out to me most was how openly it addressed mental wellbeing and neuro inclusion within architecture, particularly in relation to everyday working culture. It felt significant because mental health was not framed as a personal weakness or an afterthought. Instead, it was clearly linked to real workplace conditions such as overtime culture, support systems, contractual structures, client pressure, and the physical office environment. This focus made the discussion feel genuinely meaningful, as it showed that wellbeing can be improved through tangible changes to how we work, both in existing practices and in how we choose to operate going forward.
Stephanie Hogarth:
Wellbeing in architecture is not something you roll out. It grows through everyday behaviour, empathy and genuine curiosity about the people around you. At Leslie Jones, people have always been at the centre of what we do, and that now extends more clearly to how we care for our own teams. The AMWF Neurodiversity Toolkit is a helpful reminder that inclusivity starts at home and works best when it is practical and human.
Our industry can be demanding, and for many, especially neurodivergent colleagues, those pressures are not always visible. By encouraging flexibility, open conversations and working to people’s strengths, we want to create a studio where everyone feels supported and able to do their best work. For us, wellbeing is not an add on. It is part of how we work together every day, and how a healthier, more sustainable profession can grow.
