NLA consolidates key built environment brands to create one world-leading centre for excellence

New London Architecture (NLA) today announces plans to enhance its status as the world’s leading centre for excellence for the built environment.

By creating a new network, to include the London Festival of Architecture, The City Centre, the London Real Estate Forum and London at MIPIM, NLA brings together its key brands into a single organisation with a joint mission to shape a better city.

To help drive these exciting changes NLA has invited Michael Cassidy CBE to join its board as Non-Executive Chairman. Peter Murray will take on the role of Curator-in-Chief and Nick McKeogh remains Chief Executive. Debbie Whitfield becomes Managing Director and Gaynor Syed Chief Operating Officer.

The newly configured NLA Board will include Niki Kernohan (Pipers Events), Ben O’Connor (The City Centre), Tamsie Thomson (London Festival of Architecture), Lara Kinneir (NLA) and Catherine Staniland (NLA).

Since it was established in 2005 NLA’s aim has been to bring people and organisations together to shape a better city; its audience includes politicians, public bodies, industry professionals and local communities. Through an unrivalled year-round programme of research, exhibitions, events and awards, NLA inspires, influences and informs.

Broadening NLA’s activities to include these key industry events and initiatives creates a hugely powerful tool to deliver their shared aim. The London Real Estate Forum and London at MIPIM are essential events in the property world’s calendar; the City Centre is a hub for education and inspiration in the heart of the Square Mile, while the London Festival of Architecture brings architecture to life for hundreds of thousands of people each year in London, and to a global audience of millions.

As NLA expands its activities it is also making changes to its membership structure: personal membership will be introduced for the first time, with new packages that allow all members – from school children to global corporations – to share the debate about the future of London’s built environment. At a time of political flux and ahead of London elections in 2020, NLA is bringing its constituent elements closer together to ensure that the voices of London’s built environment contribute more clearly and effectively to the debate. Crucially, NLA is determined to deliver the best possible value to its membership through a greater profile, enhanced access to its network, and new ways of sharing knowledge.

Peter Murray, who started NLA in 2005 together with Nick McKeogh, remains at the heart of NLA as curator-in-chief, and leads many of the organisation’s activities. He said:

“Michael Cassidy is a superb appointment to NLA. He has done amazing work over the years to help deliver a better city and is an example to us all in his commitment to good design, placemaking and city planning and we look forward to working with him to deliver a supercharged NLA ”

Michael Cassidy CBE has been a key figure in the City of London for the past 40 years. He was Chair of the Planning Committee and Policy and Resources Committee at a critical time in its growth and is Chairman of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation. He said:

“I am delighted to join NLA at such an important and exciting time. London’s built environment sector is a powerful driving force for our great city, and it is thanks to the many talented individuals and organisations working within it that London is the best place in the world to live, work and visit. Much of my role will be bringing them together more closely within the NLA network so we can share our knowledge and pool our influence for the benefit of each other and our city.”

Tamsie Thomson, Director of the London Festival of Architecture and a newly-appointed Director of NLA, said:

“This is a tremendously exciting time for LFA to be integrating more closely with NLA. Our diverse and dynamic leadership team has huge energy, drive and ambition. We are keen to harness the enormous power and potential of our expanding membership to help deliver and shape a better city and to share the story of London with cities around the world.”