KEPPIE ARE NUMBER 1!

We are thrilled to retain the No 1 spot in the Urban Realm Top 100 list!

Reflecting on 2025 – a transitionary year for Keppie – and looking forward to 2026, as we enter our 172^nd year in practice, retaining the accolade of Scotland’s No 1 Architect provides the perfect springboard for the year ahead.

Our director, Suzanne Mackrell gives her thoughts on the previous year, employee ownership and market challenges.

What will you remember 2025 for?

2025 was a transitionary year for Keppie. In a major step forward in our ongoing succession plan, we announced the appointment of four new Board Directors – Neil Whatley, Neil Buchan, Christian van Dee and myself – the first new Directors since we became employee-owned.

I joined as a graduate some 20+ years ago, and the opportunity to join the next level of leadership within Keppie, a practice with such rich history and heritage, is a real privilege. As we move forward into this next chapter, I’m excited to help shape the future of the business for generations to come.

How have you embraced employee ownership?

Embracing employee ownership has created a platform for us to build upon our 170+ year legacy, allowing a new generation of leaders to evolve the already-strong foundations of our business.

Employee Ownership provides an opportunity for our business to develop and grow sustainably, while continuing to build our collegiate ‘One Keppie’ culture through trust, collaboration, collective responsibility, and reward.

The best people to own the future of Keppie are the people who know it best – our present and future employees. Our people are the greatest asset, and nurturing and developing their talent is key to our continued success.

How is inflation impacting commissioning?

No practice is immune from the impact of external factors such as inflation and cost volatility and unpredictability this inevitably brings. Other factors, such as political uncertainty and changing policy dynamics (for example, the introduction of the Housing [Scotland] Bill) can also present challenges to our project pipeline.

Our strength lies in our freedom to constantly adapt to current market challenges, and with a vast portfolio spanning residential, workplace, adaptive re-use, sport and entertainment, hospitality, education and healthcare, our multi-sector approach affords us the agility to react to meet ever-changing needs across various project typologies.