Gordon Carey
Chairman
careyjones
Gordon was born in Leeds (1951) and emigrated with his family to Australia in the early 1960’s. He returned to the UK and was educated at Leeds Modern Grammar School, followed by Leeds School of Architecture where he met Chris Jones. In the 1970’s Gordon worked as an architect in Sydney on a wide variety of projects, including residential and inner city developments.
After working in several practices in the UK, Gordon formed the practice of careyjones with Chris Jones in 1987. Chris and Gordon had already worked together in different companies for 10 years prior to the formation of their partnership. They quickly established an excellent reputation for enthusiastic commitment to providing an outstanding service to their clients and producing ‘ground breaking’ high quality designs, winning many competitions and receiving awards for their completed buildings.
Gordon is a strong supporter of the urban renaissance and inner city redevelopment and is a member of the Common Purpose, Civic Trust, a founding member of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce Property Forum, as well as being the Senior Vice Chairman of the British Urban Regeneration Association. In 2005, Gordon was awarded the Yorkshire Property Personality of the Year Award, an event at which the practice has won the coveted ‘Architect of the Year’ no fewer than four times!
Gordon has been actively involved with the British Council for Offices (BCO) for the last ten years and became the President in 2007. Gordon is committed to ensuring that best practice is shared throughout the development/ construction industry, not only in the UK but also throughout the world. He organised the highly successful BCO conference in New York in 2007 and continues to support and encourage research into best practice, often in association with other organisations.
Sustainability and ‘green issues’ are high on the agenda, both as a practice and as an individual. Many of the buildings designed by the practice, and which Gordon has been involved, have been highly energy efficient, a number receiving an excellent BREEAM rating. The practice received the RICS Sustainability Award for Central Square, Newcastle - a conversion of a 1930’s building to provide top quality office accommodation within a low carbon building: a project with which Gordon was personally involved throughout its duration.
Gordon remains committed to ensuring that all our studios provide an atmosphere in which architects and designers can come together in a supportive and creative environment. With his co-directors, he is involved in design reviews and workshops to ensure that all projects are carefully considered, in order to achieve the highest standards of design integrity.
In addition to the above, Gordon is also a passionate supporter of a number of local and national charities, voluntary and community organisations, including St George’s Crypt that provides support and accommodation for the homeless
in Leeds. He has recently helped the Breast Cancer Haven in establishing its third UK Haven by assisting in setting up an agreement with a developer client, enabling the Haven to open earlier than originally planned and provide this much
needed facility in the local community. The intention is to use this project as a ‘model’ to provide Havens in all other major cities throughout the UK, and potentially also a ‘way forward’ for other charities in need of accommodation.
Despite now having three daughters and six grand children, Gordon still believes that he is 21 and can tell you exactly where the best night life can be found in any city, on any continent on the planet!
