Keith Williams (architect)

Keith Williams FRIBA MRIAI FRSA (born 21 April 1958) is a British architect and founder of London-based Keith Williams Architects.^[1]

Keith Williams
Born	21 April 1958 (1958-04-21) (age 67)[citation needed]
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Kingston University School of Architecture, University of Greenwich School of Architecture
Occupation	Architect
Spouse	Vanessa Shrimpton
Practice	Keith Williams Architects
Website	Official website

Keith Williams was born in Kent. His father was an electrical design engineer chiefly working on the upgrade of the National Grid and latterly in the North Sea oil industry, whilst his mother was a librarian. His younger brother Martin Williams is also an architect.

Education and Career

When he was 5 years old, the family moved to Surrey. Keith was then educated at Kingston Grammar School before going on to study architecture at Kingston and then Greenwich Schools of Architecture.^[2]

In 1984, he became a chartered architect and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He worked for Sheppard Robson and then Sir Terry Farrell at Farrells, before co-founding Pawson Williams Architects in 1987 with fellow architect Terry Pawson, whom he had known since student days at Kingston.

In 2001 he split from Pawson and established his own independent architectural firm, Keith Williams Architects operating as its founder and director of design.^[2]At the same time, he invited his longstanding collaborator and former student, the architect Richard Brown to become a director.

He became a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in 2005 and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2007.

From 2008, he served as a National Design Review Panel for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) until 2010 when it became Design Council CABE. He remained an active participant until 2020 when he stood down.

In 2011, he joined the National Panel of the Civic Trust Awards operating as its chair from 2015 to 2023.

He chaired the Lewisham Design Review Panel,^[3] from 2014 to 2025, and has operated as a Panel Chair for Design South East since 2013.^[4]

In 2016 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.^[5]

He joined Docomomo UK^[6] in March 2024 as a trustee, becoming Chair of the Board of Trustees in July the same year.

National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C467/136) with Keith Williams in 2017-2019 for its Architects' Lives collection.^[7]

Selected Buildings

• 2024 DeValera Library & Súil Art Gallery^[8] Ennis Co Clare Ireland
• 2012 The Novium, Chichester^[9]

• 2012 Luan Gallery, Athlone^{[citation needed]}

• 2011 Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury^[10]
• 2010 Athlone Army Memorial, Co. Westmeath Ireland
• 2008 Wexford Opera House^[11]

• 2008 Clones Library & County Library HQ Co Monaghan Ireland^[12]

• 2005 Unicorn Theatre, London^[13]
• 2005 The Long House London^[14]
• 2004 Athlone Civic Centre^{[permanent dead link]},^[15] Athlone Co. Westmeath Ireland

Bibliography

2009, Keith Williams: Architecture of the Specific, Image Publishing, Mulgrave. ISBN 978-1-86470-235-4^[16]

Awards

• 2022 Architecture Today Awards - Unicorn Theatre - finalist
• 2017 RIAI Triennial Gold Medal - shortlisted^{[citation needed]}
• 2014 Civic Trust Award for the Luan Gallery, Athlone^{[citation needed]}, RIBA National Award for the Novium Museum Chichester^[9]
• 2013 Civic Trust Award and Civic Trust Michael Middleton Special Award both for the Novium Museum Chichester, Civic Trust Award for the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, RIAI Best Cultural Building Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2012 RIBA Downland Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2010 AIA Award, Quadrennial Award for Practical Design Excellence, Soc. of Theatre Consultants, LAMA National Impact Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2009 RIBA Award, RIAI Award: Best Cultural Building for Wexford Opera House^[17]
• 2008 RIBA Award, BD Public Building Architect of the Year Award, Chicago Athenaeum Prize, OPUS Architecture & Construction Award, Copper in Architecture Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2007 RIAI Award, USITT Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2006 RIBA Award, RIAI Award, BD Public Building Architect of the Year Award, Chicago Athenaeum Prize^{[citation needed]}
• 2005 RIBA European Award, RIAI Award: Best Sustainable Building Award, OPUS Architecture & Construction Award, Irish Concrete Society Award^{[citation needed]}
• 2004 Richmond Society Award: Gold Medallion^{[citation needed]}