List of the world's oldest architectural practices continuously operating
This article lists the oldest extant architectural practices in the world. Very few architectural practices are still operating whose foundation pre-dates the beginning of the 20th C and it would not be unreasonable to conclude that any practice that was founded in the 18th or 19th C should be listed as amongst the oldest surviving architectural firms around the globe.[1][2][3] In order to qualify for the list a practice must:
be predominantly an architectural practice, designing and constructing buildings and like structures
be registered in their home territory as architects or architectural designers
be operating continuously from the date of foundation, albeit a change of names or ownership is likely over intervening centuries
Founded By John Carr; then run by Walter Henry Brierley in the late 19th C; thence to father and sons, the Groom family from the 3rd quarter of the 20th C
The firm began under the name Rogers, Whitestone & Co., Architects, changing its name to Henry Whitestone in 1857, to D.X. Murphy & Brother in 1890, and to Luckett & Farley in 1962.
Founded as Sheldon Smith, the firm's name was changed to Field, Hinchman & Smith in 1903; then renamed Smith, Hinchman & Grylls in 1907; in 2000, the firm changed its name to SmithGroup.
Founded by Thomas Lockwood in 1860, becoming Lockwood & Sons in 1892, then Lockwood Abercrombie & Saxon in 1922, then Saxon Smith & Partners in 1947, then Saxon Smith Lovelock Mitchell in 1972, then Lovelock Mitchell & Partners from 1975. Today operates as Lovelock Mitchell Architects, an employee-owned trust.[9]
Founded by William Mason with William Clayton in partnership as Mason & Clayton; thence joined in partnership by Nathaniel Wales by 1871; thence by the latter's son PY Wales and his grandson NYA Wales; and then his great-grandson Niel YA Wales from 1956; thence to Ashley Muir from 1970 and his son, Hamish Muir and his business partner Francis Whitaker, as of today
In 1906 it was called Melvin L. King Architects; then in 1932 it changed to Melvin L. & Harry A. King Architects when Harry King became a partner; n 1945, it changed to Melvin L., Harry A. & Curtis King Architects when Curtis King became a partner, and in 1959 Russell King became a partner — changing the firm's name to King & King Architects.
Founded by Swan & Lermit as surveyors/engineers; thence, joined by James Wadell Boyd Maclaren in 1892 as Swan & Maclaren; Regent Alfred John Bidwell joined as architect partner in 1897 till 1915; thence to successor partners
Ralph Adams Cram and Charles Francis Wentworth[14]
Founded as Cram and Wentworth 1889, Joined by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (1890), Frank Ferguson on the death of Wentworth (1899) hence Cram, Goodhue and Ferguson until 1914 then Cram and Ferguson Architects and Successors through the present Cramand Ferguson Architects, Boston.
1892
England
Tooley Foster
Herbert Tooley
The Practice was founded in 1892 by Herbert Tooley and then later Reginald "Rex" Foster joined as Partner in 1910. The Practice was known as The Tooley & Foster Partnership for over a century and in 2022 changed to just Tooley Foster. The Practice has always been based in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
Founded as AJ Stedman, Architect & Surveyor; thence AJ & LR Stedman Architects from 1940; thence Stedman & Blower Architects from 1964; thence Stedman Blower Architects from 1995
^Wragg, Brian (2000). Giles Worsley (ed.). The life and works of John Carr of York. York England: Oblong. ISBN0-9536574-1-8.
^Frew, John; et al. (1984). John Frew (ed.). Building for a New Age. St Andrews, Scotland UK: Crawford Centre for the Arts. ISBN0-906272-12-12. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
