McWilliam Lippe Architects Aberdeenshire architecture news

McWilliam Lippe Architects Aberdeenshire News

post updated 5 September 2026

Founded by Ross McWilliam, who has more than 20 years’ post-qualification experience, McWilliam Lippe Architects was established in 2022 when his original practice, RJM Architectural Design, took over the long-established Lippe Architects & Planners.

Based in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, the practice provides a comprehensive range of architectural services, supported by a dedicated planning consultant undertaking work throughout Scotland and across the UK.

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Lippe Architects + Planners – Debbie Anderson

21 June 2019
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Conservation Accreditation for Debbie Anderson of Lippe Architects + Planners

Chartered Architect, Debbie Anderson of Aberdeenshire based Lippe Architects + Planners Ltd has just been awarded the status of Conservation Architect (CA281) by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) following several months of preparation, before submitting her Historic Building Portfolio to the RIBA in March 2019.

Debbie is one of only a handful of architects registered in the northeast of Scotland with the recognised expertise to work alongside Historic Environment Scotland and The National Trust on some of their grant-funded restoration projects.

This prestigious accreditation enables Debbie to join an elite list of conservation architects on the RIBA Conservation Register, which enable individuals and organisations looking to commission work on historic buildings UK wide, to find architects with the specific skills and experience they require for their restoration project, encompassing all aspects of historic building conservation, repair and maintenance.

The assessors were impressed by both the range of projects and the knowledge evidenced, and have encouraged Debbie to now work towards Level Three as a Specialist Conservation Architect (SCA).

Debbie has over 17 years’ experience; joining Lippe Architects + Planners based in Inverurie, in 2007 and promoted to Associate Architect and Team Leader in 2016. During this time, Debbie has worked closely with company founder, William Lippe, gaining expertise on a range of historical and restoration projects, including the Grade A Listed Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen and the restoration of the Earl of Kintore’s Keithhall Estate, a ‘designed landscape’ in Inverurie, which has included a development within a B Listed wall garden setting, as well as leading her team on more mainstream projects in the practice.

Commenting on her success, Debbie noted that “this has been the culmination of a life-long fascination with historic buildings, and I would like to recognise this endorsement as recognition of the guidance and knowledge gained while working at Lippe Architects and also the support of my family while working towards the submission.” A keen cyclist and mother of two, Debbie also sits on the Inverurie Business Association and is currently helping organise a number of community initiatives.

The RIBA Conservation Register has three levels of membership, which provides an incremental process of accreditation for those who are in the early phases of establishing their careers in building conservation. These levels are:

– Specialist Conservation Architect (SCA)
A Specialist Conservation Architect has authoritative knowledge of conservation practice and extensive experience of working with historic buildings.

– Conservation Architect (CA)
A Conservation Architect has in-depth knowledge and experience of working with historic buildings.

– Conservation Registrant (CR)
A Conservation Registrant has an awareness of the issues involved in working with historic buildings and has attended a conservation course approved by the RIBA.

Re Debbie Anderson – see www.lippe-architects.co.uk

Founded by Managing Director, William Lippe in 1985, the Practice was first based in St James’s Place, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire from where it has provided a growing range of professional and architectural services with a diverse Portfolio covering all sectors, to include residential, commercial, leisure and tourism, education and historic and restoration projects in the Northeast and throughout Scotland. Lippe Architects & Planners employ 12 staff at their current Practice in Inverurie and all Lippe’s Architects are Members of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Aberdeen Society of Architects.

Since named as McWilliam Lippe Architects

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Lippe Architects + Planners Aberdeenshire News 2016

Lippe Architects + Planners News
29 Nov 2016 – Sending out a positive signal in a currently challenging sector, Architects Practice, Lippe Architects + Planners have added experienced architect, Catherine Cope (nee McKeown) BArch BSc (Hons) to augment their team of 17 employees. Lippe Architects + Planners, with over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, have further extended the strength of their team with the addition of Catherine who is based at their offices at 25 Albyn Place, Aberdeen.

Catherine Cope within the Quadrangle at Marischal College, Broad St, Aberdeen:

Catherine, who originally trained as an architect in Belfast, relocated to Edinburgh when she qualified, to work on some key projects, including the Royal Veterinary School for the University of Edinburgh (£31m) and the New Dunfermline High School (£40m). Moving to Aberdeen in 2013, Catherine has been keen to progress in her career and commented, “I am really delighted to be joining such a long standing and prestigious practice and I know I will gain a lot of further experience within this multi-disciplined office, getting the opportunity to work on a wide range of sectors and building types, both residential and commercial.”

Catherine currently is President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects, representing the local chapter of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

Catherine Cope at The Aberdeen Shipping Control Centre, N Pier, Aberdeen:

Photographs supplied courtesy of Martin Parker www.martinparkerphotography.co.uk

Lippe Architects + Planners highly experienced management team includes Managing Director, William Lippe and Technical Director, Stuart Naysmith who joined in 1993 and Associates, Eleanor Alexander, Stephen Martin Debbie Anderson and Lesley Tierney and Kirsten Will who heads up its Albyn Place office in Aberdeen, opened in 2014 to enhance the high level of service provision for its clients. All architects are Associate Members of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Aberdeen Society of Architects.

Kirsten Will, Associate, based at the company’s Albyn Place, Aberdeen commented, “since we opened our Aberdeen office two years ago, we have been afforded increased opportunity to tender for new business and been successful in winning clients and projects in and around the city. We felt that someone of Catherine’s experience and skill set would allow us to continue to offer our very high level of customer care, as well as augmenting our expertise and knowledge base and we are delighted to welcome her to our team”.

Lippe Architects + Planners are one of the largest practices in the Northeast, providing top quality professional architectural and associated services to a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential and historic and restoration projects and has an extensive portfolio of clients throughout Scotland.

Lippe Architects + Planners currently employ 17 staff within their two practice bases at 4 St James Place, Inverurie and at 25 Albyn Place, Aberdeen. For further details, visit www.lippe-architects.co.uk or call 01224 531333.

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