John Piercy Holroyd  

John Piercy Holroyd is an Associate Partner and Manchester Studio Lead at Purcell, leading multidisciplinary teams on complex heritage, cultural and civic projects across the North of England and Wales. Originally from North Yorkshire, he studied at the Manchester School of Architecture, qualifying as an architect in 2003 after completing his professional studies in Manchester, Italy, and Poland.

With over twenty-five years’ experience in architectural practice, John specialises in the conservation, adaptation and regeneration of historic buildings and places, helping clients balance heritage significance with contemporary requirements and long-term sustainability. His portfolio spans museums, cultural destinations, education estates, civic buildings and community-led regeneration projects, with particular expertise in heritage-led regeneration, listed buildings, stakeholder engagement, heritage funding and the delivery of complex refurbishment and adaptive reuse projects.

Alongside his professional practice, John has a longstanding interest in twentieth-century architecture, photography and design history. This has led to a number of research and publishing projects, including A Time • A Place, a collaboration with architectural photographer Daniel Hopkinson exploring the relationship between post-war architecture and automotive design through a series of books, exhibitions and public talks. Through this work, John seeks to promote a greater understanding of twentieth-century architecture and its importance as an integral part of the UK’s built heritage.