New Practice are experts in community engagement and placemaking, working across the UK and internationally. The practice is part of Civic and is led by Becca Thomas, one of the UK’s leading voices in architecture and the built environment.

We exist to develop the community, creative, and cultural capacity of places, connecting people with the decision-making processes that shape their lived experiences. Our work is rooted in a commitment to embedding social value in place-based projects through community engagement, meanwhile use, retrofit & reuse, and strategies for community; ensuring that shared decision-making and community-centred briefs shape the future of the built environment.

Our inclusive and energetic team is focused on creating real social value through their work - not just talking about it. Together, we actively enable and deliver projects that place people first and fundamentally build community.

New Practice is a RIAS and RIBA Chartered Practice.

New Practice was founded in 2019 by Becca Thomas and Marc Cairns, establishing a platform for projects with a clear focus on community-centred outcomes. Together they built a practice recognised for its leadership in creative engagement, placemaking, and public-sector collaboration across Scotland and the wider UK.

Since its formation, the practice has been defined by the ethos that design is a tool for empowerment, collaboration, and social value. This has included award-winning projects recognised with the RIAS Award, RSA Gold Medal, Archiboo Award, Herald Society Award, and Scottish Quality in Planning Award. Their work has been featured internationally at the Venice Architecture Biennale, World Design Capital, Commonwealth Games, Lahore Biennale, and Kosovo Festival of Architecture.

In 2024, New Practice became part of Civic, united by a shared commitment to designing and delivering places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead healthier, happier lives. Marc Cairns stepped down from his role at New Practice in 2025, having played a key role in establishing and shaping the practice’s approach to design, engagement, and community-driven outcomes - an influence that continues to guide its work today.

Now led by Becca Thomas, New Practice continues to grow as part of Civic. A diversely talented team spanning architecture, engineering, urban design, and community engagement work together to design and deliver projects that place people first, fundamentally build communities, and protect our planet’s resources.

New Practice works with public and private sector clients to enable shared participation through public consultation, creative engagement, and community strategies across the built environment.

We deliver work across the UK and internationally at a range of scales - from community-led development programmes promoting active participation, to the transformative adaptive retrofit and reuse of civic buildings.

Since 2010, our team has contributed critical research, delivered best-practice community engagement, and provided leadership for built-environment policy across the UK. New Practice continues to champion creativity and openness through senior appointments with the Glasgow Urban Design Panel, Design Council, Open Plan Scotland, Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA), and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

• RIAS Awards 2024 - Kinning Park Complex, winner

• Archiboo Awards 2024 - Activism Award, shortlist

• Archiboo Award 2024 - Best Team, winner

• British Council for Offices Scotland Awards 2023 - Corporate Workplace, Innovation and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), winner

• AJ Retrofit Awards 2023 - Health & Community Project, finalist

• Scottish Design Awards 2023 - Public Realm / Landscaping, finalist

• Scottish Design Awards 2023 - Retrofit, finalist

• The Pineapples 2023 - Creative Retrofit, finalist

• AJ Awards 2022 - Community and Faith Project, finalist

• GIA Awards 2022 - Best Small Works Under £250K, finalist

• GIA Awards 2022 - Best Leisure & Arts, finalist

• RIBA Journal 2022 - Five Future Winners

• The Pineapples 2021 - Best in Community Engagement, finalist

• GIA Awards 2021 - Best Small Works Under £250K, finalist

• Landscape Institute Awards 2021 - Best Partnership, finalist

• Archiboo Awards 2020 - Best Newcomer, winner

• Archiboo Award 2020 - Best Digital Workspace, winner