New Practice are experts in place working across the UK and internationally. The practice is part of Civic and is led by Becca Thomas and Marc Cairns.

New Practice exists to develop the community, creative and cultural capacity of places and to connect people with the decision making processes that underpin lived experiences.

The practice is committed to embedding social value in place-based projects across the UK and beyond through community engagement, meanwhile use, retrofit & reuse and strategies for community; ensuring that community-centred briefs and shared decision making shape the future of the built environment.

Projects are delivered by an inclusive and energetic team focused on creating real social value through their work, not just talking about it. Together we actively enable and deliver projects which place people first and fundamentally build community.

New Practice is a RIAS and RIBA Chartered Practice.

New Practice became part of Civic in Autumn 2024 through a shared commitment to the design and delivery of places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead healthier, happier lives.

Becca and Marc’s working partnership began as an academic collaboration in 2010 and subsequently delivered projects in the UK and internationally which were awarded the 2012 RSA Gold Medal, 2014 Herald Society Award and 2018 Scottish Quality in Planning Award.

Becca and Marc have represented New Practice at events organised by Architects Journal, British Council for Offices, Cycling UK, Festival of Place, RIBA, RIAS, V&A and schools of architecture and private practice across Europe. They are regularly featured critics and writers across place and planning discourse in the UK including articles and op-eds for industry publications such as Architects Journal and RIBA Journal, as well contributions to BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 4 and The Guardian.

Following a number of collaborative international projects: including presentations at the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale, 2012 World Design Capital, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2016 Lahore Biennale and 2017 Kosovo Festival of Architecture; New Practice was founded to provide a platform for projects with the specific focus of creating community centred outcomes. 

New Practice works with public and private sector clients and enables shared participation through public consultation, creative engagement and strategies for communities across the built environment. 

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

Since 2010 Becca Thomas and Marc Cairns have contributed critical research, delivered best practice community engagement and provided leadership for built environment policy across the UK. New Practice champions creativity and openness through a number of senior appointments, including: Glasgow Urban Design Panel; Expert for 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