Kay Elliott Celebrates its 35th Anniversary

Established in 1978 and based in Torquay, Kay Elliott has now grown into an international architectural practice with work spanning over 24 countries and enjoyed by more than 25 million users each year. Over 35 years the practice has evolved a diverse portfolio, from visitor attractions to marina developments, from luxury hotels to educational buildings, from conservation-led projects to sustainable masterplanning.

Managing Director and founder, Derek Elliott, said: “Our experiences of designing in the South-West has helped inspire award-winning projects across the world. We are immensely proud of our achievements and the fact that we have a global reach from our local base in South Devon.

We started designing visitor attractions in 1988 when we were commissioned to design the Rhino Exhibit at Paignton Zoo, and our aquaria specialism developed with the Shanghai Aquarium in 1997. We are now about to complete our 35th aquarium project which is in the USA.”

The practice has also worked on the £107million Titanic Signature Project in Belfast and the refurbishment of Grade I listed Blackpool Tower, which recently won the Best Leisure Interior UK at the International Property Awards. Two significant residential and mixed use waterfront developments – in Torquay and Salcombe – are currently under construction and there are several high profile hotel projects at the planning stage in Devon, the UK and the USA.

Richard Maddock, Director, who joined the firm in 1989, said: “We employ highly skilled architects as well as urban, interior, graphic and exhibition designers, all of whom enjoy a really creative working environment with the advantage of a beautiful setting here in Torbay.”