What is the company culture like at Grimshaw-Architects?

Large scale projects with high impact and complexity. Whole office culture is professional and friendly.

Could be too corporate if you prefer smaller projects, teams, and more personal friendships

Grimshaw has made so many changes over the last year and it's really grown into a better place to work. The culture has evolved hugely from the previous Glassdoor reviews and the existing directors have worked hard for this outcome. If you are honest, have a can-do attitude, and you're committed to your craft, you'll do well here.

No cons, everything worthy of criticism is in the pipeline to be improved, and there are huge steps being taken from the leadership to commit to this. My only critique is for a more concrete WFH/hybrid working policy but at the end of the day, the culture is great because people are in and mingling.

Great office culture and socials. Skillful junior-mid level staffs. Generally nice and polite people who help each other out. Strong BIM team. HR that listens and try to assist. Exposure to international projects.

Think themselves as international marquee outfit but struggled to land decent size jobs in the Australian market in recent years even in their domain expertise. Questionable business strategy. Poor detail design and construction documentation skills, which cost them at times. Some project leader have poor client, resource management and architecture skill that should match their title/ experiences. They are more focused on admin duties than making good architecture and managing projects. Too many cooks and over resourced on project at times.

Used to have great culture, people would hang around for a Friday drinks.

When they started sacking people, it was brutal. They don't warn you and just sacked on a Thursday evening and the next day was your last day.

Company culture and international environment

Top down management and feeling like you have no voice

It would depend on the studio and its culture. It was always hit-and-miss in terms of the people and culture. Some egotistic people in management positions were detrimental to the company culture whereas others would care about their colleagues and help them. There were no well-thought-out plans for the business and the management was always reactive rather than proactive. The firm has been precarious since 2022.

Same as above and nothing more

It would depend on the studio and its culture. It was always hit-and-miss in terms of the people and culture. Some egotistic people in management positions were detrimental to the company culture whereas others would care about their colleagues and help them. There were no well-thought-out plans for the business and the management was always reactive rather than proactive. The firm has been precarious since 2022.

Same as above and nothing more

Attention to design, great employees’ involvement in company’s culture. Projects presentation on weekly bases. Transparency on company’s policies and values. Attention to inclusion and equality

Lower salary compared to similar companies.very basic benefits

Nice people and culture and exciting projects

Lack of career progression, lacking in career mentoring

1. Some talented colleagues willing to help. 2. Interesting and high-profile projects. 3. International reputation of the firm.

1. Extremely poor management style, often humiliating rather than supportive. 2. Unrealistic deadlines with no regard for workload or health. 3. Help from colleagues is discouraged, creating isolation instead of teamwork. 4. Favouritism and inconsistent instructions from management. 5. Feedback is harsh, personal, and often delivered in a demeaning way.