New London Architecture (NLA) is London's built environment community, running events, research and a free exhibition of giant models of the city.
New London Architecture, or NLA, is an organisation that brings together people who shape London's buildings and places, from architects and planners to developers, councils and community groups. It runs events, research, news, videos, technical explainers and a project directory, and it hosts networks such as expert panels, special interest groups, a sounding board and NextGen for people early in their careers. It also links to events such as the London Festival of Architecture, and it runs the NLA Awards. It offers personal and company memberships, and some resources are for members only.
NLA describes its mission as "Together, we shape a better city", and its footer says it brings people together to shape a better city. It says it wants everyone in London to be able to contribute to the city's future, whatever their background, profession or status. It was founded around 2005 by Peter Murray OBE and Nick McKeogh, according to an NLA event page from 2020 about its 15th anniversary, and McKeogh is now co-founder and chief executive. The exact founding year is not stated on that page.
NLA is based in London. In April 2023 it opened a new home called The London Centre in the West Wing of Guildhall, 3 Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH, open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 to 17:00. It earlier had a gallery at the Building Centre, where a 12-metre-long scale model of London was its centrepiece. The London Centre shows three architectural models together for the first time: the New London Model of about 200 square kilometres of central London, the City of London Model and the Royal Docks Model. A permanent exhibition called Change, Opportunity, Vision looks at how London has changed over 20 years.
A learning programme with the Harris Federation, a group of schools, offers workshops, model talks and mentoring for children and young people, and Monday sessions are reserved for schools. NLA also runs free model talks on Friday lunchtimes and walking tours. Staff at an organisation like this work on events and exhibitions, research, editorial and video content, membership, partnerships and education, so the jobs are about communication and bringing people together as much as design. The pages we read do not describe NLA's internal culture.
For a student, NLA is an easy place to start exploring London's built environment, because the exhibitions and talks are open to the public. You can see how the capital is changing by looking at the models, and NextGen is aimed at people at the start of their careers. Check NLA's website for current opening hours, events and vacancies.
Website: nla.london
PURPOSE helps school and university students explore 62 sectors and over 1,000 entry-level careers in the UK, then connects them directly with employers.
Explore PURPOSE