Group Leader, Heatherwick Studio

Lisa Finlay joined Heatherwick Studio in 2011. As Group Leader she is overseeing a series of projects including 1000 Trees, a 3 million sqft, mixed-use development next to Shanghai’s art district, the M50. The project includes retail, workspace, a hotel, parkland and the conservation of four historic buildings which have been integrated into the development. The first phase is under construction; due for completion in 2018.

Coal Drops Yard, a new retail quarter and public space in Kings Cross, London is also under Lisa’s supervision. She worked closely with the developer, heritage bodies and stakeholders to introduce a curving roof to stitch the historic coal drops buildings together – creating a third storey of retail and unifying heart to the site. The project is currently under construction and due for completion in 2018. Lisa founded 7N architecture practice in Edinburgh in 2009. Here she delivered two award winning projects in social housing and public realm, whilst leading large scale cultural-led regeneration projects for Scottish Enterprise, British Waterways and the Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership.

In 2015 the studio created the role of Group Leader to support the growth in scale and number of its projects. Working with Thomas Heatherwick, Group Leaders are responsible for leading all aspects of a portfolio of projects from concept development through to delivery. They are also part of the studio’s senior management group, guiding business strategy, planning and process.