The power of partnership: Celebrating the More Than a Building Winter Reception at the House of Lords
On 20 November 2025, Article 25 welcomed members of our More Than a Building network to the magnificent Peers’ Dining Room at the House of Lords for our second annual Winter Reception - an evening that truly embodied the power of partnership, purpose and celebration.
Set within the historic Palace of Westminster, guests stepped into a beautifully lit room where bubbles flowed, canapés were shared, and conversations sparked across generations of expertise in architecture, engineering, development and construction. The atmosphere was electric - with the shared ambition to build a more equitable future through meaningful, resilient design.
This year’s reception brought together a vibrant mix of familiar faces and new supporters, with representation from organisations across the built environment sector, including:
Bespoke Construction Services | The DE Group | Gardiner & Theobald LLP | LDD Construction Limited | Overbury | Skanska | Wates Group | AET Flexible Space | Agilité | Bennetts Associates | Buckley Gray Yeoman | Purcell | Redworx MEP Limited | Ridge and Partners LLP | Rolton | Salter Demolition Ltd | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) | Tindall Riley & Co Limited | TMJ Interiors | Hoare Lea | HTA Design | MHA Structural Design | AHMM | Assael Architecture | Darling Associates | Elliott Wood | Franchi Stores | Jackson Coles LLP | Jefferson Sheard Architects | Max Fordham LLP | Montgomery Group | Oberlanders Architects | Pilbrow & Partners | Price & Myers | Quantem | RIBA | ritchie*studio | Sheppard Robson | Stace | Studio Pringle | Tellon Capital | tp bennett | TTSP | Ampersand Advocates | Architects’ Journal | Brachot | Broadfield UK | chapmanbdsp | Cities Reloaded | Enterprise Hotels & Hospitality | Hawkins\Brown | EKFB | Kvadrat | Lightfoot Advisors | McALPINE | SRM | Stanton Williams | Structure Tone
Our growing network - now stronger than ever - reflects the depth of commitment across the sector to deliver buildings that are not just structures, but pathways to opportunity.
A night of reflection, recognition and impact
Article 25 Chief Executive Gemma Holding delivered heartfelt thanks to our partners and supporters - with special appreciation for More Than a Building Ambassadors Chris Booth, Kevin Arnold, Jack Pringle and Mark Kowal, as well as trustees Denise Bennett and Paul Clark. Their leadership and advocacy continue to amplify the reach and impact of our work worldwide.
Guests were then invited to watch a new impact video, premiered on the night, showcasing the global projects our supporters helped make possible over the past year. The film highlighted:
Healthcare innovation in Laos, Morocco and Montserrat - from critical care design to clinics providing life-changing surgery for children, to the long-awaited new national hospital for Montserrat.
Education and child protection initiatives in Tanzania and Kenya - including an inclusive school, a children’s village, new shelter for street-connected youth, and improved eye care facilities across Nairobi.
Resilient design in Nepal, where our Trauma Centre structures withstand earthquakes, landslides and flash floods.
A unique food security and livelihoods project in Rwanda, designing a new cheese-making facility to create jobs and economic resilience.
As the video concluded, its final message - “Together, we’re constructing more than buildings. We’re building futures.” - resonated deeply through the room.
A community celebrating together
The evening wasn’t just inspiring - it was fun. With champagne flowing, conversations thriving, and the House of Lords providing an unforgettable backdrop, the energy was unmistakably celebratory.
A few reflections from guests:
“A great evening spent with industry colleagues!” – Chris Booth, Overbury
“A spectacular venue steeped in history… The DE Group are pleased to support Article 25 and the amazing work they undertake across the world.” – George Swain, DE Group
“Great evening, and great to be part of the Article 25 family.” – Scott Roberts, Partner at Gardiner & Theobald
“Another lovely evening celebrating Article 25 and all the good work that we as sponsors are supporting.” – TTSP
“A fantastic opportunity to network with peers to celebrate the impact that collaboration can achieve for better futures around the world.” – Rolton
Thank you for being part of the journey
Our Winter Reception was a testament to what happens when purpose-driven organisations come together: transformative buildings are created, resilience is strengthened, and communities gain the tools and spaces they need to thrive.
Thank you to everyone who joined us — and to all who continue to support our mission. The work ahead is big, but together, we are More Than a Building.
Photo credits: Shai Dolev
