Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) is a strategic architectural consultancy based in London that works all over the world. We are focused on achieving outstanding, award-winning design for our clients, who may be commissioning new buildings or re-inventing existing ones.
Choosing an architect or design team is one of the most consequential decisions a client will make. MRC empowers clients by bringing design excellence and value to their capital projects – searching globally for the most capable and visionary studio to fit successfully with each client’s project, and project team.
Over the past 30 years MRC has run more than 250 design team selection processes, enabling clients to compare a range of creative approaches. We’ve done this in settings from Antarctica to Australia, Houston to Riyadh, for extraordinary and emblematic projects from small pavilions and one-off artworks to city masterplans, in total representing over $50 billion of construction value.
Trusted for fair procedures, high-quality content and success with real built projects, MRC has attracted a dedicated following among international architects, engineers and designers from emerging to top-tier studios. This results in an exceptional network of creative talent.
Uniquely, MRC provides a total service to a client encompassing the creative vision, design brief, international or national search, and assessment. We work collaboratively with many clients, supporting end-to-end administration and management of the selection process. This relieves pressure on the client team, enabling energies to be focused on governance and key decisions.
The upfront cost of our selection processes compares favourably with the pre-concept design costs of a conventional single appointment. Moreover, our approach tests the brief and gives the client team a deeper understanding of project objectives, risks and opportunities.
MRC is known for creating content-rich design briefs, memorable narratives and competition websites that launch projects to the public and stakeholders. Seasoned in dealing with project challenges, we have experience in changing stakeholder and media attitudes through the inspirational messaging and imagery generated by competitive selection.
Our innovative processes are auditable, flexible and promote engagement between client and competitors. They enable clients to make an accelerated start on their projects, testing their design brief and building stakeholder support and momentum, while meeting international procurement standards and best practice.
Through our daily work, our Directors of Projects are constantly assessing and reassessing shortlisted architects and designers in briefings and design workshops. This gives them up-to-the-minute knowledge of architecture and other firms, both established and emerging, working at the top of the profession.
Alongside competitive selection, MRC also offers other strategic pre-project services including design briefing and advisory (see Our services). We work with clients to frame their ambitions, crystallise the project vision and scope and achieve their project timeline.
We have been privileged to help organisations as diverse and high-profile as Houston Endowment, the UK Government, Northwestern University (US), Kistefos Museum (Norway), Public Investment Fund (KSA), Dallas Museum of Art, Ministry of Culture (KSA), the State of Qatar, Arts South Australia, New College, Oxford, the Royal College of Art (UK), Related Midwest (US), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (US), Qatar Museums, the Illuminated River Foundation (UK), Kaunas City Municipality (Lithuania), Mumbai City Museum, Media City Taiwan, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, the British Library and many others (see Our clients).
MRC has an energetic professional team with varied backgrounds in architecture, urban design, graphic design, web design, journalism and research, and with both commercial and public sector experience.
