About Me
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Prof. Nick Whitehouse

B.Arch, RIBA, FFAS, MBE

Founding Member of Buildoffsite Executive Group

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My Bio

Nicholas Whitehouse studied architecture at Sheffield University and gained B.Arch.(Hons) in 1969 followed by Architects registration in 1972 and chartered membership of the RIBA in 1973.

He has wide experience of the construction sector including past employment as a senior Architect in a Local Authority, as company Architect in a Design and Build organisation, as a Director of JVs in housing and a major PFI project and eleven years as Chairman and Managing Director of a leading offsite construction company until his retirement in 2007. Nick joined Oxford Brookes University in 2008 and received a MBE for his contribution to the building industry in the 2010 New Year’s Honours list.

Throughout his career he has sought to combine commercial success with advancing architecture and the building sector through innovation and cross discipline co-operation. He is currently a senior research fellow and visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University. He is also a member of the executive of the sectorial interest group “buildoffsite”. He serves on a number of charities associated with the built environment.

Research and recent contributions:

  • Continuing research interests in the offsite sector at Oxford Brookes University and the management of test work at the John Payne Laboratory, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Nick was joint author with professor John Miles of Cambridge University of The Offsite Housing Review February 2013, published by the Construction Industry Council and commissioned by DCLG and BIS.
  • Acted as an expert witness and has experienced most current QA schemes: BBA, BRE, LANTAC, NHBC.
  • Initiated with others and piloted the Lloyds/buildoffsite QA scheme for the offsite sector which goes beyond product to embrace process and risk management.
  • Worked with a cross sector team to develop a new approach to quality assurance and defects insurance for innovative construction (BOPAS) which incorporates a national database. In the housing sector this activity is being supported by Buildoffsite, RICS, Lloyds Register, BLP and major mortgage lenders.