Karl Glenn

Landscape Architect

Karl Glenn is an experienced and enthusiastic Landscape Architect, with additional skills in IT systems and photography. He has worked on a wide range of projects in all sectors, but has been the lead on our most recent large-scale campus project for Liverpool University, promoting biodiversity, active travel, sports and social space well-being gains across the campus. The ongoing success of this multi-million pound project with numerous fast-track phases is a testimony of Karl’s ability to work well with clients, contractors and other design team members to get the best results.

Karl also has overall responsibility for IT and the practical side of Design Studio management

Shivani Gunawardana

Senior Landscape Architect

Shivani brings a unique perspective to landscape architecture, blending her passion for wild landscapes within urban environments with a meticulous approach to detail honed through her architectural background. A graduate from the Manchester School of Architecture (2019), she joined BCA Landscape and has since become a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute.

Some of her recent work includes Northbank Green, a dock-edge park that serves as a community space while incorporating a sustainable drainage system and the Brett Study Garden at the university of Liverpool. Her work extends to high-profile projects like the Glade of Light, a memorial garden in Manchester honouring victims of the 2017 attack.

She continually enhances her expertise in BIM, refining our team’s workflow processes to ensure seamless collaboration with the broader project team. Her skills in this area have been particularly evident in recent projects in the Build-To-Rent sector and Public Realm works with Active Travel initiatives.

Craig Mitchell

Landscape Architect

Craig Mitchell is an experienced landscape architect and researcher with an interest in the spatial and temporal interactions between natural processes and human activities. He specialises in utilising nature-based solutions to enhance the built environment.

He is project Landscape Architect for the Liverpool City Centre Connectivity scheme with Amey PLC, which redefined the way people moved through the city with a focus on sustainable systems and adaption to climate change. Phase One – ‘The Voyage’ – was internationally recognised in 2017 by a D&AD design award. The Strand was recently featured in Chris Boardman’s video promoting the launch of the Government’s Active Travel England initiative as an exemplar.

As a Liverpudlian he is proud to be working in a city he loves and is passionate about improving the environment around him for future generations.

James Watts

Senior Landscape Architect

James Watts continually looks to develop and systemise the way in which BCA Landscape work and deliver award winning, sustainable landscape schemes. Winner of the student RIBA Nationwide Sustainable Housing Award in 2009 James has continued to develop sustainable landscape solutions over the last thirteen years, working on projects such as the LI award winning Rotunda Community College Garden and the RIBA National Award-winning Wirral Metropolitan College, part of the wider Wirral Waters development.

James has been involved as a Project Landscape Architect on the Wirral Waters scheme since 2014, starting with ‘meanwhile’ environmental projects on development plots, leading to educational, residential, commercial and public realm projects in collaboration with Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, Peel Land & Property, Urban Splash and Mersey Forest.

Andrew Thomson

Director

Andrew Thomson has over 25 years’ experience as a designer and Chartered Landscape Architect. He is the Landscape Architectural lead on Peel’s multi-phased Wirral Waters Dockland development, including the RIBA National Award-winning Wirral Metropolitan College.

Joining in 1993, he became a Director in July 2008. He and his family live in Liverpool and he is a visiting Lecturer and Guest Critic at Leeds Met, Liverpool & Manchester Met. Universities

A creative innovator in community engagement and social inclusion, his collaborative ‘Face of Liverpool’ scheme in 2006 gaining The Best National Community Project & President’s Grand Prix Award. Recently his work with the Rotunda Community College in North Liverpool has won the Landscape Institutes’ top design award and the NW Echo Environment Award for helping to create a new thriving community landscape on an area of derelict land.

Andrew has been directly involved in designing and delivering numerous environmentally and socially conscious, sustainable projects, including the Glade of Light memorial garden to the victims of the May 2017 bombing at Manchester Arena, recently opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to national acclaim.

He is a selected panel member on the CABE affiliated Places Matter! Design Review panel for RIBA North.

Michael O’Connell

Michael O'Connell

Director

With 42 years studying and practicing Landscape Architecture, Michael O’Connell is a Green Infrastructure expert with a depth of experience and passion for the green agenda that puts him at the forefront of his profession.

Delivering large scale green infrastructure projects in complicated urban centres is a particular skill, along with all types of residential sector experience involving over 55,000 homes, including more recently over 3,300 Build to Rent Homes delivered across the UK.

Mikes positivity, enthusiasm, collaborative spirit and desire to find consensus on a way forwards helps to get the job done. His focus is on achieving the best possible outcomes for habitat creation and the promotion of good mental heath and well-being through positive commercially, socially and environmentally sustainable place-making.

Joining in 1985, he became a Director in 2001. He and his family live in his hometown Liverpool.