We changed our name because we have recently surfaced our company’s true purpose. A purpose that builds on the award-winning heritage of Sandover Pinder while adding a critical service promise that takes us (and you) into a whole new future of architecture.
For too long now, the stereotypical image of an architect is that of a guru, sitting on high. So high that the voices and opinions of others (especially the client) are often just a faint whisper. We believe that in order to deliver on our purpose to create empowering public buildings, our industry must adopt a far more collaborative approach. An approach where a more apt metaphor for the architect is that of the Sherpa, not a guru. A Sherpa lives for climbing great heights. But they use their skill to help others reach the top, not to seek solitary glory for themselves. They use all their natural ability and experience to guide their client, to help them overcome obstacles and exceed their own expectations of what is possible.
The most critical piece of equipment in this relationship is the carabiner, an ingenious self-locking clip that connects the Sherpa’s climbing rope to their client’s.
We named ourselves after that clip because we promise we’ll be more closely connected to you than any other architectural firm. Yes, our people have the skill and experience to reach new heights of architectural excellence, but their role is to get you there. In one piece. To guide you every step of this long complex process, to anticipate the problems that inevitably arise, to react to the unexpected in ways that are creative, helpful and ego-free.
So that in the end, we can achieve something extraordinary, together. We believe in our organisational purpose so strongly we felt it deserved to be the focus of our entire company, including our name.