Howard Allen Director / Architect
As a co-founder of the practice, Howard Allen has played a pivotal role in the design and delivery of the firm’s extensive portfolio of projects, which span both the private and public sectors. He provides essential strategic leadership within the practice and actively contributes to the ongoing development of its overall design direction.
Howard has served as a visiting critic at the Architectural Association in London. He has dedicated time to mentoring undergraduate architecture students, sharing his knowledge and experience. After attending the Kent School of Art & Design, he studied architecture at Kingston School of Architecture, followed by post-graduate studies for the Conservation of Buildings Diploma at the Architectural Association, London.
Howard has over 35 years of professional experience giving him broad insight into design and architecture. He has provided strategic advice to individual clients as well as to various corporate bodies on crucial strategy and design objectives, often enhancing both commercial viability and amenity value of various schemes.
Michael Davey Architect
Michael has been a part of the Portal team for over ten years, working on a variety of projects from domestic refurbishments and extensions to multi-million pound healthcare developments.
He has experience across all project stages with an emphasis on coordination with the wider design team during the technical detailing stages of a development.
Previous practice experience includes high-end residential schemes in central London and a mix of education and healthcare projects for public bodies.
Steve Gale Strategy & Technology
Steve helps organisations define what they really need, and guides them through the technology that some people call smart buildings, and data analysis. Following a long career in mainstream architecture, he has identified strategy and technology as the weak links in most design adventures.
Steve was co-founder with Howard of the original practice established in 1985. He now specialises on the invisible parts of architecture. As he puts it “I study the geeky stuff – to use it wisely”
John Jenner Consultant Architect
John Jenner has over 35 years as a practising architect, predominantly in healthcare and education projects. He was on the 30 member panel that reviewed all BSF projects from 2005-2010. John sat on the NHS Design Review Panel from 2004-2011 becoming chairman responsible reviewing all major health projects over £25m.
In the healthcare sector John has experience on ward refurbishments, clinics, therapy and treatment suites and various projects in all the major London hospitals. He worked on the PFI redevelopment of Southmead Hospital Bristol. John also advised the Kuwait government on their hospital building programme.
In the education sector John has worked on new build Sure Start Centres in Walthamstow, Norwich and Pen Green, Corby and numerous new-build primary schools in London. He was part of the winning team that won the Blackpool BSF and worked on the master plan for the redevelopment of Guildford College.