The Team

Jill Molloy

Jill has over 25 years professional experience working as an architect in both the private and public sectors working on commercial, education, healthcare, and conservation projects.

Graduating from Heriot Watt University, she worked for several Scottish architectural practices before setting up in practice herself in 2006 completing many small domestic projects.

For  the last 8 years she has been involved in delivering several projects with Michael Laurie Architects for SCTS and COPFS. These have included projects of various sizes including new builds, refurbishments, conversions and fit outs to Court buildings & Office buildings including Glasgow HC, Edinburgh SC, Kirkcaldy SC and Aberdeen SC.

Elspeth McNeill

Elspeth has 35 yrs experience in the construction industry. She commenced her career as an Architectural Apprentice, working with practices in Glasgow. While practicing architecture she studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. In 1987, Elspeth became a Chartered Architect. In 2009 she changed role to CDM Coordinator and then became a Member of the Association for Project Safety (APS). Elspeth also supports the GIA and is a member of the GIA Committee. Elspeth has augmented her extensive in-depth architectural design, technical and project management knowledge and practical experience with health & safety legislation knowledge and experience. She has extensive experience on a wide variety of projects that have involved construction design and management, from inception to completion, in both the public and private sectors, all types of contract and contract values from £300,000 to £60 million, on vacant and live occupied sites at numerous locations across the UK. For the last 5 yrs she has been involved in delivering several projects with MLA Architects for SCTS and COPFS. These have included projects of various sizes including new builds, refurbishments, conversions, and fit outs to Court buildings & Office buildings including Glasgow HC, Edinburgh SC, Kirkcaldy SC, and Aberdeen SC.

Katherine Romprey

Katherine joined the team at MLA in Aug 2019, initially on a part time basis, then becoming a full-time member of the practice in 2021 as a leading Space Planner and Interior Designer.  Her main responsibilities involve preparing Design Proposals, Feasibility Studies, Planning, Warrant and Detailed drawings for projects that vary in size, both private and public sectors from small offices and court reconfigurations to large scale renovations within the COPFS Estates.

Her specialist skills lie in preparing furniture & design layouts for both the SCTS & COPFS Estates, covering Lothian, Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Ayrshire & Glasgow.

Prior to joining MLA, Katherine has been a designer & space planner for a large furniture manufacturer in Fife. She also continues to tutor in AutoCAD & has an Interior Design BA (Hons) from Napier University obtained in 1996.

Andy Caird

Andy is the most recent Graduate member of the MLA team, joining in January 2022. He initially gained BA(Hons) Interior Design at Heriot Watt University and more recently, to further his knowledge in Conservation, he has completed simultaneously both a HNC in Architectural Technology (Edinburgh College) and a MSC in Architectural Design for the Conservation of Built Heritage (University of Strathclyde), graduating in late 2021.

He is especially interested in conservation of our built environment, particularly in finding solutions that allow the re-purposing of existing buildings and ensure a more sustainable approach to how we conserve and manage our built heritage. Joining MLA gives Andy an amazing opportunity to work on a wide range of interior and exterior projects from a variety of architectural periods, involving both traditional and modern building techniques and materials. Starting as a Graduate Architectural Technician, he will learn from an experienced team and build upon his knowledge and technical ability, always with a passion and desire to demonstrate care and respect for all aspects of our built environment.

Phil Leiper

Phil is an ARB registered architect with 35 years post qualification experience in a wide range of building types including master planning and mixed use developments, retail, commercial, and healthcare. Proficient in the use of AutoCAD and most industry relevant software packages including 3D viualisations.

Recent and current projects include a major refurbishment of Peterhead Sheriff Court and work to listed buildings including Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Hamilton Sheriff Court and Edinburgh High Court.

Kevin Wilkie

Kevin has over 30 years experience in the built environment, including practical involvement in delivering completed projects up to £50million in value.

Since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art/University of Dundee in 1985, he has worked for several renowned Scottish Architectural Practices.

This included work from inception to completion, in both the private and public sectors, on many building types. Over the last 7 years he has been involved in a wide and varied range of projects for both SCTS and COPFS. These have included works to Courtroom & Office buildings throughout Scotland including Glasgow HC, Edinburgh SC and the Crown Office at Chambers Street.

Since 2000, Kevin has been Director of a private Architectural Consultancy practice. He now works largely with Mike and the team at MLA Architects.

Alistair Hawkins

Alistair has over 27 years experience as a qualified architect working in the construction industry. In this time, he has worked across all sectors at every stage of the design process. Projects ranging from private houses to multi-million-pound healthcare, university, and office buildings.

After graduating from Kingston Polytechnic and Manchester University, Alistair worked in France before completing his professional training in London. Moving to Scotland in 1999 he worked for several well-known architects’ practices before setting up his own consultancy company in 2012.

Alistair is a recent addition to the consultancy team at MLA architects, based in Edinburgh he has been focused on projects for the SCTS in the capital. Latterly his time taken up with the myriad of temporary changes required to courthouses across Scotland due to the ongoing pandemic.

Sofi Armitage

Sofi joined MLA in 2015 as a virtual Executive Assistant and began keeping up to date with the bookkeeping tasks at MLA. Since then, the key monthly tasks have expanded, and Sofi now supports more of the daily administrative tasks as required.

Sofi is motivated, honest, and loyal, a mum of two, a dog owner and lover of the great outdoors. Her beliefs are that if you work hard, you can play hard too.

Gabrielle Wood

Gabrielle Wood is an Architect with a BSc and MA in Architecture from Queens University Belfast and the University of Edinburgh. With practice experience across the UK her focus is on People and Community led design. Gabrielle has substantial experience working on large scale, mixed-use residential projects in and around London, with a knowledge of master planning, feasibility and legacy policy design. Her specialism is in detailed façade remediation design; having worked in a specialist consultancy as well as conservation of the existing built environment. Her skills are focused around CAD 2D and 3D modelling, graphics, applied remediation, refurbishment and technical design. Alongside practice Gabrielle also has experience lecturing and teaching, online and at the University of Edinburgh.

Kenny Francis

Kenny is an Architectural Technologist with over 7 years professional experience working in a range of sectors including residential, commercial & industrial since graduating from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

As a technical specialist Kenny enjoys studying the detail of architecture and communicating all aspects of the design in an effective presentation. Software is an important part of Kenny’s skillset and is proficient in the use of AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp and Photoshop as well as others to aid the design presentation. Keeping an interest in emerging building technologies and techniques also underpins Kenny’s drive to deliver innovative solutions.