About
+ Rory Chisholm — BA(hons) MArch ARB RIBA AMAFA AABC
+ Studied architecture at The University of Bath (2018), The University of Sheffield (2013-2015) and The Leeds School of Architecture (2007-2010); and now lives and works as an architect in Greater Manchester.
+ Now an Associate Director at Donald Insall Associates, Rory is an architect who has practiced internationally and throughout the UK since 2010; working for a broad spectrum of architectural offices in France, India, London, Yorkshire, Chester and Manchester.
+ Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) chartered.
+ An AABC accredited conservation architect (Specialising in contemporary adaptations to historic architecture).
+ An Associate Member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.
+ A member of the RIBA NW Conservation, Heritage & Sustainability group.
+ Elected member of the Salford Design Review Forum.
+ Through practice he found that carefully considered architecture rarely exists without carefully crafted drawings leading the design process. His love of drawing leads his designs and research, but has become a passion in its own right - publishing, exhibiting and selling his drawings alongside his architectural work.
+ Take a look around rorychisholm.co.uk to see a selection of his drawings and architectural work, here for his Manchester Academy of Fine Arts profile, or here for his architecture practice profile.
Exhibitions
Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) ‘Connections’ exhibition; Stockport War Memorial and Art Gallery. June - September 2024
Archisource Drawing of the Year winner’s exhibition; Bargehouse, OXO Tower Wharf, London. June 2024
The Royal West of England Academy; Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. 9th September 2023 – 14th January 2024
Manchester Open Exhibition; HOME, Manchester. 24th January 2022 – 17th March 2022
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; Royal Academy of Arts, London. 22nd September 2021 – 2nd January 2022
Manchester Open Exhibition (part of Push Festival 2020); HOME, Manchester. 18th January 2020 – 29th March 2020
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Competition winner's exhibition; RIBA NW Headquarters, Liverpool. August - September 2018
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Competition winner's exhibition; RIBA Headquarters, Portland Place, London. July - August 2018
The MS Trust Secret Art Show; online exhibition. April - September 2013
The MS Trust Secret Art Show; online exhibition. April - September 2012
The MS Trust Secret Art Show; City Screen Picturehouse, York. April - July 2011
Awards/ recognition
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - June 2026
Award: Longlisted
FX Awards: Museum or Exhibition Space Award - December 2025
Award (for the John Rylands Library project): Winner
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Rising Star - November 2025
Award: Shortlisted
Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) ‘Connections’ exhibition - June 2024
Award: Commission Prize by show sponsors Cityheart
Archisource Drawing of the Year - June 2024
Award: Shortlisted
Architizer Vision Awards - September 2023
Award: Special Mention
World Architecture Festival, Architecture Drawing Prize - December 2021
Award: Shortlisted, Hand Drawn Category
Architizer One Drawing Challenge - September 2021
Award: Commendation
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2021
Award: 1st Place, Practitioner Category
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2020
Recognition: Shortlisted
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2018
Award: 2nd Place, Practitioner Category
Publications (drawing)
The Architects’ Journal; 'Sketchbook - Rory Chisholm’ segment - April 2025
The Architects’ Journal Specification; 'Drawing to a Close' monthly segment - June 2023
The Architects’ Journal; ‘Interior reflections: Alexander Pope’s Grotto restored by Donald Insall Associates’ - June 2023
Architizer; ‘One Drawing Challenge 2021: Winners Revealed!’ - September 2021
Architizer;‘One Drawing Challenge: The 100 Best Architectural Drawings of 2021’ - August 2021
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal; ‘Rory Chisholm creates interwoven micro to macro courtyard design for Ancoats’ - August 2021
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal; ‘Eyeline Drawing Competition winners’ - August 2018
Arch Daily; ‘‘The Best Architectural Drawings of 2018’ - January 2019
Arch Daily; ‘Temperate House/ Donald Insall Associates’ - July 2018
World Architecture; ‘Donald Insall Associates Converts 19th Century Temperate House into a Giant Botanical Garden’ - July 2018
The Architects’ Journal; 'Donald Insall restores world’s largest 19th-century glasshouse at Kew Gardens' - May 2018
The Architects’ Journal Specification; 'Drawing to a Close' monthly segment - April 2018
Publications (writing)
The Victorian; ‘The John Rylands Library’ - November 2025
Placemaking Resource; ‘Opinion: Get creative with heritage to turn ‘burdens’ into assets’ - October 2025
Drawing Matter website; ‘Living Landscapes: Narrative Maps from The John Rylands Library’ - August 2025
The Architects’ Journal; 'Sketchbook - Rory Chisholm’ segment - April 2025
Drawing Matter website; ‘Craving Primal Architecture’ - August 2021
DOCOMOMO newsletter; 'Geoffrey Bawa, A Talk by Ronald Lewcock' - November 2017
Publications (mentions - drawing)
RIBA Journal; ‘Skills and surrealism: Eye Line 2022’ - June 2022
RIBA Journal; ‘Alan Power puts perception at the centre in a painting of his own fictional story’ - June 2022
RIBA Journal; ‘David Adjaye’s RA Summer Exhibition display takes on the material world’ - September 2021
Publications (mentions - architecture)
The Architects’ Journal; ‘Donald Insall upgrades and refreshes Manchester’s John Rylands Library’- July 2025
Secret Manchester; ‘The Iconic John Rylands Library In Manchester Is Set To Undergo A £7.6M Transformation’- February 2024
Building Design; ‘Donald Insall Associates wins planning for John Rylands Library refresh’- February 2024
The National Tribune; ‘Consent granted for £7.6m transformation of Manchester’s neo-Gothic icon’ - February 2024
The University of Manchester; ‘Consent granted for £7.6m transformation of Manchester’s neo-Gothic icon’ - February 2024
About Manchester; ‘£7.6m project to transform John Rylands Library gets Green light’ - February 2024
Place North West; ‘Manchester approves £7.6m Rylands library refresh’ - February 2024
I Love Manchester; ‘All you need to know about the multi-million pound renovation of the John Rylands Library’ - January 2024
Place North West; ‘Rylands library turns page in £7.6m Next Chapter revamp’ - August 2023
Panels and competition judging
Salford Design Review Forum: member - 2025 - present
Archello Awards: judge - October 2023
RIBA Journal Eyeline Competition: judge - June 2022
Chester and Cheshire West Civic Trust Awards: judge - June 2021
Speaking
ICON Institute of Conservation ‘Ex Libris’ conference - (at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge) - May 2026
RIBA CPD Academy speaker - (digital lecture) - January 2026
RIBA NW Heritage Conservation and Sustainability Group lecture - (at John Rylands Library, Manchester ) - January 2025
Lecture series ‘Wentworth Woodhouse stables transformation’ (at Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire) - October 2024
RIBA Drawing Event & Exhibition (at The Royal Institute of British Architects, Portland Place, London) - September 2022
Teaching / Guest Tutoring
Manchester School of Architecture: guest tutor - Flux Atelier, 2023 - present.
Manchester School of Architecture: guest lecturer - Part III course, March 2026
Manchester School of Architecture: guest lecturer - Adaptive Reuse masters, December 2025
Manchester School of Architecture: guest tutor - Adaptive Reuse masters, 2025
Newcastle University, School of Architecture: guest tutor - (De)growth Studio, 2022