Emma Curtin

Emma Curtin is a registered architect and lecturer based at Liverpool University, School of Architecture. She is leads a third year BA design studio and teaches on BA1, MA and MArch courses.

Working at architectural practices in Manchester, Sheffield and London she has built up a wide range of experience across sectors including education, social housing, transport and heritage re-use. With Sheppard Robson she was involved in the redevelopment of the Former Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester and a number of award winning schools. Later at 3D Reid she worked on 1 Angel Square during the construction phase and most recently she was project architect for a number of new social housing schemes in Greater Manchester with Triangle Architects.

Whilst her background is in architectural practice, her current efforts to influence the shape of the built environment are though public campaigns and community led projects, rather than more conventional building-focussed-design.

She is chair of The Friends of London Road Fire Station, a community trust working towards the re-use of this listed building in Manchester. After 3 years campaigning, the building was bought by Allied London who have received planning permission to develop the building. This project also led to her involvement with the Community Assets in Difficult Ownership Programme.

During 2014 she worked with the Friends of Library Walk to oppose the closure of this special footpath in Manchester. She was involved in the subsequent Public Inquiry.

She was on the advisory board of Steinbeck Studio, a neighbourhood scale investment vehicle working in the Granby Area of Liverpool. Steinbeck Studio funded the Granby 4 Street CLT and are currently working towards the redevelopment of Ducie Street, this project will provide 47 new and refurbished homes.

Through Emma's teaching she explores the role of education in preparing graduates to question the status quo and influence positive change using the professional skills developed at university.