Gina Colley is an Architect and Associate Director at Threesixty Architecture. She believes inclusive design should be at the core of a just transition to net zero which creates spaces that are affordable, accessible, and considerate of all people. 

She also won BE-ST's Accelerate to Zero Beacon Award, which recognises stand-out individuals for their unique contribution to the zero carbon built environment.  

Background 

Gina gained an early interest in the built environment through architecture: "It seemed like a career that blended creativity and creative thinking with more technical problem-solving thinking.” However, Gina shares that, “as time goes on, it’s really the connection with people that I value most ... I can’t imagine doing anything else.” 

She joined Threesixty Architecture during her placement year in university and has remained with the firm for over a decade since.  

Future progress to a just transition 

Whether we make it more mainstream, or more regulated, Gina sees Inclusive Design as an under explored path to future progress in the construction sector. 

She is collaborating with leading experts, such as Author May East, Make Space for Girls and Marina Milosev from Beyond the Red Line, to drive forward the agenda of gender-sensitive urban planning in creating spaces that are welcoming, safe, and accessible. Often spaces in the built environment neglect the needs of women, even in terms of the provision of basic amenities. Gina believes that change requires listening to the needs of the people – and prioritising engagement with hard-to-reach groups. 

Gina shares: "As an Architect you’re designing and envisioning a future for a whole population ... I really want it to be a case of nobody gets left behind in that process." 

Threesixty Inclusivity 

At Threesixty Architecture, Gina is in a leadership role.  

As part of this, she has been key to defining the company’s 2030 vision by embedding sustainability and diversity goals into its strategic planning. She also initiated and chairs their Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) group. 

They have achieved unprecedented outcomes for their staff – such as six-months paid maternity leave, which Gina hasn’t seen in architecture anywhere else in Scotland.  

Inclusive Design in practice 

There are many different aspects to inclusive design: mobility, neurodiversity and affordability being just a few. Inclusivity is a multi-faceted outcome, which means recognising the multifaceted potential of our built spaces. 

One example that Gina has worked on where she feels this is brought to life is the refurbishment of the Victorian Market in Inverness. This project transformed a building that held significant community value but had fallen into disrepair due to financial challenges. The team revitalised the space into a community food hall and hub and the building now serves as a thriving, multi-purpose space. 

Gina says: “The most inclusive space is one that is multi purposed, and invites different people.” For this, she notes that making sure the brief captures accessibility from the start is important.  

Collaboration 

To achieve success, Gina says collaboration is vital. “I couldn’t have done what I’ve done so far without collaboration.” 

Partnering up with experts has been pivotal to Gina’s success, to disseminate knowledge and drive innovation: “You can’t be an expert in everything but you can be an expert in making the right partnerships.” 

What it means to be a beacon 

We asked Gina about the significance of being awarded as a Beacon, which will become a network of remarkable contributors to the net zero carbon built environment. 

“I’m so humbled to be part of this group of people. I can’t believe that the award came to me that night,” Gina says, "It’s an amazing idea that the network will grow, and you’ll have a group of people setting the bar really high in different fields ... being able to meet, cross paths, and share with that group is so exciting."  

We’re looking forward to seeing Gina and the other A-Z beacons continue to contribute highly to architecture and the wider construction industry through their work.