Gilling Dod History

It was in 1882 that William Edward Willink returned to his birthplace of Liverpool to open his first practice in Venice Chambers, during what was to be a very auspicious time for a city undergoing such rapid growth and development.

Probably one of the most revered architectural accomplishments fort he practice at the time was the work carried out on the Cunard Building often called one of the "Three Graces", named after the daughters of Zeus - Splendour, Festivity and Abundance. The work cemented a strong partnership between Willink and fellow architect Philip Thicknesse who had previously joined practice in 1884. Willink remarked about Philip Thicknesse "To him and not me is to be attributed the greater part of such credit as belongs to this structure".

There was another young architect that assisted on the project, who went by the name Harold A Dod - a graduate of the Liverpool School of Architecture. Later in 1920, after the death of Philip Thicknesse, Dod was invited to a partnership in the style of Willinks and Dod. Four years later, Willinks passed away and Dod became the sole partner.

Liverpool born Malcolm Gilling joined Willink and Dod in 1935 after graduating with a diploma from the Liverpool School of Architecture. In 1947 he accepted an invitation to join the partnership and later became a senior partner on the eve of Harold Dod's retirement. The formation of Gilling Dod arose later in 1956 when Gilling recruited Harold Dod's son Philip and changed the style of the practice accordingly.

After the tragic deaths of Harold, Philip and Malcolm Gilling in the 1960's, Allan Billinge and Ross Skyner set about the task of retaining and serving many of the traditional client bodies and extending the base of work to preserve and support the continuity of the practice.

125 years on the practice still maintains for the same level of dedication, care and imagination.

As far back as the late 19th Century, the practice has been playing a key role in the provisions of educational building. Willink completed the Physics and Engineering buildings for the University of Liverpool's Victoria Campus. While Harold Dod made the notable contribution with the design of the Harold Cohen Library which opened in 1938. Today, we continue to carry out work for the LEA and Universities even refurbishing buildings designed by our predecessors.

In the 1960, Billinger and Skyner embarked on an unprecedented project to develop a radiotherapy unit at the Clatterbridge Hospital. The practice introduced a combination of engineering with architectural creativity produce a building that would inspire interest in patients undergoing treatment. These days, Gilling Dod continue to work within this sector establishing themselves as specialist in the design and development of Mental Health Institutions. Their knowledge of spatial design and environmental psychology has secured them a current workload in excess of £180 million.

As a keen historian William E Willink he would have been proud of the legacy that he created, and to know that the company stands for same ethics that will ensure a continued success for generations to come.