(b Hove, 9 Oct 1939). English architect. He studied at the Edinburgh College of Art and the Architectural Association, London. On graduating in 1965, he formed a partnership with Terry Farrell; their work included a refabricated plastic bathroom tower (1967; destr.) for a student hostel, and flats (1968) in Park Road, both London, and the Herman Miller Factory (1976), Bath. In 1980 Grimshaw split from Farrell and formed his own practice. His independent work is characterized by the almost exclusive use of industrialized components, especially glass curtain walling, and the use of prominent structures—usually steel—to achieve clear internal spans and open façades. His Oxford Ice Rink (1982–4) has a roof suspended from two masts; the Sainsbury Supermarket (1986–8), Camden Town, London, has a vaulted roof carried on cantilevers; and the Igus Factory (1990–92), Cologne, is clad in aluminium profiled sheeting, while the suspended roof contains shallow domical roof-lights. Two printing works, for the Financial Times in London (1987–8) and the Western Morning News in Plymouth (1990–92; with Peter Rice), show contrasting approaches: the former is a sober, glazed shed with a tubular steel structure and an entrance framed by two tall cylindrical elements clad in aluminium; the latter has nautical imagery, with outward curved glazed walls supported by curved external steel ribs and a ‘bridge’ accommodating the boardroom. His British Pavilion (1992; destr.), Seville, was a glass box with a roof of steel brises-soleil; it was ingeniously cooled by a combination of shading and water-cooled façades. One of Grimshaw’s most prominent works is the Channel Tunnel Terminal (1989–92), Waterloo Station, London; it has a sinuous glazed roof formed by a vault of asymmetrical steel trusses. Other works of the 1990s include the Berlin Stock Exchange (begun 1991) and the RAC Control Centre (begun 1993), Bristol.

• Grimshaw, Nicholas
  • Aluminium, §2(i): Architecture
  • England, §II, 6: Architecture, after c 1914
  • Farrell, Terry