Founded in 1994 by the highly renowned Belfast architect, Harry Rolston. Since then Collins Rolston has built up a formidable reputation for delivering inspiring design. Mark Collins joined Rolston Architects as a fledgling architect with a burning ambition: to help create a world class architectural practice in his hometown of Belfast.

Learning to ply his chosen profession under the watchful gaze of some of the island’s most talented architects, the young Collins began slowly to make his own distinctive mark. Cutting his teeth within the burgeoning social housing market in Northern Ireland, Mark soon developed a keen interest in sustainability and how that could be successfully incorporated into projects that demonstrated exemplary design and practicality. His energy, passion and vision led to the firm’s rapid expansion into a host of new sectors and locations.

That contribution was rewarded ten years later with a seat at the top table as a board director and equity holder. Almost 20 years to the day when he sat down at his drawing board for the first time to begin his professional journey, Mark successfully completed the acquisition of the successful practice from his mentor and long-time friend, Harry Rolston. Today, Collins Rolston has a wide and varied portfolio of work across the public and private sectors including many award-winning schemes across the island of Ireland.

While the solid residential base upon which the firm’s success was built remains, the team now has market leading credentials across every major sector including conservation, education, health, tech, and retail. With a growing reputation as a teaching practice, and a strong focus on and practice development, Mark’s vision is to build a lasting legacy for both his firm and its team. One of the elements that brings him most satisfaction is seeing the firm’s ongoing investment in team members result in their own personal development and helping them carve out their own outstanding reputations as world-class design professionals.