Stephen McCusker RIBA RIAS FHEA is a registered Architect and Professional Studies Lead at the Manchester School of Architecture where he co-ordinates how students learn and engage with professional and practice-based elements of their studies across the school in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 

Appointed part-time as a Senior Lecturer he has been a year leader, taught in undergraduate/masters courses and led on the development of our Professional Skills in our course rewrites (comprising Professional Studies, Climate Change, Technology, Ethical Practice and Biodiversity specialisms across the school). Having previously written and led on the validation and establishment of the PGCert in Contemporary Practice (RIBA Part 3), he is currently focused on developing alternative routes to registration for MSA masters programmes considering the new opportunities and challenges as the education of Architects evolves in the UK.

He combines his academic interests with his ongoing, external practise delivering value-led and community-centric development, building on his 18 years as an Architect-Director at Loop Systems - an award-winning, Manchester-based co-operative. Loop operated as a co-operative for 12 years until it became part of the Place Capital Group in 2021 where it continues to contribute to works of social value across the UK.

Stephen’s work and research largely focuses on co-operation, the co-operative movement and the re-appropriation of existing buildings for the social purposes or community-led economies. He is currently working on adaptive re-use of a number of buildings.

His professional work includes being a board member of the Architects Registration Board for 7 years and a member of RIBA NW regional council where he co-chairs practice and education.

As an experienced ARB prescribed examiner, Part 3 examiner, leader and teacher of Architecture & Design Thinking, Stephen continues to bringing his professional, academic and leadership expertise to the role; building on his knowledge of a broad range of project types ranging from furniture to museums and responsible material selection.

Press and media appearances and contributions

2023 - Heritage In the UK (Short Film) by Manchester based film company Paper Films

2024 - Why is UK’s best building of 1996 being demolished? (BBC Article Feature)

2025 - Praised, then razed: why is UK’s best building of 1996 being demolished? (Guardian Article Feature) 

Research

Exhibitions

Heanley, L., 2017. Stretford Arts Collective Summer Exhibition 2017, Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, M32 0LG, 30/6/2017.

Artefacts

McCusker, S., 2017. 'Stretford Public Hall Phases 3-5', Stretford Public Hall, Manchester, M32 0LG.

Aston, H., McCusker, S., 2017. 'Stretford Streetscapes 2017 Pop-Up Shop and Participative Design Event at Stretford Public Hall', Stretford Public Hall, Stretford, M32 0LG.

McCusker, S., Allen, N.C., 2017. 'Unicorn Grocery Retrofit (Refurbishment & Extension)', Albany Road, Manchester, M21 0BN.

Aston, H., McCusker, S., 2016. 'Stretford Streetscapes 2016, Pop-Up Shop and participative design community engagement event at Stretford Mall', Stretford Mall, Manchester.

McCusker, S., Allen, N.C., Walters, A., 2013. 'Rochdale Pioneers Museum', 31 Toad Ln, Rochdale OL12 0NU.

Performances

McCusker, S., Aston, H., 2017. 'Participative Design Event at Stretford Public Hall in response to UA92 with 24 students, local residents, key stakeholders from Stretford Public Hall and Year 8 ambassadors from Stretford Grammar School', 14/10/2017.

Aston, H., McCusker, S., 2017. 'Stretford Streetscapes 2017 Participative Design Event at Stretford Public Hall', Stretford Public Hall, Stretford, M32 0LG, 14/10/2017.

Aston, H., McCusker, S., 2016. 'Stretford Streetscapes 2016, Pop-Up Shop community engagement event at Stretford Mall', Stretford Mall, 1/10/2016.

Aston, H., McCusker, S., 2016. 'Stretford Streetscapes 2016. Pop up shop community engagement event at Stretford Mall with MSA Praxis and Loop Systems. Participative Design Event at Stretford Public Hall in response to the Trafford Masterplan for Stretford with 24 BA3 students and eng', Stretford Mall, 1/10/2016.

Book Chapters

McCusker, S., 2021. 'Community-owned pubs in great Britain: Hubs of community enterprise'. In Community Owned Businesses International Entrepreneurship Finance and Economic Development, pp. 58-81.

McCusker, S., 2016. '10. Rising numbers of architectural co-operatives in an uncertain construction economy'. In Mainstreaming Co-Operation An Alternative for the Twenty-First Century?, Manchester University Press.

McCusker, S., 2016. 'The re-emergence of the co-operative model for architects'. In Mainstreaming Co Operation an Alternative for the Twenty First Century, pp. 183-200.

Journal Articles

McCusker, S., 2018. 'Learning through architecture and successful capital projects in the post-capitalist economy of Northern England', Journal of Co-operative Studies, 51 (2), pp. 55-62.

Conference Papers

McCusker, S., 2021. 'Reducing Rural Social Isolation and loneliness: Lessons from Community Pubs in the UK', 32nd Annual Rural Community and Economic Development Conference, Illinois Institue for Rural Affairs, 24/2/2021 - 25/2/2021.

McCusker, S., 2018. 'Successful capital projects in a post-capitalist UK co-operative economy', Skills for Co-operators in the 21st Century - Learning to do, learning to be, Manchester, UK, 1/5/2018 - 2/5/2018.