Does David Chipperfield Architects pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, David Chipperfield Architects employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at David Chipperfield Architects. This rating has decreased by 17% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at David Chipperfield Architects?

33% of David Chipperfield Architects employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated David Chipperfield Architects 2.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.4 for culture and values and 2.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at David Chipperfield Architects?

Architect (15) , Project Architect (6) , Intern (5) , Architectural Assistant (4) , Designer (2)

What are the pros of working at David Chipperfield Architects according to real employee reviews?

"great team and cool projects" ((in 5 reviews)); "Most colleagues are nice." ((in 5 reviews)); "Good work life balance" ((in 4 reviews)); "Nice people to work with" ((in 3 reviews)); "good benefits" ((in 3 reviews))

What are the cons of working at David Chipperfield Architects according to real employee reviews?

"Project management is limited long" ((in 4 reviews)); "Poor management, inefficient, overemphasis on graphics, very hierarchical." ((in 4 reviews))

David Chipperfield Architects Reviews

2.7

33% would recommend to a friend

(36 total reviews)

David Chipperfield

27% approve of CEO

8% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (36 reviews)

David Chipperfield Architects has an employee rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 36 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The David Chipperfield Architects employee rating is 27% below average for employers within the Construction, repair and maintenance industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

36 reviews

5.0

15 Apr 2026

Great team and projects, but tough work-life balance

Architect

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

great team and cool projects

Cons

tough work life balance in general

3.0

9 Apr 2026

Architectural Assistant at DCA

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Good team, design agency, career development internally, office wellbeing check ins, diversity

Cons

unpaid overtime, intense overtime hours that were unpaid

1.0

24 Feb 2026

Unclear Long-Term Direction

Architect

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

This practice is widely recognised for its strong design culture and involvement in high-profile, internationally significant projects. Many employees value the opportunity to work on ambitious architecture, particularly during early design stages, and to collaborate with a young, talented, and committed team. For early-career professionals, the studio’s reputation and published work can be beneficial for CV development.

Cons

However, multiple reviews highlight concerns around long-term stability and internal organisation. Project management and resource planning are often described as reactive, with frequent staff reassignments, limited long-term planning, and periods of sustained overtime. Communication from leadership is perceived as top-down and lacking transparency, particularly around staffing, business outlook, and redundancies. There are also recurring comments about limited focus on proactive business development, reliance on the firm’s established reputation, and a slowdown in new commissions in recent years. From an operational perspective, reviewers note slow adoption of modern tools and workflows, as well as weaknesses in IT support and internal processes, which can impact efficiency and morale.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 36 Reviews

Jobs at David Chipperfield Architects

Personal Assistant to Founder

London, England

View job

Personal Assistant to Founder