One of Wales' leading architects has joined Austin-Smith: Lord to assist in the expansion of their arts and culture team, which designed Newport's Riverfront Theatre.

The firm has undertaken a range of high-profile projects in Gwent including a new school and sports facilities for Llanhilleth, the restoration of the town's Miners' Institute, the development of the Navigation Colliery site at Crumlin and the restoration of Bedwellty House in Tredegar.

Rob Firman has joined the rapidly expanding Wales office, reinforcing the practice's position as market leaders in the design of buildings for public assembly and the performing arts.

Rob, whose previous experience includes leading the design and delivery of the award-winning Wales Millennium Centre and the Blaenau Gwent Theatre in Ebbw Vale, will work with director Ashley Davies, who was involved with the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport and is currently leading the Shrewsbury Theatre Severn project.

Rob is a long term Welsh resident and was trained at the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University, and brings more than 20 years' experience, as well as a portfolio of high profile projects in Wales, the UK and overseas.

These include the celebrated Symphony Hall and International Convention Centre in Birmingham, the Blaenau Gwent Theatre in Ebbw Vale, and the Chongqing City Regional Theatre in China.

Rob is a strong believer in the idea that buildings devoted to the arts should engage and serve their communities. As well as social purpose, they can play an important role as catalysts for economic development.

"There is still enormous scope for developing the performing arts in Wales," he said.

"There is a need to develop better facilities, with an improved geographical spread around Wales and not just near the M4 corridor. In the Valleys, for example, there an existing culture of performance and many wonderful buildings that can and must be revitalised so that they can serve their communities again, as they did in the past."

The Wales office was set up in 1996. Since then it has undertaken a range of high-profile projects, including the Gallery and Visitor Centre at the Welsh National Botanical Gardens, the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, together with major commercial and public sector developments throughout the region and the South West.