Alan J Smith OBE (born 1949) is a retired English architect who established redboxdesign group, responsible for many notable buildings in England, it is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne.

After spending his intermediary year working for the Local Authority and after completing his second architecture degree, he cut his teeth on major urban regeneration projects at Washington New Town and became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1976.

His first notable work in the commercial office and design and research sectors came with appointments from Abbey National, Northern Rock, Obayashi, Ikeda, Nissan European Technology, Goldstar, British Gas Energy Centres, and Benetton Formula 1.

Work in recent years has included major projects in all sectors from the first 'Excellent' rated BREEAM[6] 50m swimming pool in the world;[citation needed] the one million sqft commercial office development at Quorum Business Park[7] and a £35m higher education facility for Gateshead College.

In 2010 he won a silver medal[15] for his first ever garden design commissioned by Gateshead Borough Council and Great North Run at the Chelsea Flower Show.

In 1989, encouraged by Eddie Jordan who in the late 80's dominated British motor sport and won the European Formula 3000 Championship, Smith entered the world of motor racing ownership and management founding TEAM AJS F3000, running with Ricard Rydell, a young Swedish driver, working with race engineer Paul Crosby (who had worked previously with both Jean Alesi and David Couthard).

Over a five-year period Smith's team enjoyed success with drivers from Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Denmark, consistently winning races, 'fastest lap' and pole position records.

Smith spent five years on the Board of Northern Arts playing a key part in converting the landscape of North East England into an 'open air' gallery with works commissioned and installed throughout the region by major international artists such as Claes Oldenburg, Jaun Munoz, Antony Gormley and James Turrell.

[17] Smith stood down in 2003 having consolidated the organisation, and BALTIC continues to be regarded as one of the finest contemporary arts spaces outside London, still attracting over 400,000 visitors a year.

Smith married Ellen in 1972 and together they have one son, Elliot who was educated at Durham Chorister School, The Royal Grammar, Newcastle upon Tyne, and York University, where he read psychology.