2010
New Delhi and Abu Dhabi studios open
2010
New Delhi and Abu Dhabi studios open
A studio in Abu Dhabi opens after a merger with local design practice SYNA. An Indian studio is also established in New Delhi which grows to a team of 12 by the end of the year and has a strong portfolio of urbanism, landscape and architectural projects. Considerable effort goes into the development of the practice’s profile in these regions to attract the right kinds of projects and clients.
Superhospital opens
2010
Superhospital opens
The first patients are admitted to Birmingham’s new superhospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Conceived as three elliptical bedroom towers sitting over a high tech medical treatment podium, this softens the scale of the hospital and enables maximum exploitation of the fabulous views over Birmingham.
Cardiff Library wins RIBA Award
2010
Cardiff Library wins RIBA Award
The new library is provided as part of a wider city centre regeneration scheme. The building wins several awards including a RIBA Award. “Cardiff's new library is more than a collection of books. It is a modern cultural venue. Light open spaces, vibrant colours and wide expanses of glass offering spectacular views across the city. An exciting environment to read, listen to music, to learn or just to relax and enjoy.”
RIBA Award for historic warehouse
2010
RIBA Award for historic warehouse
The Grade II* listed Navigation Warehouse which was in a state of dereliction and partial collapse after lying empty for over 25 years wins a RIBA Award. The repair and conversion of the building provides multi-tenanted office accommodation on the three upper floors with bar and restaurant uses on the ground floor. The project combines best conservation practice with meticulously detailed contemporary design and is seen as an icon for the regeneration of the Wakefield Waterfront.
BCO Awards avalanche
2010
BCO Awards avalanche
The fit-out for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Glasgow office is national winner of the Fit-out of Workplace award, and West Lothian Civic Centre, Livingston is winner of the National Innovation award at the British Council for Offices Awards. Earlier in the year BDP wins three out of the five categories at the BCO’s Scotland region awards with another category win for Tanfield House in Edinburgh.
BDP Wins Two CEEQUAL Awards
2010
BDP Wins Two CEEQUAL Awards
Two projects win CEEQUAL Awards, both achieving the maximum threshold of ‘Excellent’. CEEQUAL is the assessment and awards scheme for improving sustainability in civil engineering and public realm projects. Derry City Centre Public Realm is given a Whole Project award. The scheme involves significant public realm improvement works adjacent to Derry’s historic walled city centre, and creates a vibrant and modern urban environment. The other award - Interim Client and Outline Design - goes to Glencorse Water Treatment Works. The project is discreetly concealed underneath Scotland’s largest green roof and will provide all the city’s fresh drinking water for generations to come.
Mayfair and Belgravia Public Realm unveiled
2010
Mayfair and Belgravia Public Realm unveiled
The Duke of Westminster opens the first of BDP’s public realm improvement schemes in London’s Mayfair and Belgravia at a street party for over 700 guest retailers and local residents. He comments: “This is not a cosmetic makeover; it has involved a substantial reconstruction of the street, using high quality materials to make a lasting change for the better. It is a long-term investment for the whole community – to enhance the appearance and improve the street – and I am confident this completed scheme will set a new standard for urban life in London.”
BDP at 46 in Sunday Times Top 100
2010
BDP at 46 in Sunday Times Top 100
The inaugural Sunday Times International Track 100, ranks private companies by foreign sales growth over their latest two financial years. BDP is placed at 46 out of 100, and is one of six entries from the construction sector. The entry states: “The practice’s projects include urbanism masterplans in India and retail developments in China. International sales have increased by 74% a year over two years to £16.5m. In five years BDP has gone from working in five countries to over 30, including Abu Dhabi and India.”
Eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull caused enormous disruption to air travel across Europe
2011
BDP at 50
2011
BDP at 50
The 50th year celebrations include an exhibition at the RIBA in London, the Cube Gallery in Manchester and the Minster in Preston, a book entitled 6111 Continuous Collective, a film called Five Cities, Five Places, One Day, a blog, BDP Placebook which covers BDP’s favourite buildings, this timeline and a charity cycle ride between the European studios which raises over £60k.
Michelle McDowell
2011
Michelle McDowell
Chair of civil and structural engineering, Michelle McDowell wins the high profile title of Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, amidst a sea of publicity. Michelle is also the first woman to chair ACE (Association for Consultancy and Engineering), and has previously won the property category of the First Women Awards, as well as receiving an MBE, for services to the construction industry, in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Following this she was elected a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering, and was chosen as one of the 20 most inspirational women of the year appearing on the Woman&home Power List.
Studio opens in Shanghai
2011
Studio opens in Shanghai
A studio opens in Shanghai on the back of winning a large amount of work in China. Current projects in the country are three large retail developments for IKEA, a masterplan for a new public and civic quarter in Foshan, a development of luxury apartments and villas in Shanghai, an eco-housing project in Nanjing, and a new campus building for Nanjing Medical University.
BREEAM Outstanding for 7 More London
2011
BREEAM Outstanding for 7 More London
Staff move into the new headquarters building for PricewaterhouseCooper at 7 More London. BDP’s design team held a pivotal role in the collaboration process of this job, ensuring the project is the first building in London and the first major office in the UK, to be awarded a new elite standard for BREEAM of ‘Outstanding’.
York campus wins RIBA Award
2011
York campus wins RIBA Award
The masterplan for the new Heslington East campus at York comprises new accommodation for three academic departments; computer science, law and management, and theatre, film and TV; a flexible office building; a shared hub building, and accommodation for 600 students. “BDP’s masterplan successfully provides an overall structure and vision for a long term development at Heslington East. The overall consideration of the smaller scale open spaces exemplifies an attention to detail at a scale which is often overlooked when working through a masterplan.”
Newport City Campus wins RIBA Award
2011
Newport City Campus wins RIBA Award
The new city campus at the University of Wales, Newport which occupies a highly visual waterfront site wins a RIBA Award. “The planning of the building is very well considered and fluidly knits together considerably diverse uses. This building is an inspirational home for both students and academics and this is supported by the incredibly enthusiastic client team. Moving around the building the views both internally and externally were continually stimulating.”
BDP tweets
2011
BDP tweets
BDP starts tweeting as the practice embraces the social media phenomenon. The platform is used extensively to promote the Tour de BDP - Cycle for Jo charity ride,and BDP Placebook, the favourite buildings blog.
AJ100
2011
AJ100
BDP remains number one in the AJ100 top 100 architectural practices in the UK, a position which it has held nine times in the last 10 years.
Royal Wedding
2012
David Cash elected as Chairman
2012
David Cash elected as Chairman
David began his BDP career in Preston in 1980 and was Chair of the northern studios for 14 years. In 2008, when international expansion became a central element to the firm’s development plan, he became the Director for International Development. David was instrumental in increasing BDP’s presence worldwide, developing studios in India, China and the UAE.
Heather Wells Group Finance Director
2012
Heather Wells Group Finance Director
As group finance director Heather forms part of the firm’s Executive together with BDP’s chairman and chief executive. Heather advises on the financial and administrative aspects of BDP’s strategy and operations and overseeing all financial aspects of the business of the firm including its international studios.
First project in New Zealand
2012
First project in New Zealand
BDP was appointed its first project in New Zealand, the reshaping of devastated Christchurch. The city was badly damaged by a sequence of earthquakes including a major event in February 2011 which led to widespread damage and loss of life. The plans will regenerate the Avon River Precinct in the centre of the country’s second largest city.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital designs unveiled
2012
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital designs unveiled
Amazing designs for a new Alder Hey hospital were unveiled by the Secretary of State for Health. The specialist hospital is one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals with an international reputation for excellence. The new designs will enable the hospital to build and maintain its excellent reputation of care and improve the experience of patients and their families.
Three Chinese Projects announced
2012
Three Chinese Projects announced
Three major project wins in China were announced at the UK Trade & Investment Infrastructure Summit in London, the flagship opening event of the British Business Embassy. Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green said: “I warmly congratulate BDP on winning a series of new architectural and urban design and masterplan contracts. BDP’s successes are an excellent reflection of the strength of British companies in providing the expertise needed to deliver major infrastructure projects around the world.”
First Apprentices at BDP
2012
First Apprentices at BDP
Part of a new recruitment strategy to harness fresh talent, BDP welcomed the appointment of its first three apprentices. Rob Ferry, environmental engineering director at BDP’s Manchester studio said of their appointment: “We are keen to deliver a holistic approach to workplace learning, sharing the knowledge and specialist expertise that we can offer, and hopefully providing skills that these young people need for a promising future.”
London 2012
2013
First projects in China complete
2013
First projects in China complete
The first raft of BDP designed projects in China complete with two civic projects in one of the country’s most visited cities, Suzhou. The Suzhou Planning and Exhibition Hall showcases past, present and future developments of the district and sits on the edge of a new central parkland area with great views of the surrounding landscape. It houses a 1,000 sqm model of the new district, a 3D viewing gallery and multi-purpose exhibition spaces. With a spectacular setting overlooking Taihu Lake, the Suzhou Tourist Centre’s design was inspired by the large black dragonflies that are prevalent around the lakeside.
Two buildings achieve listed status
2013
Two buildings achieve listed status
The first of BDP’s buildings are listed: The Halifax Building and the controversial Preston Bus Station. Completed in 1974, the former head office of the Halifax Building Society was listed at Grade II. English Heritage said it is “a remarkable office building; its striking design arises out of the particular innovations in its structure and planning.” Preston Bus which opened in 1969 was given Grade II listed status following a wide reaching campaign to save it. David Cash, BDP’s chairman said of the news: “The building is a heroic structure of its era, and is well worthy of its listed status. The focus now must be to ensure adequate funding is secured to bring the building back into a good state of repair.”
LCCC completes in time for The Ashes
2013
LCCC completes in time for The Ashes
The revitalised and radically transformed Lancashire County Cricket Club at Old Trafford finishes in time to host The Ashes test match. The last phase saw the completion of an enhanced Pavilion, reinstating the historic 1895 building at the heart of the ground providing new facilities for members and new club offices. Other new additions include the award winning venue The Point and a new player and media centre. The development has spectacular views over the pitch and to the Pennines beyond. The orientation of the wicket also changed for the first time in 150 years, from east/west to north/south to resolve sunlight issues which have affected players previously.
Lead architect for new Westgate Centre
2013
Lead architect for new Westgate Centre
BDP is appointed by the Westgate Oxford Alliance (Land Securities and The Crown Estate) to prepare and lead the masterplan for a major development in the historic Oxford City Centre. The retail led mixed use masterplan is based on a group of individually designed blocks which define the public streets and spaces. Covered streets will open onto the surrounding streets of Oxford, providing a protected route leading from the existing high street to a new John Lewis department store. The shopping and leisure facilities will be arranged with two public levels and a third level roof terrace overlooking the city roofscape of towers and spires.
School named after BDP founder
2013
School named after BDP founder
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) renames one of its schools as ‘The Grenfell Baines School of Architecture, Construction and Environment’ after BDP’s founder. Professor Sir George Grenfell Baines studied at the Harris Institute, which later became UCLan, from 1922-1928. Through the establishment of BDP Sir George became the first architect to recognise that the technical complexities of creating new buildings and environments required a new type of organisation to design them. His solution was to create a practice in which teams with many professional skills could work together with mutual understanding and respect for each other’s design contribution. His philosophy and ethos centred on interdisciplinary working within the architectural, construction and environmental disciplines.
Atria and EICC complete in Edinburgh
2013
Atria and EICC complete in Edinburgh
Set in the shadow of Edinburgh castle, Atria Edinburgh, the largest speculative Grade A office building to be developed in the UK outside London and the adjacent Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) complete. Atria providing highly efficient, flexible floorplates in 200,000 sq ft of accommodation and marks the completion of the city’s Exchange business district. At EICC the bulk of the new extension is below ground level and provides highly flexible function space. A variety of floor configurations and events can be accomplished by the provision of an automated moving floor system which is apparently the first in a conference centre.
Andy Murray becomes first British man to win Wimbledon since 1936
2014
Patients move into Southmead Hospital
2014
Patients move into Southmead Hospital
The first patients moved into Southmead Hospital’s new 800 bed Brunel building. A brand new acute and community facility for the wider Bristol area, it combines specialist medical services on one site and a regional trauma centre and adult burns unit. Universally praised for the design and quality of the space, it maximises natural light and ventilation both to key public routes and individual rooms. The £430m building is designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent with a carbon footprint below government targets, making it the most sustainable major acute hospital in the UK.
Chinese ‘mega’ shopping centres open
2014
Chinese ‘mega’ shopping centres open
Inter IKEA Centre Group’s LIVAT shopping centres opened in the Daxing district of Beijing and in Wuxi. In Beijing, the 250,000sqm centre is the largest to date of one of three IKEA anchored shopping malls in China designed by BDP. The complex offers three levels of shopping and leisure with three subterranean car park levels for 7,000 cars plus an additional office park development with strong transport links. In Wuxi, The 140,000sqm scheme offers the most extensive retail offer in Jiangsu Province featuring a hypermarket, over 300 international and domestic stores, an ice rink, restaurant and catering outlets, along with hospitality, cinema and entertainment venues.
BDP appointed to deliver AstraZenecea Headquarters
2014
BDP appointed to deliver AstraZenecea Headquarters
BDP was appointed the lead consultant for AstraZeneca’s new £330m Global R&D Centre and Corporate Headquarters in Camrbidge, BDP’s biggest fully interdisciplinary project for many years. Home for approximately 2,000 employees located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. BDP is also responsible for the executive architecture, combined engineering, landscape, interiors, acoustics and specialist lighting services and for delivering concept architect Herzog & de Meuron’s vision. The design aims for BREEAM Excellent and features laboratories that represent best practice in low energy design and the largest ground source heat pump in Europe. Green roofs will also be installed across the majority of the site.
BDP achieves first BIM level 2 certification
2014
BDP achieves first BIM level 2 certification
BDP was the first company to be assessed and certificated under BRE Global’s BIM level 2 Business Systems Certification Scheme. As part of the certification process, BRE Global conducted a site audit to review processes and procedures at BDP’s London studio. BDP was then issued certificate number 001 under the scheme. A significant step along our BIM journey, it both validates the investment and commitment to redefining BDP’s processes to align with emerging technologies. BDP is also part of a team led by NBS that won the £1 million Technology Strategy Board contract to take forward development of the Digital Toolkit for Building Information Modelling (BIM) for HM Government.
BDP joins top design companies in UKTI taskforce
2014
BDP joins top design companies in UKTI taskforce
BDP was one of the top 100 design companies to join the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) High Value Opportunities (HVO) taskforce. Companies on the taskforce include top architectural names such as Adjaye Associates and Zaha Hadid Architects and institutions such as The British Museum and the V&A. A growing appetite for British design offers many opportunities for innovative firms like BDP to boost overseas trade. Collectively the creative industries generate more than £36 billion a year for the UK economy. Supporting the UK’s creative companies in a drive to win £500 million worth of high value overseas contracts, the initiative is part of a government plan to get more UK businesses exporting their services.
BDP is lighting designer of the year
2014
BDP is lighting designer of the year
The lighting team walked away with impressive wins in three categories at the Lighting Design Awards, including the top accolade of Lighting Designer of the Year for BDP’s Mark Ridler. The judges said: “Mark’s work consistently excels year-in, year-out. His guiding hand has driven the success of some outstanding BDP projects this year. He preaches a common-sense approach to lighting in the numerous presentations he has delivered at industry events and his contributions to some significant guidance documents in 2013 are also worth acknowledging. Lastly, his work with the Institute of Lighting Professionals has really helped bring the industry together.”
John McManus appointed Chief Executive
2014
John McManus appointed Chief Executive
John McManus becomes the first architect to be chief executive of BDP. John studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and previously was head of the Glasgow studio. He has led design teams on major commissions within all of BDP’s key sectors both in the UK and internationally.
2015
Two more BDP buildings listed
2015
Two more BDP buildings listed
Two 1970s brutalist banks gain listed status. Bank House in King Street, Leeds completed in 1971 and was awarded Grade II listed building status. Later in the year Danske Bank’s Headquarters in Belfast, built in 1976, was granted listed status by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The B listing recognises it as having local importance and being a good example of a period style.
Award Success for Northern Schools
2015
Award Success for Northern Schools
St John Bosco Arts College in Liverpool is announced as a RIBA Award winner in the north west region described as “a unique, exciting and stimulating school which supports already outstanding teaching and learning.” Meanwhile Enterprise South Liverpool Academy (ESLA) won a Civic Trust Award. Designed as a beacon with the wow factor to regenerate a deprived area of the city, head teacher Jack Pendlebury said the building was “totally fit for purpose.”
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital opens
2015
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital opens
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital opens to patients after two and a half years of construction. The new building with its striking identity creates a unique paediatric environment that, together with adjacent Springfield Park, forms an integrated Children’s Health Park.
BREEAM Outstanding for Enterprise Centre
2015
BREEAM Outstanding for Enterprise Centre
Our engineers contribute to the success of the Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia which completes as one of the most sustainable building in Britain. It is Passivhaus certified, BREEAM Outstanding and has been designed to achieve a 100 year life span.
UK Pavilion at Milan Expo
2015
UK Pavilion at Milan Expo
The UK Pavilion at the Milan Expo receives over 3.3 million visitors during its six month run and goes on to win an array of top design and industry awards. We designed the scheme as part of a team led by Nottingham-based artist Wolfgang Buttress.
2016
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Wins
2016
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Wins
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool wins the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award at the British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards. It also wins many other awards including a RIBA National Award, one of only three healthcare projects recognised, and is officially opened by The Queen.
Enterprise Centre Wins Best of Best
2016
Enterprise Centre Wins Best of Best
The Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia is announced as Best of the Best, as well as the national winner of the Corporate Workplace category at this year’s British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. We provide full engineering and sustainability for this exemplar low carbon building that achieves two of the most rigorous sustainable built environment standards, BREEAM Outstanding with a score of 93.0% and Passivhaus.
BDP and Nippon Koei Unite
2016
BDP and Nippon Koei Unite
BDP combines forces with Japan’s leading engineering practice Nippon Koei to form an integrated design group of genuine international reach. Sharing a philosophy which places an emphasis on design integration and community impact, the new group offers a unique combination of deep technical skills in engineering, architecture and the full range of design disciplines.
The Well, Toronto
2016
The Well, Toronto
We win a competitive bid to design the retail element of The Well, a 3 million sq ft mixed-use development in downtown Toronto. The retail buildings define and occupy the first three levels of a city block to form the podium, above which up to 46 storey towers form a high density residential and office schematic. The central spine within the podium will be covered by a glazed canopy but open on the sides to allow for natural ventilation.
Blackburn Meadows Biomass Completes
2016
Blackburn Meadows Biomass Completes
We complete a glowing landmark biomass power plant for E.ON on the site of the former Tinsley cooling towers adjacent to Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. The project consists of a pair of simple orange structures set against a backdrop of industrial forms within a wetlands environment. These forms are clad in black profiled steel referencing the local industrial vernacular of old steel mills in the Lower Don Valley.
Northern Estates Framework Win
2016
Northern Estates Framework Win
We win the contract for the Northern Estate Programme (NEP), the creative adaptation and conservation of a number of historic buildings for the House of Commons. Appointed for architectural and lead design services, the programme will enhance access and circulation, integrate modern technology, upgrade workplace space and amenities and renew conference facilities. Fire safety, environmental performance and mechanical and electrical services will also be enhanced.
