In recent months, BGY has announced the opening of a studio in Manchester in order ‘to build new relationships, strengthen existing partnerships, and contribute to the incredible momentum’ in the North West.
BGY, which called the move a ‘significant step in our commitment to proudly partnering with longstanding friends in the region’, will take up home in the 1950s Modernist building Peter House on Oxford Street.
The practice, which already has studios in London, Bristol and Madrid, added: ‘Manchester’s rapid growth, vibrant cultural energy, and status as one of the UK’s most forward-thinking cities make it the perfect location for BGY to strengthen our offer.
‘Our Manchester studio will enable us to expand our existing regional portfolio and work even more closely with local authorities, developers, and stakeholders across Greater Manchester and the wider North West. We look forward to helping shape the city’s next chapter – from commercial retrofit to residential neighbourhoods to transformative hospitality and to mixed-use projects.’
Meanwhile, PRP recently announced the opening of a studio in Cardiff. The practice already has a presence in Manchester and London in the UK and Wroclaw and Sopot in Poland.
It said the move would build on ‘opportunities in building remediation, retrofit and resilience across Wales as well as new housing’ after the Welsh government last year committed to developing a long-term housing and regeneration strategy.
PRP is already working as a technical adviser to the Welsh government on Building Safety and Building Regulations and is working on the remediation of Meridian Quay in Swansea, which includes Meridian Tower, Wales’s tallest building.
PRP partner Andrew Mellor said: ‘We’ve been working with the Welsh government for several years on fire safety and building compliance, and with building owners to ensure their buildings are safe.
‘Having a permanent base in Cardiff means that we can build on our current offer and better serve clients across Wales. We’re very much looking forward to supporting clients to develop and manage high-quality, safe buildings.’
Elsewhere, Glasgow and Leeds-based Page\Park is set to take up space at the Society Building in central London, the practice announced at MIPIM last month.
It will be the first time the employee-owned practice, which was set up in Scotland in 1981, will have a physical presence in London.
The practice said: ‘Our expansion into London feels necessary for our practice in the current economic climate … We are committed to ending the cycle of demolition and rebuilding that has been commonplace for most of the 20th century, and believe that the steps taken in The London Plan and London Net Zero Neighbourhood Programme, demonstrate a commitment that must be replicated nationwide.
‘We are excited to bring our design methodology to a London context, and write the next chapter of our practice.’