P^ Wood PreservativesCharles Dokk-Olsen comments on the question of whether this
presents a challenge for staff who may be used to more rigid ways
of working elsewhere: “Generally we’ve found that people are open
to the range of experiences that are on offer, but there can be a
period of adjustment if they have been used to practices that focus
more on one aspect, such as front end design or technical delivery.”
As well as working on diverse projects, the staff demographic
is similarly diverse, coming from a range of countries, and
Lakshmanan notes that Brexit hasn’t yet dented the enthusiasm of
continental architects applying for roles. “We have been concerned
regarding how it will impact on recruitment, but we still receive
the majority of applications from European architects.”
The practice has always put an emphasis on sustainable
solutions. However in recent years it has taken an increasingly
robust approach to embedding it within projects, via formally
including sustainability in the Quality Assurance process it uses.
All projects follow a QEMS (Quality and Environmental
Management System), but this can be tailored according to the
“different values and complexity” that may be present, says
Lakshmanan. “It provides a useful checklist for architects in the
thick of complex projects, and a reference for less experienced
colleagues of issues that should be considered at each stage.”Key projects & awards
The firm has a strong relationship with the University of Leicester,
and has two “exciting” major refurbishments on site, says
Lakshmanan. These are firstly the transformation of Percy Gee East
Wing, where a variety of amenities and teaching facilities are being
added – the extended student union building has won awards sinceits 2010 completion. And at Brookfield School of Business, the
masterplan for new collaborative teaching space and ancillary
facilities brings a “cohesive link” between Victorian and 1960s
buildings, plus a new building “linking the campus together.”
Another, yet to start, is a £20m space research building, Space Park
Phase One.
There are a variety of ongoing major and complex housing
projects, such as East City Point in east London. The Atrium
Building (153 homes in a 10-storey building in Canning Town with
an “innovative atrium space providing circulation and a buffer
from the A13”) won ‘Best High Volume Housing Development in
the National Local Authority Building Control Awards. At the
other end of the scale, Phase 2 of High Hazels Primary Academy in
Sheffield, is “a series of modest interventions that have had a high
impact,” says Lakshmanan.Challenges ahead
Looking to the future, Dokk-Olsen says that the unpredictability of
the current market is “a major challenge”. He reports that the
education and housing sectors are seeing “very variable” numbers
of opportunities, meaning the competition is intensifying. He says:
“We are winning new projects, but on several recent bids, we have
scored very highly, but lost on cost, despite submitting what we feel
are very competitive bids.”
A further challenge with design competitions is that with
“clients asking for more during the submission stage,” they can be
a hefty business cost to absorb – if you don’t win. The firm
chooses carefully as a result, and is “unlikely to submit for interna-
tional competitions where there are likely to be hundreds of
submissions.”
The firm wants to double in size, and grow its masterplanning
work, for example in the university sector as well as explore
further in the culture and health sector. It looks to have the
wherewithal to make all of these a reality.LOOKING EAST
The Percy Gee East Wing at the University of Leicester transforms an existing
student union building previously refurbished by Shepheard Epstein Hunter
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