Architects Datafile (ADF) – August 2019

P^ Wood Preservatives

Charles 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 since

its 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

12INSIGHTS

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