Two Newcastle architect firms merge

Jun 23 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

NEWCASTLE architect firms Hopper How Sadler and Reid Jubb Brown have stepped up their grand designs for expansion by merging to become Sadler Brown.

Hopper Howe Sadler was created following Stockton’s Bowker Sadler Partnership’s takeover of Newcastle firms Bill Hopper Design and the Howe Partnership in 2006. The company has now merged with Reid Jubb Brown to create Sadler Brown at Milburn House in Newcastle, while the Bowker Sadler Partnership will be a partner company in Manchester.

Sadler Brown Architecture director Kevin Brown, who founded Reid Jubb Brown 12 years ago, said: “It’s a proper merger rather than a takeover, which is rare.

“It gives us the experience in housing and regeneration which was strong in the Manchester office, while they will take our strength in transport and one-off housing, or large new country houses.”

The company is working on a family home in Northumberland which is being filmed by Channel 4’s Grand Designs. Reid Jubb Brown recently dealt with the redesign of the Haymarket hub and Metro station, while the i6 Charlotte Square project off Westgate Road and the restoration of the Turnbull Building were both Hopper Howe Sadler designs.

The company has carried out extensions and refurbishments to Cambridge University’s Grade- II listed library for the last 15 years, back to its days as The Howe Partnership.

Brown said Sadler Brown had just been given work on a new college at Oxford University, the rebuilding of the front of house at the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley, and had visited India to look into helping to create a new city south west of New Delhi.

The company employs 20 staff in Manchester and 17 in Newcastle, and has employed two workers since the merger.

Brown said: “Generally the sector has been finding it very difficult, but we’re very busy. I honestly believe it’s down to the design. Even in difficult times people are seeking out good quality design because they believe it pays them to have someone of quality on board.

“In the office at the moment we’ve probably got about 40 projects. We can see ourselves working nationally and internationally in future, and the way things are panning out we will have to open an office in London.

“I think we’ll be looking to further strengthen our design business in the North East and we will shortly be the leading practice in the North East in terms of design.

“I think transport will continue to be a growth area for us, both in this area and abroad. Also there’s a market for one-off housing and large design projects. This merger was a leap, and now we’re seeking to grow organically.”