Chapman Taylor retains its position in the rankings, reporting ‘excellent’ growth in China and across Asia. In September the practice opened a new studio in Beijing to supplement its office in Shanghai. This will work on major urban masterplans in and around the Chinese capital. Ongoing projects in China include the Global 100 theme park on Hainan Island.
Other international markets have expanded steadily, with projects under construction as far afield as Vietnam, Russia, Thailand, the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, where it is building the 12,000m2 Caspian Waterfront entertainment centre in Baku.
Closer to home, the practice is working in Germany on the urban masterplan at Plaza Grafinger Strasse in Munich, on the City Plaza urban development in Wuppertal and on an urban regeneration project within Aachen’s medieval city centre. In France, it is designing the Shopping Promenade Claye Souilly near Paris.
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According to the practice, its international operations mean it is ‘well-placed’ to deal with the challenges of continuing political and economic uncertainty in the UK market.
Architectural fees for work delivered out of Chapman Taylor’s UK offices fell slightly from £17.4 million to £16.6 million, and the practice expects to maintain this level in 2019. In the UK, the practice is expanding its work in the residential sector with major schemes including Castle Park View in Bristol, which will provide 375 build-to-rent and affordable homes. At 26 storeys it will be the tallest building in the city. The Kampus development in Manchester city centre will deliver 500 apartments for the build-to-rent sector.
Transport and mixed-use commissions are also growing, and design work is in progress on the 54,000m² Axiom retail and leisure development in Castleford. However, the practice’s £1.4 billion plan to extend Brent Cross Shopping Centre is currently on hold. Significant 2018 completions include BUPA Place at MediaCity in Manchester. At 13,700m2, the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ project is now the largest single-occupancy building in the city.
Looking ahead, the practice celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and is hoping for further global success.
‘Strong international growth and a broad portfolio of global projects will lead to an increase in the Chapman Taylor Group’s performance compared with last year,’ says main board director Adrian Griffiths.
