Archial - Former SMC Group, UK : Information + Images

Key Projects Key Buildings, chronological: Stirling Agricultural Centre Opened by Alex Salmond : Stirling Agricultural Centre, by Archial Architects. 27 Jul Renewable House Made From Hemp Hemp House at BRE Innovation Park, UK. 19 Jun East Ayrshire Schools PPP Project Grange Campus Kilmarnock : Archial. 18 Jun Caledonian Canal Flats Caledonian Canal Flats Inverness : Archial. 16 Jun Langside College Langside College Campus Ahead of Schedule and on Budget Kingarth Library Award photo © Andrew Lee £200k Library by Archial for Hutchesons' Grammar Junior School nominated for Scottish Design Award. 27 May Pollok Civic Realm Award photograph : Andrew Lee Pollok Civic Realm officially opened today by Nicola Sturgeon, designed by Archial. 26 May Small Animal Hospital £10.5m World-Class Centre for Veterinary Medicine at University of Glasgow by Archial : Glasgow Small Animal Hospital News Feb 2009 Shortlisted for £300m New Campus Glasgow with four other architect-led design teams. 060209 News Jan 2009 The SMC Group has now changed its name to the Archial Group Plc, following approval by shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 5 Jan 2009. News Dec 2008 Architect SMC to change its name to Archial Group and Will Alsop, whose firm was acquired by SMC Group in March 2006, will run his firm as a separate entity from the Archial brand. Instead of operating under 14 separate SMC companies as it does now, the group will restructure to five divisions:- -Archial, which will cover the UK & Europe -Sparch, which will cover the Asian market -Alsop, which will produce “provocative and colourful” designs by Stirling Prize-winner Will Alsop -Archial Services, a FM consultancy -Archial Special Projects, which is a vehicle for joint ventures or large schemes. Archial will merge its two Edinburgh and three Glasgow offices to one in each city at some point in the next year. Following an intense series of acquisitions in 2006, the SMC Group was forced to issue profit warnings to the City in January and June of 2007. Putney Place, London, UK SMC Alsop Glenwood waterfront, Yonkers, USA SMC Alsop Headingley Cricket Club Proposal, Leeds, England SMC Alsop More projects online soon News Oct 2007 Press reports in Oct 2007 suggested that ‘Scotland’s largest architects practice’ might be taken over by Stewart McColl with a private equity firm, after merger talks between the company and Aukett Fitzroy Robinson appeared to collapse. Meanwhile Ex-RRP founder Marco Goldschmied was reported to be planning to buy Will Alsop out from SMC News Jun 2007 Following Stewart McColl's stepping various news reports suggesting redundancies and conglomeration may be imminent as troubling reports continue to appear in the Press The SMC Group Plc – Scottish acquisitions: Davis Duncan Architects + Hugh Martin Partnership + Jenkins and Marr Architects + Parr Architects Retitled SMC Scotland, directed by Stewart McColl (but not anymore) The four Scottish architects’ practices were reportedly sold for £10.7m SMC Scotland will number around 227 people, much larger than any other Scottish practice by a factor of between 3 & 4 SMC Alsop - Architecture City of Bristol College – proposal, Hengrove Park, England, UK 2007- SMC Hickton Madeley Approx. £20m Chevron House, Hill of Rubislaw, Aberdeen, Scotland 2007- SMC Jenkins & Marr Architects More projects online soon

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