What a fantastic year 2018 was for our practice. We continue to grow both in terms of turnover, staff and most importantly projects.
The practice expanded its workforce by a further 25 percent and revenue was up despite the tough economic climate. We saw our influence growing, particularly in the senior living sector, with Urban Edge’s dedicated experts invited to speak at a number of leading conferences and contributing to several influential publications. We also refreshed our student training program, now branded the Urban Edge Academy, to support our architectural interns.
Furthermore, many schemes reached fruition in 2018, with highlights including:
- The construction of two new retail destinations at Chelmsford and Canvey Island;
- Completion of Phase II at two of our care villages – Hampshire Lakes and Bishopstoke Park;
- A prime mixed-use renovation of a former nightclub on Balham High Road;
- New-build coffee pods at Willowtree Lane Retail Park, Meteor Retail Park and Slough Retail Park to name a few;
- Delivery of a brand-new 30,000sq ft Next store in Plymouth;
- Façade refurbishments at Valley Retail & Leisure Park, Retail World Gateshead, Meteor Retail Park and Euro Retail Park;
- Extensive alteration works to the car park and former House of Fraser at Highcross, Leicester.
Looking forward to 2019, Urban Edge Architecture’s Director, Russell Gay, commented: “In 2019, we expect the care sector to grow and are working on multiple schemes that have great potential. It will likely be another challenging year for retailers, but with change comes new opportunities. We will continue to provide innovative retail solutions that exceed expectations. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for a fantastic 2018. Now let’s make this year even better.”