Quadrangle Joins BDP

Leading Canadian and UK architectural practices form partnership to create a platform for broadened international growth and expertise

London/Toronto – February 4, 2019 – BDP, a major international practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists, primarily based in the UK, has made a strategic investment in Toronto-based Quadrangle, one of Canada's most respected architecture and interior design practices. Quadrangle will lead Canadian operations and BDP’s North American expansion.

John McManus, Chief Executive of BDP, says: “Quadrangle supports our strategy to grow operations in the Canadian marketplace and greatly enhances our expertise and resources. The addition of a 200-strong studio in one of North America's largest cities will not only provide exceptional opportunities for our people, it will also enable both BDP and Quadrangle to expand our services into new regions. BDP's collective grouping of professions design with a progressive outlook and a sensibility towards the creation of a sustainable and human environment. We are confident that our culture and ethos will be greatly enhanced by the addition of Quadrangle. We are also delighted to welcome four of Quadrangle's principals to the BDP Group Board.”

Quadrangle Executive Principal, Anna Madeira, says: “We are incredibly excited to join BDP. This partnership infuses our business with greater expertise, services and resources that we can offer to our clients, and it enables us to provide our staff with increased opportunities to work on diverse projects.”

Founded in 1986, Quadrangle is an architecture and interior design firm renowned for its client service resulting in long-term relationships. The firm's portfolio spans the commercial, mixed-use, multi-unit residential, content media and retail markets, and includes specializations in areas such as master planning, accessibility, sustainability and adaptive re-use. Quadrangle's office of over 200 architects, interior designers, technologists and support staff will continue to operate under the Quadrangle brand and under the direction of Quadrangle's principals.

“Our firms share common values — that design begins with people, and great architecture and interiors are accomplished by developing close working relationships with clients and stakeholders. Both companies are passionate about the role of design to improve everyday life,” comments BDP Chair Chris Harding.

“BDP is a natural fit with Quadrangle,” adds Quadrangle Executive Principal Richard Witt. “We enjoy similar collaborative and supportive cultures, and a passion for design excellence as a means to creating better cities. We are confident that this union will enhace the value that we can offer to our clients.”

Quadrangle is currently completing the Yonge-Sheppard Centre, a large mixed-use development in North Toronto; 80 Atlantic Avenue, Toronto's first wood-frame office building in over one hundred years; and Downtown Markham, a large-scale mixed-use development featuring retail, housing, office and hospitality in a progressive urban setting.

BDP is a dynamic multi-disciplinary practice with services including architecture, interiors, engineering, lighting, acoustics, landscape and urban design. BDP is based in the UK with studios in China, India, Ireland, the Middle East, Netherlands and Singapore. BDP has over 1000 employees and has a strong portfolio of work in a diverse range of sectors including education, healthcare, heritage, residential, cultural, retail, science and research, transport, sport, office and urbanism.

BDP is currently providing full interdisciplinary design services to restore and safeguard the future of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the United Kingdom's parliament. In Toronto, BDP has designed a three-level retail podium for RioCan at The Well — a large mixed-use commercial development, now under construction.

With 378 qualified architects, BDP is the 30th largest architectural practice in the world, according to World Architecture 100, Building Design’s 2019 compendium of the world's biggest practices. Quadrangle is currently ranked at position 94 in the same list.

www.bdp.com

www.quadrangle.ca

@bdp_com

@quadranglearch