North East architects FaulknerBrowns have hailed rising revenues in a year which saw it win a number of high profile contracts, following the reopening of the economy after lockdown.
Launched in Newcastle in 1962, the Killingworth company has worked on major schemes across the North East and beyond, including Hadrian’s Tower, Newcastle Civic Centre and City Hall in Sunderland, with current projects including the Culture House in Sunderland and Albion Square in Hull. The company, which also has bases in Vancouver and Dublin, has published accounts for the year ended March 31 2022 in which it highlights a successful year of award wins and new contract wins, as well as its plans to branch into new markets.
However, like many other North East firms, it warns how the continuing economic turmoil is affecting business, with costs expected to remain high. During the year the business saw turnover rise 13% from £7.14m to £8.08m and both operating profit and pre-tax profit dropped 18% from £2.36m to £1.93m, while net assets fell from £2.8m to £1.72m. The firm’s workforce grew from 101 to 105, taking the wages and pension bill from £3.6m to £4.1m.
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The company report within the accounts, by partner Ben Sykes, said: “We are an architectural design practice with a long-established reputation for designing innovative and operationally successful buildings and masterplans across Europe, the Middle East and North America. Our work covers a broad range of sectors, including feasibility studies for sport and leisure, education, residential and commercial projects.
“With talented teams in the UK, Ireland and Canada, we have the flexibility to react to the needs of our clients, whilst maintaining a ‘one studio culture’ a connected entity with effective communication and knowledge sharing. Our cosmopolitan mix of people from around the world also provides us with a diverse range of expertise.
“In parallel with ingenuity in approach, our team drives sustainable design innovation. We have developed skills and expertise in net zero carbon strategies, lifecycle carbon modelling, Passivhaus principles and BREEAM advisory services. 2021/2022 has seen significant investment in time and software in analysing a number of new projects with an holistic oversight of carbon in construction, material embodiment and in life-cycle operation.
“This year, our projects have won the industry’s most prestigious awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards and World Architecture Festival. Across both completed buildings and ongoing projects, our work has been recognised and celebrated for its quality, innovation and successful placemaking.”
Award wins during the year included commercial mixed-use future project of the year at the World Architecture Festival for Sunderland High Street West, plus the national and regional award at the RIBA Awards for Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre at Durham University. The practice was also named Architect of the Year at the Architects’ Journal AJ Architecture Awards, while City Hall in Sunderland won Best of the Best and Best Corporate Workplace at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards.
Looking ahead, Mr Sykes said in the accounts: “We have many projects in construction and a significant amount of work reaching tender and construction stages. In the UK, this work has proved challenging through the inflation pressures of the construction industry of the latter stages of 2022, however projects are working through the challenges and currently face delays, avoiding cancellations at this stage. With our continued emphasis on designing and delivering ambitious and commercially realistic designs and places, we look forward to strength through the forecasted economic headwinds. We have focused on opening up new opportunities in new markets and work through Ireland/ Europe and North America through our Canadian office will hopefully assist.”
Following publication of the accounts, FaulknerBrowns partner Lee McLaughlin said: “We saw strong growth after the economy opened up post-lockdown and we completed some excellent projects, as well as securing many new project leads last year.
“External factors in energy, the economy and building regulation changes are coming to bear this year. In the near future, we expect construction and building product costs will remain high and this picture appears challenging. Innovation, quality and thought leadership has always been at the forefront of our approach and we remain optimistic that we can excel through these new challenges.”
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