Member Article

JDP announces £1.8m of live projects

A leading Bridgnorth architect is enjoying the busiest period in its 12 year-history after announcing it is currently working on £1.8m of projects.

Johnson Design Partnership (JDP), which has been listed in the top 200 practices in the UK, is on site or currently tendering for 12 different design and build contracts, creating up to 100 new jobs in the process.

Bosses at the firm have put the surge down to an increasing desire to create unique living spaces and its growing reputation for using new design techniques to deliver high profile medical projects at several hospitals and a host of regional health providers.

The company has also been heavily involved in providing new facilities for community groups, including cricket clubs and schools.

“This is a really great time to be involved with the practice and we have lots of challenging, but great projects currently on site or out to tender,” explained Vic Johnson, Managing Director and Founder of the business in 2003.

“The list is extremely diverse from a £200,000 Water Tower conversion in Harpenden to an extension and refurbishment of a family-run funeral home in the Black Country. We also have numerous examples of Grand Designs, where we are transforming living spaces in modern and traditional homes.”

He continued: “What is driving our popularity? I think a lot of our success is down to our ability to take cutting edge design techniques and combine them with effective project management so that costs are closely controlled and we meet build deadlines.

“We are also still a relatively small architects practice and that is reflected in the level of personal service and attention to detail. Often we are trying to create people’s dreams so it’s important they feel like the only client we have.”

JDP, which has a second office in the heart of London, has also noticed a major take-up in the number of clients looking at ‘summer living’, where they are adapting spaces to make the most of the better weather.

The architects practice is currently working on a car port that doubles up as a sun deck, a contemporary orangery and has recently finished a job in Ellesmere that incorporates two large glass doors that open out into the garden.

“The time to start planning for ‘summer living’ next year is now, as the majority of projects take between eight to ten months to complete, especially if you take into account planning stages,” added Vic, who himself has installed a new tree house for his children to play in.

“We are already talking to a number of people about unlocking hidden spaces and making sure designs are functional to assist with everyday living, but also give access to gardens and make the most of the outdoors.”

Johnson Design Partnership, which is ISO9000:2000 and ISO14001 accredited, offers a complete project management service from feasibility work and planning to detail design, monitoring and contract administration.

As part of its expansion, JDP has invested significantly into the development of its new website (www.johnsonltd.co.uk) to incorporate an interactive gallery and full usability on most smart phones and tablet devices.

It has also appointed Kim Chesters as the new Practice Manager, responsible for the smooth day-to-day operation of the business and its enhanced profile on social media.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .