Growing architects on the move

A leading architecture and structural engineering business has revealed plans to relocate, after outgrowing the state-of-the-art Sunderland offices it modernised. 

Building Design Northern (BDN) will list its stunningly restored Old Simpson Street School base for sale, after revealing plans to move to a larger office space thanks to its growth. 

The relocation means the company, which also has offices in Ulverston, will sell its current base - Old Simpson Street School – after completing a restoration of the derelict building that saw it converted into a modern office space, alongside eight luxury apartments which are available for short stays.  

The company, which restored the Grade II listed former stables building, Sheepfolds Stables, into a food, drinks and leisure venue, has grown from a team of 10 in 2019 to 33 employees, with plans to add to that number within the next 12 months.

Richard Marsden, managing director of BDN, said: “The growth we have seen at BDN has been rapid, and we’ve already announced plans to expand our base in Ulverston, with the acquisition of a former police station, to ensure we have room for a larger team in the Lakes.  

“We have found ourselves in the same position in Sunderland, with the building we’re in no longer large enough to accommodate our team.  

"We have explored the option of converting other parts of the school to office space to give us more capacity, but the reality is that we have outgrown the school and it’s time for us to move on.

“We’ve started the search for a new base, which will create more capacity for us to expand, and the school being on the market will allow us the chance to find a new custodian of this fantastic building, while unlocking our capacity for continued growth.”

The property is on the market with Bradley Hall.

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