With headcount increasing from 33 to 41 in the last year and a raft of prestigious contracts confirmed, GT3 Architects has signalled its intent to become a major force in the North East.
Formed in 2016 when +3 Architecture and GT Architects merged, turnover has increased from £2.4 million to £3.2 million in the last year. The firm began 2019 by being appointed for Morpeth and Berwick leisure centres and as concept master planners for a major project in Newcastle City Centre.
GT3 Architects delivers projects throughout the UK from its studios in Newcastle and Nottingham. It demonstrates particular expertise in sports and leisure, masterplanning and workplace design and has earned recognition for its innovative and sustainable projects in a range of sectors including mixed-use, entertainment, civic and residential.
The contracts that it has won since the start of the year have an estimated total construction value of £100 million.
Paul Reed, associate director at GT3 Architects, said: “We had such a good start to the year. We were informed we had won the Berwick Leisure Centre tender at the beginning of January and from that point we have had a fabulous run of projects. We’re delighted to be working alongside Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland on both Berwick and Morpeth Leisure Centres. Their community focus and desire to deliver a real asset to the people of Berwick, and the people who visit Berwick is something that we really value.
“People Architecture is what sets us apart and the fact we put the focus on people from the earliest stage of a development is a key component in our success and is frequently cited as a decisive factor for our clients in appointing us to their projects.”
Alongside the public sector appointments, the firm is also working on contracts at Jesmond Three Sixty, Jesmond’s Quaker Meeting House and Tynemouth Station.
Suzanne Blair, associate director at GT3 Architects, said: “Winning these contracts is about our regional pride. We have a national and international reach but it is so pleasing to be procuring more work in the North East. We have previously completed big projects in the area but 2019 is the year we can truly grow our presence here. To have confirmed contracts that we estimate have a total construction value of £100 million is a clear sign of our growth.”
Simon Dunstan, director at GT3 Architects, added “It is always good to introduce more choice in the market and we believe we bring a fresh and innovative approach to a region that already has a very strong architectural heritage.
“Our growing success in the North East is a result of having an exceptionally talented team and an outstanding group of associates and third party advisers.
“There is so much capability and skill in the North East that we definitely see the opportunity and potential to work alongside our competitors. We see collaboration as being of huge importance for the profession and for the wider region and through closer cooperation we can add much-needed diversity, vibrancy and texture to our towns and cities. As champions of inclusive working, this is something we are keen to advance.
“Whilst we are focusing heavily on increasing our presence in the North East, and in the Midlands, we are keen to explore the international marketplace too and we have recently been appointed to a major international stadium and masterplan project. We recently attended the prestigious MIPIM conference in March – a 4-day real estate exhibition and networking event gathering 24000 international property professionals from which we are now looking at developing new opportunities overseas, including in the U.S.A”