Last updated 27th June 2022
Benoy
Benoy is a major consultant offering services in architecture, master-planning, interior, graphic, sign and way-finding design and landscaping. Established in 1947, Benoy works in the UK and across the Middle East, India, China and Asia and has one of the largest overseas businesses of any UK-based architects” practice. The firm has a turnover of around £35 million and has an hq office at Newark in Nottinghamshire.
As well as London, the firm has offices in Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Singapore. The firm recently opened a new entity in Riyadh and a new studio in Hong Kong.
Major projects where the firm – which employs around 388 staff – has worked include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park, East Hotel in Beijing and Hysan Place retail complex in Hong Kong. In early 2017, the firm was appointed to the team delivering the commercial masterplan for Heathrow’s expansion plans, supporting the lead architect, Grimshaw Architects.
As part of a move into ”complementary business areas” and to further its aim to become a ”multi-boutique” practice, Benoy acquired a London-based design company, Holmes Wood in late 2016.
The firm has been investing in its IT infrastructure and has also added a landscaping capability through a new business, Uncommon Land. Meanwhile, the firm recently strengthened its offer in the workplace and hospitality sector with new hire of a an experienced senior associate Zaynib Khan in London.
In the group”s latest annual report published in late 2021, chairman Graham Cartledge said the businesses remained agile which enabled it to react to current and future economic challenges while “taking advantage of take advantage of opportunities, numerous collaborations and further expansion.”
Financials
To view the financials for Benoy Ltd., visit Companies House and use Company ID 02734642.
Covid severely impacted the firm but Benoy produced a resilient set of results for the year to end-December 2020. Although turnover fell by 29% to £35.8 million, from £50.5 million previously, the company remained in the black with a pre-tax profit of £0.53 million, compared to a restated £7.2 million. Many clients delayed projects but the firm managed its cost base worldwide to maintain acceptable profitability and which it says did not cause long term damage to its core infrastructures. Net cash increased by £1.6 million to £22.4 million.
Operations
Benoy works on designs in a range of sectors, including retail, mixed-use, hospitality and leisure, high-rise towers, waterside, residential, workplace, education and research and transport. Blue chip commercial clients include Capital & Counties, Hammerson, Lend Lease and Marks & Spencer. The firm also works for numerous local authorities, including Colchester, Coventry, Watford, Woking and Wyre Forest.
Flagship projects designed by Benoy include the Westfield shopping centre in London, and other retail-led schemes in Birmingham, (Brindleyplace and the Bullring), Bristol (Cabot Circus), Kent (Bluewater) and Leicester (Highcross). Other high profile schemes where the firm has worked including the BBC’s Media City in Salford and the Biomolecular Sciences Building in Nottingham.
Commissions
The firm has secured a number of major commissions which should help to maintain its workload. In spring 2022, Benoy secured a commission to advise on a long-term programme to develop hundreds of acres of land around East Midlands Airport, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station and the Toton-Chetwynd corridor. The hope is that the schemes will generate some 84,000 jobs and add more than £4 billion to the local economy in coming decades.
Benoy is delivering the architecture, masterplanning and interior design on a multi-million-pound revitalisation of Woking town centre. In all, the 646 000 sq ft project includes more than 125,000 sq ft of new retail space, 429 flats, a new 22-storey Hilton hotel and a restaurant and other facilities. M&S opened a store at the development in spring 2022.
Meanwhile, Benoy has been working on the £1bn expansion of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2; delivering the interior concept design for the international departure lounge for the scheme, which is set for completion in 2023. The firm is also involved at the planned expansion at Heathrow.
In China, in early 2021, Benoy won the bid for a regional financial landmark building; the Western Equity Investment Fund HQ Base Project located in the business district of Chengdu Tianfu New Area.
Elsewhere overseas, in spring 2022, Benoy secured the design for a New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) 20 billion major leisure and entertainment complex with high-speed transport links for Di Yi Da International Development Company in Taichung, Taiwan
Glenigan data
Glenigan data points to a busy workload at Benoy in the UK. The firm is involved as architect on the huge £250 million Central Quay Masterlead scheme in Cardiff to redevelop the S A Brains Brewery site which involves some 140,000 sqm of shops, bars, restaurants, offices and around 1000 apartments. Work on the scheme, where detailed plans have been approved and which is at the pre-tender stage, is due to start in spring 2023 and continue for 36 months (Project ID: 16362643). Glenigan data also shows Benoy is an architect on The Walnuts Orpington, a major £193.3 million development of some 1241 flats and commercial units in Bromley in South East London, where work is due to start in early 2023 and run for 44 months (Project ID: 21035220).
Conclusion: Strong reputation which has helped to stay busy at home and abroad
Benoy has designed many landmark buildings in the UK and the group has established a strong position with leading developers on major retail developments across the country. Its reputation has provided a rich vein of new work overseas, not only across China and the Middle East but also in the more mature European markets. Today, the firm appears to be rebounding well from the delays prompted by Covid both here and overseas. The firm”s involvement in major schemes such as the East Midlands Airport land, Woking and Central Quay in Cardiff, point to a growing reputation in the buoyant regeneration sector.
Winning Work With Benoy
Key Benoy contacts include:
Mike Wilson-MacCormack, Director and Head of Newark Studio
01636-672356
Mike.wilson-maccormack@benoy.com