NORTH East based Building Design [Northern] (BDN) is relocating its headquarters to Sunderland’s Eastgate Point, in a move that sees the firm back its own £15m development.
The architecture, structural and civil engineering firm – currently based in Old Simpson Street School – has revealed plans to move its 35 strong team to its own landmark commercial development, being delivered in partnership with Hewitson Group, as the business continues a sustained period of growth.
The multi-disciplinary firm has doubled its workforce over the past five years and will move into bespoke office space at the Commercial Road development later this year, creating a headquarters designed to support its continued expansion.
The announcement follows news that BDN’s North West team will also be moving into a new office, at another of BDN’s own projects, which will see an Old Police Station in Ulverston transformed into a mixed-use destination.
Richard Marsden, managing director of BDN, said: “When we moved into Old Simpson Street School, it reflected the type of business we were then and gave us plenty of space to grow into. We’re now at a point of needing to relocate again to accommodate the growing team.
“But moving into Eastgate Point isn’t simply about needing more space. It’s about creating a headquarters that reflects where the business is today and where we want to be in the future. It’s particularly rewarding because we’ll be working from a development we’ve designed and delivered ourselves alongside Hewitson Group. We genuinely believe in the quality of what we’ve created, so there’s no better demonstration of that than choosing to base our own business here.”
The relocation will also unlock the next chapter for BDN’s current headquarters, Old Simpson Street School. The company has submitted plans to convert its existing office accommodation within the Grade II listed building into six high-quality apartments. These will sit alongside the nine apartments already created within the northern section of the former school, bringing another part of the historic building back into residential use while preserving one of Sunderland’s most distinctive heritage assets.
Richard added: “Old Simpson Street School has been a fantastic home for us and we’ve enjoyed being part of its story. As we’ve grown, however, we’ve reached the point where we need a purpose-designed headquarters that gives us the space and flexibility to continue developing the business.
“It’s fitting that our move will also create an opportunity to breathe new life into another part of this wonderful historic building, ensuring it continues to play an important role in Sunderland’s future.”
The property is currently being marketed by By Design as an investment opportunity.
Eastgate Point – where BDN will soon be based – is a £15 million, 125,000 sq ft commercial development on the former Littlewoods site in Hendon. The scheme will deliver 19 industrial and commercial units across nine buildings, creating a modern employment destination capable of supporting more than 350 jobs. The development has already secured a number of occupiers including Gentoo and more to be announced soon, proving attractive to businesses looking for high-quality, energy-efficient commercial space with excellent transport links.
BDN provides architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, project management and surveying services, working on both residential and commercial projects throughout the UK.
Alongside its commercial work, the company has become closely associated with Sunderland’s ongoing transformation, delivering landmark projects including the award-winning Sheepfolds Stables development and now Eastgate Point.
To find out more about Eastgate Point, visit www.eastgatepoint.co.uk and for more on BDN, go to www.bdnltd.com. To find out more about Old Simpson Street School, visit www.bydesignhomes.com.
