Top Irish architects design link-up plan for expansion
Monday July 16 2007
THE major Irish firm of architects, designers and project managers Douglas Wallace has acquired Ferguson Wheeler, a leading architecture and design practice headquartered in Belfast.
This combination of two of Ireland's largest practices creates a sizeable operation based in Dublin with turnover in excess of €18m and 160 staff. Douglas Wallace says it will be the largest multi-disciplinary practice in Ireland and among the leading firms in the UK. Douglas Wallace was founded in 1980 and has become one of Ireland's largest architecture, design and project management practices with offices in London, Dublin, and Galway.
Founded in 1981, Ferguson Wheeler is a specialist in the area of retail architecture and commercial design and consultancy, including retail brand development.
Dundrum Town Centre, Merchants Quay Cork, Donaghmede Shopping Centre and Agnew Group in Belfast are among the firm's clients and projects.
Ferguson Wheeler's managing director Paul Ferguson will join the board of Douglas Wallace and, along with the shareholders of Ferguson Wheeler, John Caithness and Paul Graham, will hold 15pc of the equity of the combined company. Douglas Wallace works for a portfolio of Irish, UK and international clients. Recent projects include The g Hotel Galway, Johnson's Court Sligo, Brown Thomas, Scotch Hall Drogheda, the Eye Cinema Galway, The Morrison Hotel and Edward Square Donnybrook.
The firm's UK clients also include Harrods, Bang & Olufsen, London Town Hotels, Debenhams, Habitat, Bradford and Bingley, Gap Holdings and Starbucks among others. Both companies are also engaged in the in Eastern Europe.
