Church Lukas's Birmingham office will be absorbed into Capita Percy Thomas's architecture division.

Capita Symonds has acquired the Birmingham office of architect Church Lukas. The 15-strong office will become part of Capita Percy Thomas's architecture division. Capita Symonds acquired Percy Thomas in the summer of 2004.

Current projects from the Birmingham office include student residences at the University of Nottingham and the Dysart Road Retail Park in Grantham. Work is also about to start on site for the South Lynn Millennium Village in Norfolk, a Millennium Community project.

Church Lukas director Gary Church has been appointed director of Capita Percy Thomas in Birmingham.

Rob Firth, Capita Percy Thomas' head of architecture said: "Birmingham is a key area of expansion for us and the experience and reputation of such a well established practice in the area will be a major asset for us going forward."

Birmingham is a key area of expansion for us.

Rob Firth, Capita Percy Thomas head of architecture

The Nottingham office of Church Lukas is not part of the acquisition and will continue to operate under the Church Lukas name.

Sue Churchill, director of Church Lukas in Nottingham said: "We are pleased to have achieved a result that will enable us to continue to invest in our Nottingham office and expand the business using the formula that has brought us so much success in recent years."