Expanding practice acquires retail, urban design and placemaking specialist

Ryder Architecture has acquired a controlling interest in London-based architecture and design practice Haskoll, which specialises in retail, urban design and placemaking.

Newcastle-based Ryder already has offices in Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Vancouver.

But it said the addition of Haskoll’s team would strengthen its service offering and “further diversify skills” across its international locations. Haskoll has offices in Beijing and Shanghai.

Birmingham New Street thumb

Haskoll worked on the redevelopment of New Street station in Birmingham, completed by Mace in November 2015

Haskoll counts working as an executive architect on AZPML’s £750m redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street Station among the more recent high-profile projects of its 48-year history.

Haskoll MD Derek Barker said his team was looking forward to combining its skills, reputation and geographic reach with the benefits that a larger practice could bring.

“With a changing world developing around us, it is a timely and reinvigorating development to be joining such an excellent company as Ryder,” he said.

Haskoll joined Ryder on 1 February following a number of collaborations in recent years.

Last year Ryder opened its Manchester studio after being drafted onto OMA’s troubled Factory project in the city as executive architect. Its 2018 expansion into Holland was part of an attempt to “Brexit-proof” the business’ footing for EU work.