Bullish architecture group makes the top 10 after finalising purchase of Corstorphine & Wright.
rapidly growing architect SMC Group has acquired Corstorphine & Wright of Warwick and is in takeover talks with five other firms.

The acquisition of the 50-strong practice bring SMC鈥檚 staff numbers to more than 200 and places it in the top 10 architects by turnover.

Chairman Stewart McColl said the deal was 鈥渏ust the beginning鈥�. McColl said he wanted to double the size of his firm over the next 12 months and revealed that he was negotiating to acquire another five practices.

鈥淭he group is looking at becoming a household name in retail design,鈥� said McColl, who formed SMC in 1997. 鈥淲hen we acquire a practice, we put the prefix SMC in front of its existing name to build up the SMC brand image. When clients see the SMC prefix, they can expect a certain standard of quality and service.鈥�

The group is now made up of 11 architectural practices, including the 50-strong SMC Gower Architects, which was acquired in June last year, and programme manager SMC LML. The group also runs a joint-venture company with Zeidler Grinnell of Toronto and Palm Beach.

SMC is owned by a holding company based Mayfair, central London, that is run by four executive and two non-executive directors. Each practice operates independently, including marketing and accountancy, although the holding company encourages joint ventures on larger projects.

The group is looking at becoming a household name in retail design

Stewart McColl, chairman, SMC

The group鈥檚 purchases are funded by the Bank of Scotland鈥檚 corporate banking division, which provided a loan to cover 80% of the acquisition costs of Corstorphine & Wright. 鈥淲e hope to pay it off out of earnings within three years. It鈥檚 all in the plan,鈥� said McColl.

The latest acquisition was the product of three years鈥� discussion with director Tom Wright. McColl had worked with him on a shopping centre project in 1988.

Corstorphine & Wright has offices in Warwick and London and specialises in commercial schemes and hotels. The practice also has a long track record of educational projects.

McColl added that the group would bid for more racecourses after winning the commissionfor the Royal Windsor Racecourse this year. He is also hoping to increase the firm鈥檚 presence in the education sector.