Darling Associates expands north through merger with Architect-CT

Paul Brook and Chris Darling at the Darling Associates HQ in London

We are pleased to announce the merger of Darling Associates of Manchester-based leisure and hospitality specialist architecture firm Architect-CT.

Established in 1983, Architect-CT has grown to become a leading provider of architecture and interior design solutions to the pubs and hotels sector, with clients ranging from small independent breweries through to major industry names.

In addition to leisure and hospitality-related projects, the RIBA Chartered Practice works with retail and residential care clients, including on private commissions. Architect-CT also has particular expertise in addressing the challenges presented by historic buildings.

Based in Wilmslow, Cheshire with close proximity to Manchester, Architect-CT has worked on many notable hospitality projects, including pubs The Sir John Hawkshaw in Cannon Street station and Flying Chariot at Heathrow Airport, and hotels such as Belsfield, a Laura Ashley Hotel in the Lake District, and Hotel Indigo Bath, which is currently under construction.

Paul Brook, Director Principal, Architect-CT, said: “We’re looking forward to working with the Darling Associates team, as we continue to deliver leisure and hospitality design expertise to our clients.  This move will certainly open up a range of opportunities for the Wilmslow studio to work across an expanded portfolio of services and sectors, and in turn we’re keen to help capitalise on our strong position in the pubs and hotels space, leveraging Darling’s strong London network as we contribute to our collective ongoing success.”

Chris Darling, Managing Director, Darling Associates, said: “Coming together with Architect-CT is a natural move for us.  They are a highly talented team and we are really looking forward to joining forces with them. This will assist us with our expanded portfolio of regional projects and also to enhance our skills in the hotel and hospitality sectors. The acquisition, in combination with the expansion of our Poland studio, brings us up to 120 strong overall -providing us with all the attributes and wide talent base of a large practice.”

Architect CT will initially continue to trade under that brand, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Darling Associates with a gradual transition into the parent practice later this year.

The acquisition of Architect CT follows on the heels of Darling Associates’ reported strong performance of record turnover and pre-tax profit over the last two years, and the studio’s robust position in the market. Darling Associates’ most recent annual accounts, published last July, reported turnover of £6.31m in 2016/17, a rise of 26% on the previous year to March 2016. Pre-tax profit was up 52% to £1.53m.