Farewell DB3 Loughborough & Hello DB3 Birmingham Studio
After almost 40 years in Loughborough, we are moving our studio to Birmingham city centre, but first we wanted to take a final look back and celebrate our time in Leicestershire.
Our Loughborough studio story dates back to 1984, when as part of the Gibson Hamilton Partnership the office was set up on the Loughborough technology centre site. It was strategically located adjacent to Loughborough College and Loughborough University with whom we work closely together. Projects such as the creation of a new sports hall, refurbishment of Martin Hall Theatre, Performance Arts teaching facility as well as Twin Towers student accommodation have been completed by DB3 to date for the Loughborough University.
Gibson Hamilton Partnership’s Story
Gibson Hamilton Partnership’s Story
Initially formed by David Gibson and Keith Hamilton the practice ran for 23 years before Gibson Hamilton Partnership was bought out by B3 Architects in 2006, who in turn were acquired by the DarntonEGS group in 2015 to become DB3 that we are today.
Some Notable Projects
Some Notable Projects
Since the 1980s, our Loughborough team have completed countless great projects including Rothes Hall, worked for the Dutch contractor Pellikaan at sites in Hetton and Silksworth and made their mark in Mid Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire. Project highlights include the York Design Awards 2012 with our St Peter’s School swimming pool, described as a “bold and striking building” by the judging panel, being presented with the Lord Mayor’s Award.
The studio though operated as a general architectural practice, specialised in Sports and Leisure Architecture as well as Conservation work. This has been retained and built upon under the DB3 banner and grown to provide more Commercial and Industrial Architectural work to the portfolio that includes Western Power Distribution, Rolls Royce and the Irish Government on our client list. Fife Leisure Centre, Willesden Sports Centre and the refurbishment of the sports halls and feasibility studies for a new pool at the University of Leeds are some examples of the Sports and Leisure projects that our DB3 Loughborough team have proudly worked on.
Conservation Architecture Expertise
Conservation Architecture Expertise
To date, our Loughborough team have been involved in numerous Grade 1 and Grade 2* Listed buildings conservation projects for C of E, Methodist, Catholic and URC churches, for repair and maintenance to new extension, including award winning projects such as St Winefride’s Church.
Non ecclesiastical projects include Nottingham Castle, Britannia Panoptican restoration of 1850’s Music Hall in Glasgow, Worcester Shire Hall and Leicester University Engineering Building, to name a few.
Some of our Loughborough Team’s Current Live Projects
Some of our Loughborough Team’s Current Live Projects
Our team is currently working on the Wolverhampton Centre Learning Quarter project worth around £33 million, as well as ongoing work for Western Power Distribution including completing the WPD Swansea depot with the architectural elements valued at circa £11m and commencing the on the WPD Ludlow, which is due on site before Christmas this year. Other projects are Casepak MRF refurbishment in Leicester, Newmarket redevelopment for Northwest Leicestershire DC in Coalville, Little Theatre redevelopment and extension in Leicester, refurbishment fit-out work for Lloyds Banking and Coop as well as numerous conservation jobs, which are keeping our team busy.
Next New Chapter: Birmingham
Next New Chapter: Birmingham
Our Loughborough team are moving to the West Midlands, with our new DB3 Birmingham studio being conveniently centrally located in McLaren Building adjacent to the HS2 site. We will reveal more about our new studio in 2021 – so watch this space!
DB3 isn’t new to Birmingham having worked on several projects for Western Power Distribution, such as the Birmingham Depot in Long Acre. We also have had a long time working relationship with Shaylors (now closed), Emmaus, EC Harris / Arcadis, Halligans and Nolans who have long standing history in Birmingham and we are keen to build new relationships with Birmingham businesses and organisations.
“Although our move marks the end of an era in Loughborough, we are looking forward to putting our stamp on Birmingham and beginning our next exciting chapter in England’s second largest city. If you would like to discuss your project then call us on 0121 374 2020.”
Michael Cooper – DB3 Birmingham Studio Head & Senior Associate
We’ll be in touch shortly.
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