And announces “MARINA ROSHA" Shopping Centre award commission in Moscow
Baltimore, USA, November 16, 2016… Baltimore-based international design practice Development Design Group (DDG) has been bought by BCT Architects, (BCT) and at the same time it announces at MAPIC that it has been awarded a commission to design its first Moscow shopping centre with another Russian project in the pipeline.
BCT- also based in Baltimore - has purchased the assets of DDG to preserve and strengthen the brand and continue its current projects around the world which includes the commission by ENKA TC, one of the leading developers in Moscow, Russian Federation, to design the Marina Rosha Shopping Centre in the Russian capital. A further commission for a retail project near St Petersburg is due to be announced imminently.
Also, founder, Principal and former CEO of DDG, Roy Higgs, who retired from the practice in 2011 has returned to continue the practice’s drive for more international commissions. Higgs who was born and brought up in London, relocated to Maryland from South Africa and opened DDG in 1979 and has, with the DDG team, designed many award-winning shopping and leisure destinations worldwide.
Bryce Turner, CEO of the new DDG BCT, LLC parent company said: “We are committed to maintaining DDG’s position at the forefront of global retail and mixed-use design and place making. We are delighted to welcome Roy back into the fold and believe that our Russian wins herald more international commissions.”
DDG, is an internationally renowned planning, architecture and design firm, that has delivered projects in more than fifty countries. The firm has relocated to 100 North Charles Street in downtown Baltimore, and will use its infusion of new capital to continue to serve existing and new clients.
DDG President Tony van Vliet, says: “We are excited that DDG now has the investment and resources we need to expand our worldwide practice.”
The investment brings together two firms with shared values and roots going back to the Rouse Company. According to Turner, who began his architectural career at DDG and employs several alumni of the firm, DDG and BCT have collaborated successfully on projects such as Belvedere Square in Baltimore and National Harbor in the Washington DC Metro area.
“We are known for our award winning projects in the US and our full-service architecture and engineering solutions,” Turner said. “DDG is known for its ability to deliver dynamic, extraordinary solutions to place-making globally, including Istinye Park, Istanbul; Easton Town Center, Columbus, USA; and Xi Cheng in Shenzhen, China.
“Together we have the potential to grow into a global architecture and design leader that can build inspiring developments that resonate with their communities, promote healthy social interaction, and represent the latest in technology, security and sustainability,” added Turner.
In addition to Turner and van Vliet, new Board members in the new organisation include Robert Gehrman and Robert Northfield. DDG Principals Jim Andreone, Sa’d Irshaid, Rajesh Gulati, and Haris Koentjoro AIA will continue at DDG.
