ECD Architects expands into North West
Opening an office in Preston, the London-headquartered architecture firm has a goal to create up to 25 jobs over the next five years in the region.
ECD Architects derives its name from its specialty – energy-conscious design. The group has made a name for itself by crafting low environmental impact designs for projects, both new builds and retrofits. Its expertise extends to Passivhaus, building safety, cladding remediation, and BIM.
Recent projects include the Passivhaus-focussed renovation of the James Riley Point tower in Newham, the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the University of Strathclyde’s listed Royal College building into a robotics laboratory, and the detailed designs for 320 new homes at Park East Estate in Bexley.
ECD is currently retrofitting more than 10,000 homes via the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. This includes projects in York and Newcastle.
The expansion into the North West marks a return home of sorts for ECD managing director James Traynor, who grew up in Irlam.
Reflecting on the new office, Traynor said: “Our new Preston base links our existing offices in London and Glasgow and means we can act on the imminent requirement for sustainable housing, retrofit, and cladding remediation at scale in the North.
“The Levelling Up Fund is turbocharging regeneration here; as a Northerner myself, I’m excited to be back, see what is happening, and be part of this change.”
ECD senior associate Maria Buenaventura is leading the operations at the Preston office, which has a staff of five. The office is at Old Docks House, off Watery Lane.
ECD has more than 60 staff members across its offices in London, Glasgow, and now Preston.
