MCAU boosts growth strategy with director appointment
Ernst ter Horst has strengthened the studio’s expanding design advisory team, bringing 25 years’ industry experience to bear with the firm.
Over the last quarter century, ter Horst has worked for major firms such as Mecanoo Architecten, SimpsonHaugh and most recently Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, delivering a wide spectrum of successful schemes for each.
ter Horst set up the Manchester studio of Dutch firm Mecanoo on leaving SimpsonHaugh in 2011, before he joined FCB in 2016.
He has led on town centre transformation projects for Stretford, Chorlton and Wythenshawe, also working on masterplans such as Trafford Civic Quarter and Lumina Village. Strategic regeneration frameworks currently in the works include Stockport East, and Manchester and Salford’s Strangeways plan, which is currently out to consultation.
Notable civic projects include Manchester’s Home arts centre, Antwerp Concert Hall and the University of Manchester’s engineering campus.
Residential projects include Kampus, Circle Square and Hulme Leaf Street, specialising in affordable and Passivhaus design seen at Muse’s Salford Oldfield Basin and completing his own Passivhaus home in 2022.
Joining as design director, ter Horst will be based in MCAU’s Manchester office at 2 Commercial Street and will support and lead its design excellence and growth strategy.
“I’m grateful and excited to join MCAU and have been struck by the potential in this agile, design-led business, leveraging unique in-house services of the socially focussed Loop Systems and place and visioning specialists Fourth Street,” ter Horst said.
He continued: “I’m blown away by the breadth of talent within the business which in many ways feels like the inspiring environment at Mecanoo Manchester years ago.”
David Skidmore, managing director at MCAU said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Ernst into our growing business.
“We’re looking to build on our recent award-winning Silk Street and Ashton Baths projects and leverage Ernst’s experience to raise the bar, diversify our proposition and consolidate our growth ambitions.”
MCAU employs 25 people currently based in offices across Manchester and Liverpool, with a presence in London.
Please credit the photo to Fiona Finchett, thanks!
By Ernst
A top Architect / lovely human being moving to an exciting practice. All the ingredients are there. Look forward to seeing the results! :0)
By Matt Pickering