Manchester architect lands BDP’s top transport role

Peter Jenkins, architect director in BDP’s Manchester studio, has taken on the role of head of transport for the whole practice.

The practice, founded in Preston in 1961, said that the experience gained on local projects including the redevelopment of Piccadilly and Victoria starions in Manchester had been key landmarks in Jenkins’ career. He is also the lead architect on the Ordsall Chord project.

BDP recorded income of £79.5m in 2017 and now has studios across the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, India, China and the Middle East-North Africa region. Following its merger with Japanese engineering group Nippon Koei in 2016, it hopes to expand further still.

John McManus, chief executive of BDP, said: “We are now embarking upon a new and ambitious international development plan that will not only strengthen and consolidate the practice’s current international studio network but will lead to the establishment of more BDP studios outside the UK.

“Our partnership with Nippon Koei will increase the significance of the transport sector for the practice over the coming years and I am very happy to advise that Peter Jenkins has agreed to assume the leadership role for the sector.”

BDP’s Manchester studio is undertaking all major architectural and urban realm elements of the Ordsall Chord scheme, including the recently-installed single-span bridge along with landscaping, lighting of public spaces and heritage features beneath the bridges and viaducts.

Jenkins said: “I’m very proud to have been part of the team which has designed, developed and constructed the Ordsall Chord, this massively significant project for Manchester and the north of England.

“It’s a matter of great professional pride to take the leadership role for the rail sector in the practice and our work on the Ordsall Chord is opening up rail infrastructure opportunities for BDP Nippon Koei around the world.”