From the completion of exciting projects to pushing the envelope on MMC… a red-letter day for our firm and a welcome for the newest member of our extended family… it’s been a year of ‘delivery’ for Box Architects. Here, CEO Graham Place takes a Festive look back at 2023 and predicts a positive future.
“I’d like to start by wishing all our clients and business partners the very best for the Festive season and the New Year. Here at Box Architects, we go into 2024 in robust good health thanks in part to our continued focus on the connections between the built environment and human wellbeing.
The most obvious example came with the delivery of our project at Rainham Leisure Centre, which provides facilities for the local community to swim and exercise within a brand-new green space to play and relax. At the other end of the process, our vision for Lichfield Leisure Centre is in planning – and described by ReCreation director Adrian Turner as a ‘state-of-the-art wellbeing destination’. Both developments embrace modern methods of construction at a time when not everyone in the industry is on board.
At Box, we continue to take a positive approach. We believe the sector needs a revolution in the way we design and build, and we will continue to use new methods whenever we can to deliver better, more efficient results for our clients, the environment and society as a whole.
Other societal challenges are providing new opportunities and changing the focus of our work. Today’s hybrid way of working is leading to the design of new flexible office spaces, while the ongoing housing crisis is turning the spotlight on retirement living as a way to free-up housing stock.
On that note, we’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with McCarthy Stone and are immensely proud to become the first UK architects to join the international Senior Housing and Healthcare Association.
On a personal note, our project for a sorting office in London’s Winchmore Hill takes my career full circle – nearly 30 years after working on a number of projects for Royal Mail. During that time, I’ve seen many changes but one thing remains constant, and that’s the talent within the Box team. This year, Emmanuel, Ian, Izaak, Priya and Shahram have all joined the Box family… not to mention Sophie’s new baby, Connie.
I wish you and all your families a very merry Festive season and a happy New Year.”