History of Watkins Gray International LLP
Watkins Gray International LLP has its roots in the architectural firm of
W.H. Watkins, formed in Bristol in 1900. The practice has been in business
continuously ever since, and the organisation has developed through a number
of different business entities.
In the 1920s, the firm became W.H. Watkins and Partners, trading successfully
from Bristol until 1936, gaining a reputation, among other work, for designing
cinemas throughout the south of England. At that time, a London office was established
to deal with the growing workload from the capital and shortly afterwards, a design
competition was announced for the re-building of St. George’s Hospital at Hyde Park
corner. Alexander Gray was employed as an assistant and developed the
competition-winning scheme, on the basis of which, he was invited into the
partnership, which then became W.H. Watkins, Gray and Partners.
After the Second World War, when building re-commenced and the commonwealth was
gaining independence, the firm’s growing reputation for healthcare design attracted
overseas clients. A number of substantial hospital projects were designed in the Mediterranean,
Africa and the Caribbean, and the firm became Watkins Gray International with offices in Kenya,
Uganda, Botswana and Nigeria. Gradually, the African offices either became independent (Nigeria)
or ceased to be viable as the political circumstances changed.
In the 1990s the practice weathered the recession in the construction market and, as public
sector works became extremely scarce, profited from an earlier decision to diversify and to
target specific market sectors – at that time, Healthcare, Offices, Process Engineering
and Sports and Leisure. These have since been expanded to include Housing, Education and Interiors.
In 1998, the firm centralised all of its resources at London Bridge and established a
number of sector-specific companies, such as WGI Interiors Ltd, to support the main partnership.
A year later, following the rapid development of the Education Sector, and to give
flexibility in resources, an office was opened in Leeds.
In April 2002, the practice took advantage of new legislation to reform as Watkins
Gray International LLP, a Limited Liability Partnership.
|
