The UK’s largest practice, Foster + Partners, says it would consider moving its headquarters from London if Brexit meant it could no longer attract the world’s best architects.
Foster + Partners hints at possibility of leaving London over Brexit
Brexit Is Official. Here’s What That Means For Designers
On March 29, British Prime Minister Theresa May signed a six-page letter initiating Article 50, making the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union–aka Brexit–official. What follows is a two-year negotiation period during which the EU and U.K. will determine how the two entities will disentangle and what their future relationship will be.
Brexit vote has hit London practices hardest, AJ survey reveals
Early findings from the AJ’s 2017 Life in practice survey also show that larger practices have suffered more in terms of decreasing workloads, falling staff numbers and fewer inquiries compared with smaller outfits in the wake of last year’s referendum.
Nearly 60 per cent of architects based in the capital said that they had seen projects go on hold, with a quarter saying they had seen staff numbers decrease since the Brexit vote last June.
Brexit: the effect of Theresa May’s EU exit plan on designers
UK prime minister Theresa May outlined her plans for carrying out Brexit on 17 January, delivering a determined speech which promises a “global, outward-facing Britain” – but one which will not retain any kind of membership of the European Union.
Following her speech, which detailed how leaving the EU would allow Britain to establish its own laws and trade deals, and free it from making yearly contributions towards the EU, the pound spiked in value to $1.24 – its biggest daily rise since 2008.
Her speech clearly signalled more certainty and less ambiguity around Brexit, and perhaps provides the most positive outlook since the referendum result on 24 June 2016.
Office Overload Beats Brexit Effects in the UK
A chock-full pipeline of office product is posing a larger threat to rent growth and asset values in London, than is the risk of companies leaving following the United Kingdom’s vote to depart the European Union. According to UBS Group AG, oversupply of office space was a problem long before Brexit. According to UBS’ Thomas Wels, the new buildings will come online in 2017 and 2018 “and isn’t priced into rents.”
This Is the Future: Workplaces that Make You Healthier
Companies are building offices that aren’t just better for the environment but their workers, too.
When McKesson decided to revamp its headquarters in Richmond, Va., it knew it was time for a radical change. The drug distribution giant also knew it needed a workplace that was not only inspiring but reflected its primary mission: making people healthier. That’s what led the company to one of the latest workplace trends: WELL Building Certification.
Brexit could be "like a heart attack" for UK design firms says consultant
"My biggest fear for the smaller businesses is that if, as a result of the loss in confidence and instability we are experiencing, we see a pull-back, or stalling on ordering, then this may cause an issue with cash flow," he told Dezeen.
Brexit; a round-up of latest thoughts from the property and workplace sectors
Whatever your opinions on Brexit, there’s no doubt that it has created a range of frequently turbulent knock on effects in the workplace, commercial property, design and architecture sectors. We’ve shared some of the latest views on the next page to go with the initial reactions delivered by a still shell-shocked world that we published last Friday. One thing seems pretty clear is that for most firms, including those in the commercial property sector, there is no rush to judgement and most are prepared to continue business as usual while so much remains undecided. For the same reasons, the FT is reporting that some developers are putting projects on ice until they have more certainty and a report from researchers Green Street suggests that the eventual decision to leave the EU will result in a substantial fall in real estate values. Meanwhile, CIBSE is the latest organisation to calm fears about the impact of the UK leaving the EU.
Design firms should "relocate their operations to the EU" if Brexit talks fail, says lawyer
EU referendum: creative businesses in the UK should consider relocating to the EU in the wake of Brexit, according to a lawyer who advises design and fashion companies. Moving would allow these businesses to get round trade barriers that could be erected if the UK fails to negotiate access to the single market, said Annabelle Gauberti, partner at law firm Crefovi.
"Creative companies headquartered in the UK, which export goods and products, such as fashion and design companies, should monitor the UK negotiations of the withdrawal agreement with the EU extremely closely,"
The AJ on Brexit: 10 predictions
Following the nation’s landmark decision to leave the European Union, the AJ provides some clues about what comes next
1. Projects will stop. Within minutes of the Brexit news, Daniel Minsky, who works with a boutique investment and development agency in London, was told that a proposed land deal had been pulled. The buyer withdrew at 7.05am this morning because they felt the residential value ‘was too risky’.
Read the rest of the predictions on architectsjournal.co.uk >
Brexit means two years of uncertainty, financial instability – and tough decisions
As the pound crashes and David Cameron resigns, there is no question that UK architecture plc is in trouble It is difficult to find something positive to write about this morning. Like many of you, I was shocked to wake up to news of a two-year road to Brexit.
Worse still, the referendum map of the country forecasts the inevitable break-up of the United Kingdom. The political turmoil will not end with this referendum, but trigger up to a decade of uncertainty and threats to the pound as Northern Ireland and Scotland follow with attempts to secede.
Many US firms playing catchup after surprise EU exit vote
Herman Miller Inc, known for its high-tech office furniture and as the inventor of the office cubicle, had factored Brexit into its contingency planning for this year among other global risks, trimming its budgets and "not overfilling open positions" while awaiting the vote, Chief Executive Brian Walker said.
How Brexit Could Impact The Creative Industry
Today, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum known as Brexit. As a result, markets have plummeted and a general sense of uncertainty has spread around the world. Could Brexit also negatively impact the creative industry?
The answer is a resounding "yes," according to several designers we interviewed and previous reports. "Today is a sad day," says Marina Willer, a partner in Pentagram's London office. "We are closing doors, to clients, friends, talent, economical growth and generosity. We are turning our backs to the open arms that created the European Union. That cannot be good for design, for business, for culture or for our futures."
Of course, it's still too early to know the vote's full repercussions. But here are the biggest concerns that leaving the EU brings up for British professionals in a variety of creative fields, including motion graphics, interaction design, branding, furniture, and publishing.
Property and workplace experts have their say on the Brexit outcome
Well, the results are in and the UK’s electorate has voted by a narrow margin for the country to leave the EU. There are likely to be other developments but whatever you make of the UK’s decision to vote to leave the EU – and I think it’s fair to say most independent people think it’s inexplicable – there’s no doubt that it will have a profound impact on the UK’s economy, relationship with the world, culture, working conditions and markets. What it will mean in practice won’t be apparent for months or years, of course, but that hasn’t stopped experts who work in the property, workplace, design, legal, HR and architecture sectors having their say on its potential implications. We’ll look at these specific issues in more detail going forward but for now, here’s a round-up of those we have so far, which we’ll keep updated throughout the day as the dust settles on what will prove to be a momentous decision for the UK, Europe and rest of the world.