Stewart McColl boosts empire

Stewart McColl is adding to his group of design and architecture consultancies with a new joint venture and the proposed link up with an unnamed London architect, expected this summer.

A joint venture has been set up with leading Canadian practice Zeidler Roberts Partnership, in keeping with McColl’s plans to create a design and architecture empire under SMC Holdings (DW 24 January 1997). This follows collaboration between the two on the Knightsbridge Green development for Prudential in London.

The joint venture, SMC Zeidler Roberts, will concentrate on “very large scale mixed developments” in the UK and Europe. It is already involved with major proposals in London and central Europe, says McColl. The new venture will enable both parties to “build up a major presence in the European market”.

SMC Holdings has grown to three subsidiaries since it was launched last year: SMC Landmark, which specialises in shops and departments stores; SMC Kemp, which focuses on projects valued between 1m and 20m; and SMC Zeidler Roberts.

“We’re in discussion with an architectural practice based in London and hope to announce that deal this summer,” says McColl. That business will specialise in projects on sensitive sites in or near conservation areas, he adds.