Everybody at GRADONARCHITECTURE is delighted to announce the opening of our third studio in the creative Boho Zone area of Middlesbrough.

Currently, we have studios based in Gateshead and Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, as well as a number of strategic ateliers across the world where we have delivered a number of successful schemes and secured international projects in Mongolia, Dublin and Turkmenistan. We have also been busy on number of schemes across the North East including the development of the Stainsby Masterplan for Middlesbrough Council which has created further opportunities and the need for the new Teesside studio.

The Stainsby proposals see a landscape-led masterplan and a design code for the 140-hectare site. Having worked in partnership with consultants Valley Environmental on the landscape architecture and planning, proposals have been created for a residential development of 1670 housing units set within a country park, a primary school and a number of strategic design elements, such as cycle routes, green corridors connecting houses to the park and a central visitor centre, aimed at awarding Green Flag status to the masterplan.

Following the successful delivery of the masterplan, we have now moved into their new studio in the £4m state-of-the-art Boho 5 building, a six-storey office accommodation block which having been first opened in 2015, provides office space for SME and start up digital and creative businesses.

The move will enable the team to progress with a number of upcoming schemes in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and a number of private clients, which will further add to the investment and regeneration developments happening across the Teesside area. The location of the new studio, adjacent to Middlesbrough College will also enable us to continue our work with local students and continue to invest in future generations. Following the success of our apprenticeship schemes established with Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, as well as a number of local schools in Tyneside, we will be looking to repeat these success in Teesside.

Managing Director Graham McDarby said: “We are extremely proud and excited to be opening our studio in Middlesbrough and our third for the business.

“Having established a successful working relationship both with Middlesbrough Council and a number of private clients, as well as being inspired by the Mayor’s ambitious vision  for the area, we are keen to be part of the exciting journey and make a positive contribution to the community and its economy through Our Architecture and Our People. Our new studio therefore gives us a fantastic opportunity to drive business forward and further develop our relationship with Middlesbrough Council and other businesses from a local base. Taking advantage of the regular links we have on the Northern Railway line between our two UK studios is both sustainable and enables us to collaborate between our teams. This joined with our studio and the relationships we have established in Mongolia presents a unique opportunity for us to knowledge transfer and hopefully bring yet further overseas investment into the area. Despite our industry facing a difficult current climate in the North East, as a business, we have had a successful year celebrating our 10th anniversary with the opening of our third studio and this has put us in a strong position going forward as we look to future regional projects in the new year.”

Councillor Ashley Waters, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Regeneration, said: “Great architecture and design have a crucial role to play in realising Middlesbrough’s ambitions for the future. Gradon’s track record shows they have the vision and skills to ensure development in Middlesbrough meets the needs of the 21s century. By joining the ever-growing Boho community, they’re also ensuring they’ll be at the cutting edge of the next phase of exciting developments in the Digital City.”