2023 | Review of the Year

New projects, partnerships, milestones and more, 2023 was one of the busiest and most successful years in the 47-year history of Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG).

Reflecting on 2023, BSBG Managing Partner, Alistair McMillan, said: “I would like to congratulate each and every one of our loyal staff on a fantastic year. The expertise and professionalism of our people is first-class, and this is the foundation of our success. As we celebrate the achievements of 2023, and look forward to the year ahead, on behalf of the entire senior management team I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to the continued hard work and effort which has helped to further cement our reputation as a globally revered practice.”

In this blog we look back at the highlights of 2023.
 

New project announcements

UH by Ellington | Dubai, UAE

In January BSBG unveiled the design of UH by Ellington, a residential high-rise tower located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), for developer Ellington Properties. BSBG and Ellington signed a strategic partnership in 2022 for the collaborative development of four new projects in Dubai; Upper House represents the first of these projects to come to market.

The dual-tower project features 754 units in total, comprising elegant studios, and a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments offering residents views of Jumeirah Islands and the Dubai Marina skyline. The development will include a variety of leisure facilities and amenities, including a 37-metre horizon pool, an interactive fitness studio, a health club with a climbing wall, a yoga studio, a sky spa, and padel and basketball courts. In addition, residents will be able to make use of a bespoke movie theatre, a residential clubhouse, record lounge, podcast room, indoor skate park, a pet play area, a kids’ splash pad and play area, and an outdoor barbeque area.
 

Royal Mint Gardens Block A | London, UK

Meanwhile, in London BSBG submitted a Section 73 planning application for the Royal Mint Gardens Block A development, with a number of amendments and revisions to the consented scheme primarily targeted at enhancing internal efficiency and creating a viable proposal for construction. The site is located in close proximity to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, and is the second phase of the two-phased Royal Mint Street masterplan development featuring a mix of residential and hospitality units contained within four buildings.

The original proposal for Block A, a single mixed-use block containing 269 hotel/aparthotel rooms and 79 residential units, received initial planning permission in March 2012, however in the ensuing decade numerous attempts to construct the scheme have proved unsuccessful due to the complexity of site constraints.

BSBG was engaged to redesign and reconfigure elements of the planned scheme with a focus on improving functionality, access, escape routes and internal space planning. Revisions to the scheme resulted in the provision of 450 aparthotel units - with Staycity earmarked as the operator - and 79 private residential apartments.
 

Eywa Dubai | Dubai, UAE

BSBG announced its role as the Executive Architect, Lead Consultant, and Structural Engineer for Eywa Dubai, an exclusive new residential tower located on the banks of Dubai Canal in Business Bay.

The 22,000 m² project features a 19-storey tower with 48 two, three, four, and five-bedroom apartments. The smallest two-bedroom residence is sized at 200 m2 plus balcony. Each apartment will have its own jacuzzi, and the two penthouse levels will each feature a private swimming pool.
 

One River Point | Dubai, UAE

The second residential project for Ellington Properties announced in 2023 is One River Point. This project, for which BSBG is the Concept Architect, Executive Architect, Interior Designer, Executive Interior Designer, Lead Consultant and Structural Engineer, is a G+44 tower situated upon the banks of Dubai Canal, and will feature 295 units with a mix of studios, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and duplexes, as well as three penthouses.

The residential project, which is a joint venture between Ellington Properties and Dutco Company, also presents a variety of world-class amenities focused on wellbeing and sophistication, which include a yoga studio and an immersive room – an innovative new feature space designed with full projector screens that stretch from wall to wall, enveloping visitors in a unique visual journey.
 

Project Completions

The Silk District Phase 2 | London, UK

The Silk District Phase 2 reached handover point in October 2023. The residential project, which is located in London’s Whitechapel, is comprised of a G+25 tower integrated with two low-rise buildings containing a range of affordable and intermediary apartments, and a public realm which connects Phase 1 of the project and enhances social unification within the local community.

BSBG was appointed in 2020 to deliver the second phase of the residential development by developer Mount Anvil, in the Executive Architect and Lead Consultant roles.
 

Misk Schools | Riyadh, KSA

In Saudi Arabia, Misk Schools also received its first students in late August. The project is one of the first to be completed in Misk City. This prestigious educational facility is designed to nurture the future leaders of the Kingdom within a world-class learning environment. BSBG was the Lead Consultant, Executive Architect, and Structural Engineer.
 

People + Partnerships

Scott Orwin became Senior Partner

Scott Orwin was installed as Senior Partner in May 2023. During his 11-year career with BSBG, Scott has played a pivotal role in the growth of the business in Dubai, and has overseen the delivery of many prestigious projects within the group’s portfolio – most notably as Partner in Charge on ICD Brookfield Place, Visa CEMEA Headquarters, The Opus, The Edge, and Aloft City Centre Deira, among others.

Commenting on Scott’s promotion at the time, BSBG Managing Partner Alistair McMillan said: “Scott is an integral member of the senior management team. This promotion is fully deserved in recognition of his commitment to our vision as a business and the unique attributes he possesses, all of which have contributed so much to our growth as a business.”
 

Kevin Harper celebrated 20 years with BSBG

Senior Partner Kevin Harper celebrated 20 years with the practice in Dubai during 2023. Kevin joined BSBG in 2003, and has led a number of large-scale projects within the BSBG portfolio, including Bluewaters Residences, The Island and the BSBG-designed JA Lake View Hotel. He is currently leading multiple projects in KSA, with the recently opened Misk Schools Campus, Aman Wadi Safar, and Misk Headquarters Building among the highlights.

Andrew Bereza, Senior Partner paid tribute to Kevin’s accomplishment. He said: “You could never find a better partner or colleague, and he has shown himself to be a most valuable contributor to all the things that make BSBG great. All of us at BSBG wish Kevin nothing but the best for his next 20 years here, and huge congratulations on everything he has achieved in his first 20.”
 

Tom Skyring joined as Head of Interior Design

Along with an expansion of the BSBG Interior design studio, BSBG announced the appointment of Tom Skyring as Head of Interior Design at the start of the year. Tom is a renowned, award-winning Interior Designer with more than 35 years’ experience, including 24 years at the head of his own studio. At the time Tom said: “We want to push the envelope here in terms of the creative output, and with the talent pool and the quality of clients we have, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be at BSBG. It’s an honour for me to lead the talented Interior Design studio, working closely with Mike Lewis and +studio to bring creative and technically resolved solutions that we can then take forward and build.”
 

BSBG appointed to lead second phase of DMCC's Uptown Dubai

BSBG entered into a strategic partnership with DMCC to deliver the second phase of Uptown Dubai - engaged for lead consultancy, design and executive architecture, interior design, and structural engineering for the next two commercial towers within Uptown Dubai. The mid-rise towers will be 28 and 21 storeys, featuring a total of approximately 67,500 square metres of commercial space and 5,000 square metres for retail and F&B.

Alistair McMillan said: “DMCC’s Uptown Dubai District has become one of Dubai’s most dynamic mixed-use developments, and with our combined design and technical expertise, BSBG is well-positioned to support DMCC in realising its vision for a benchmark mixed-use development of the future.”

More will be revealed on this exciting new project in the new year.