New Saudi Arabia and London projects, and a post-pandemic future, with BSBG Managing Partner Alistair McMillan

Since Michael Lewis joined in May 2019, +studio has delivered the concept for the Visa Headquarters Building in Dubai, the 5-star SHA Emirates wellness resort, and, most significantly of all, has won new (confidential) design projects in London and Saudi Arabia.

“I’ve seen our design studio really flourish under Michael, and we’re now winning prestigious design projects in London and Saudi Arabia. Michael has helped translate that existing design expertise internationally. Our +studio and +executive teams are now globally recognised, and are working together on delivering some hugely exciting projects now, outside our traditional market of Dubai.”

The Dubai market, like all others around the world, has been hit by the impact of coronavirus, with few new project announcements, and some of those that have not yet moved to construction placed on hold. BSBG projects such as the Visa Headquarters Building, ICD Brookfield Place and the Dorchester Collection hotel and residences have continued on site throughout the pandemic, with extra precautions in place.

“There have been some project cuts and many developers seeking to renegotiate fees in Dubai,” Alistair says. “This is completely understandable, and wherever possible we continue to offer our support to our clients in Dubai. There is no denying that coronavirus has affected Dubai operations, and BSBG has not been immune from that negative impact. But I’m confident we will see market confidence in Dubai return; the emirate is extremely robust and has the capability to emerge from this global situation in a far stronger position than it was before the onset, which has been proven time and again.”

Alistair and his senior management team took the decision during the second boom period in Dubai to reshape the business and create an international presence, transforming BSBG from the local Dubai architect it was just five years ago, into a global enterprise with studios in three continents across the world. With the new design and executive projects that have recently launched in both Saudi Arabia and London, it’s proven to be a shrewd decision.

“The senior management team is constantly looking ahead,” Alistair explains. “And although we could never have predicted the onset or fallout of this virus, we certainly put in place plans to diversify our business many years ago and ensure we explored and gained a footing in new markets where there was a need for our unique brand of design and delivery. The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia were two destinations we identified as having new projects we knew we could offer significant value to. I’m obviously very pleased to see that this has proven to be the case, and we continue to gain huge traction and establish ourselves further in these two important territories, all the while keeping our projects in Dubai moving forward with a core team of the region’s best talent.”

During the coronavirus lockdown, BSBG has been able to keep all projects on track, while also winning new work and maintaining operations to minimise disruptions to the service the group provides. “That’s been an important part of this process for us, keeping our projects on track despite the majority of staff having to work remotely. We’re fortunate that our company is naturally set up for remote work, as our international offices already collaborate on global projects and have been working remotely in this way for many years.

"However, it is a tribute to our staff and senior management that we have not only been able to keep projects moving forward during this period, but also win new work. I’m very thankful to the talented people we have here who continue to show such commitment to the company and our projects. As we start to think about moving towards a future beyond coronavirus, I believe with the core group of talent we have in Dubai, London and Ho Chi Minh City, we are fully equipped to answer the post-pandemic demands of new projects across the globe.”