Wealth & Finance International - January 2017

Wealth & Finance International 32 Intelligent Architecture in a Challenging Industry ORR facilitates. We take a client’s brief for any development and challenge it to produce the greatest benefits in terms of economic performance as well as social, personal and environmental contribution. We believe that good planning and architecture brings the greatest rewards for our clients, allowing them to maximise development potential whilst also meeting their own social responsibilities. NORR can assist any client in this, from inception to completion of projects of all types, sizes and geographies. Current success stories We have a wide range of current projects in a number of sectors and a number of geographies (from the USA, Canada and even in the Ant- arctic). Within the UK commercial sector for example, we are currently working with a number of blue chip companies in the Whisky industry, as well as finalising a scheme for 250,000 sqft of offices, 50,000 sqft of retail and 300 apartments as part of a city centre mixed use develop- ment in Birmingham for a private developer client. We are seeing more and more activity with innovative public/private partnerships that have sprung up between local authorities and inves- tors, where the former has the land (usually under or undeveloped) and the latter the finance to realise the vision and the social, economic and environmental benefits of developing such underutilised resources. We are currently onsite with a large commercial mixed use scheme of residential, leisure, modern offices and hotel accommodation on a sensitive brown field site in South East England. I am sure that we will see more of these new vehicles for asset devel- opment in all of our markets, whether this be the 3P (Private Public Partnerships) in Canada or investment partnerships in the UK. The people of the company I see my primary role as one of communicator within the organisation, with our clients and in the general market that we operate in; forecast- ing trends, agreeing priorities and searching for new opportunities. While it sounds easy, numerous office locations/sectors, directors and the input of our people make this an interesting challenge! Talking of staff, our people are fundamental to the success of our business. This is easy to say but I keep it to the forefront of my mind by pinning a note from a retiring director on the wall above my desk: “…. people matter. The way in which we deal with staff, consultants and clients matters and without this there is nothing at the heart of the company” It reminds me that it is important to engage with, challenge and enlist the expertise that our people have to retain success in our business. Client feedback We all like to receive compliments on a job well done. At NORR we are proud of the high percentage of repeat client work that we receive and feel that this is a testimony to the people, systems and attitude that we employ serving our clients’ needs. A few examples are: ”NORR immediately demonstrated strong knowledge of the…sector and worked tirelessly with (us) to ensure that we maximised value and achieved all of the customer’s requirements. We will be pleased to work with NORR again on future projects” ISG on Walsall Pools Project “An excellent level of service provided by an experienced and consci- entious team from feasibility through to delivery.” Lend Lease / DIO on Project SLAM “NORR has continued to provide us with quality of service, advice and cost benefit throughout the …. contract and on previous occasions. Their ability to understand our business requirements was important to us when making the appointment. They did not disappoint.” “Just amazing...surpasses all expectations we ever had for the end result!” Port Glasgow Community Campus “We have been very happy with the work undertaken by the NORR team so far…. The flexible, open approach adopted in first gathering the brief and then developing the design really helped bring together a diverse range of stakeholders and is central to the success of the project. I would recommend the team to anyone.” Andrew Mowbray, Northumbria University “NORR’s team are highly skilled in developing varied and complex briefs ensuring end users interests are maximised whilst balancing budgets, site constraints and the interests of the contractor. The design skills offered are always tailored, appropriate and of very high stan- NORR is an employee owned award winning International firm of architects, planners, master planners, interior designers and engineers operating in the USA, Canada, the UK and the Middle East. N 1701WF41