The Practice was started in 1984 in Portadown, Northern Ireland by Harry Porter as a Sole Practitioner focusing on Commercial and Community Architecture. The majority of work was retail based including Oaks Shopping Centre in Dungannon, Curley’s Supermarkets and other retail projects along with a number of Nursing Homes and Special Needs Residential Units.
The 1990’s saw the further development of retail work for local and multi-national companies together with an expansion into industrial & leisure projects. This included premises for Fyffe’s, Irwin’s Bakery, Morton Newspapers, Cross Refrigeration etc on the industrial front whilst leisure projects included Seagoe Hotel Portadown, Dukes Hotel Belfast, St Margaret’s Golf Club, Portadown Rugby Club and several Cineplex projects.
We also completed Millennium Court Arts Centre and historic Markets Complex in Portadown which has become a leading Irish gallery, whilst developing several special needs housing and health projects.
The 2000’s has seen the Company develop a wider range of skills and expertise working on projects both in Southern Ireland and England. We worked in association with an English multi-disciplinary company to develop new skills, working on a range of Healthcare and Council Office projects on the UK mainland, which was our first venture into the London market. During this period the Practice changed from a Sole Practitioner to a Limited Company with a view to developing and expanding the business. This also involved changing the name to HPA Architecture Ltd. Warwick McCullough became a Technical Director in 2005 and is now Managing Director. Kieran Porter has since taken up the role of Technical Director whilst Rea Campbell has become Design Director. The skills base developed further to include Urban Masterplanning, Library and Office Developments together with specialist knowledge of the development of Secure Accommodation for Young People both in Ireland and England. In addition, we have also undertaken works to several listed buildings.
Throughout this period, HPA established expertise on various forms of procurement and been successful on a number of PFI and PPP projects. In particular, our experience of Design & Build procurement has given us a commercial edge, which has been highly significant in developing and sustaining our business.
Even in the midst of the recent downturn in the economy we have successfully maintained a strong project portfolio working on a range of new developments including several superstores for Tesco, Mahon Village masterplanning, Lisburn Library and Office Development, Central Craigavon Omniplex + Restaurants, Motel + Restaurant in Kent, Secure Accommodation for Durham County Council in Newton Aycliffe, Social housing in Kent and completing the North East Centre for Autism for NEAS in Co.Durham.
More recently we have developed new business in both Central London and the greater London area, having completed two projects within St Pancras Station, and we see this as a key growth area. Our London projects include exclusive residential schemes ranging from new apartment developments in Bromley, to listed building projects within the Chelsea area, as well as several school extension projects in Bedfordshire. We are excited to be bringing our sound commercial skills to bear in this market and have found that our approach has been very well received, resulting in rapid growth of our portfolio in London in a relatively short period, including repeat work for several key clients.
Professionalism overarches the work of the practice. The combination of our ‘hands on’ directors, team environment and wide range of building experience and procurement routes enables us to offer an exceptional level of service to our clients.
We believe that successful projects come from good intelligence and great teamwork, and most of all, proactive management of the team and constant focus on the key project goals throughout. We adopt a ‘partnering’ ethos and our approach is underpinned by a strong commitment to quality at every stage, from concept to delivery. Most importantly, we place ‘integrity’ at the heart of our business.
More than ‘terms of engagement’ a shared, relational approach to delivering ‘the vision’.
Believing in, enthused by, embracing, strongly driving forward ‘the vision’
Taking ‘the vision’ and wrapping creative, functional and affordable buildings and spaces around it.
In design, functionality, creativity, sustainability and quality. On time, on budget and in a way that is enjoyable and inspiring for our client, their stakeholders and the delivery team, from consultant to contractor
