Rolston Architects has been acquired by long-standing director Mark Collins

Collins Rolston, established by the highly respected Harry Rolston in 1992, has been acquired by long-standing director, Mark Collins.

As a result of the change in ownership the practice has been changed from Rolston Architects to Collins Rolston.

The firm is planning to open a new Belfast City centre headquarters as well as new offices in both London and Dublin in response to growing client needs and increased sectoral diversification.

Mark Collins paid tribute to Harry Rolston whom he described as a true pioneer within the profession.

He said: “Harry has immense standing within the architectural fraternity and has led a team that has become of the best on the island, with a strong reputation in all aspects of residential housing through to education, health, commercial and urban regeneration schemes.

“The team, that I’m now honoured to lead, is excited to be entering a new era of growth and practice development that will incorporate the delivery of an increasing number of projects in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England.”

Collins Rolston has experienced significant growth over the past two years with the number of professional staff tripling and fee turnover increasing which Mark Collins attributes to “an authentic can-do attitude, focus on value engineering, underpinned by design excellence.”

The practice has consciously diversified its project portfolio to now incorporate health, education, retail, office, heritage, and social regeneration schemes as well as residential development, social housing, and high-end residential schemes.

With 30 live design and build projects for private developers the firm has recently extended its geographical reach by securing a place on a major social housing framework with Sligo / Donegal council. Meanwhile, a new 69-unit scheme is underway in Dublin.

However, the team has a strong commercial focus too, having successfully delivered more than 80 commercial projects in the last 24 months including: a fast-track extension to Altnagelvin Hospital’s A&E Department, a new Headquarters for Springfield Charitable Association, a new £7m office innovation hub in Glengormley and a £50m public realm project at Corporation Street, Belfast. The firm also has seven live retail projects for a major retailer.