BDP appoints Arup’s Nick Jackson as architect director

BDP has appointed one of the architects behind Eric Parry’s original designs for 1 Undershaft to strengthen its office design team across London and the UK.

Nick Jackson has been appointed architect director, moving from Arup where he has been a director within the firm’s architecture group for the past seven years.

He has recently led Arup’s team on British Land’s latest science and innovation hub at 1 Triton Square, and office block near Euston station which Arup designed in the 1990s and then refurbished in 2021.

Prior to Arup, Jackson was a director at Eric Parry for two decades where he led teams on major projects including the original competition-winning design for 1 Undershaft, the City of London’s tallest building.

He also worked on 10 Fenchurch Street, 1 Eagle Place and the Stirling Prize-shortlisted 5 Aldermanbury Square and 30 FInsbury Square while at Eric Parry.

Jackson first collaborated with BDP around ten years ago on the new headquarters for Cambridge Assessment for the University of Cambridge, a project which he said was an example of BDP’s “deep understanding of workplace culture and behaviour”.

“Building on BDP’s multidisciplinary capability, that approach reflects the ethos I want to bring to the sector today,” Jackson said.

“As the nature of the workplace becomes more diverse in the way it is utilised, flexibility and longevity are even more important for the success of projects we design today. I am looking forward to working with colleagues and clients to shape workplaces that are inspiring, sustainable and commercially successful,” he added.

BDP chair of design and head of workplace Mark Simpson described Jackson as an “outstanding addition to our team”.

“He brings a wealth of experience in designing workplaces that respond to both business needs and human experience. 

“His knowledge of commercial architecture in London and internationally will strengthen our integrated design offer and enhance the value we can deliver for clients,” Simpson said.

BDP’s recent large-scale office projects include AstraZeneca’s The Disc in Cambridge and its ongoing work at Google King’s Cross, on which it is collaborating with Heatherwick Studio.