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September 1, 2008

One of Europe's largest Architecural Practices opens BBBEE Compliant SA Company

Nightingale Associates, one of the largest and European architectural firms specializing in the design of government, healthcare, science and education public infrastructure, today announces the establishment and opening of Nightingale Architects South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a fully Broad-based black economic empowered (BBBEE) compliant architectural practice in Cape Town.

Nightingale Architects (SA) Pty Ltd is 26% black owned and has been independently verified as a Level 3 BBBEE service provider in accordance with the SA Governments Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act.

It remains a part owned subsidiary of the UK based Nightingale Associates, which was founded 18 years ago by South African born Mike Nightingale.   Nightingale Architects (SA) further anticipates it will become a Level 2 BBBEE service provider over the next twelve months.

The company will offer the South African market a unique blend of specialist knowledge in the design and delivery of healthcare, education & science infrastructure and buildings as hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, laborotories and other public infrastructure buildings, while also lending its expertise to residential and commercial sectors.

One of Nightingale Architects' core objectives will be to assist the government and private sectors in raising the quality of South Africa public sector architecture and design to global standards, which they plan to achieve through international 'best practice' principles and their distinctively fresh approach to architecture, as witnessed by its stellar array of awards by leading authorities.  By the same token an international skills transferal will benefit individuals from previously disadvantaged communities.

The opening of Nightingale Architects further reflects Nightingale Associates commitment to achieving employment equity, skills & enterprise development and socio-economic development for all of its employees, but further ensures a new paradigm in public infrastructure building design for South Africa.

Says Wallace Manyara, Nightingale Architect's Business and Development Director:

"Imaginatively designed, affordable, environmentally sustainable and robust public architecture is what this country needs, and that is what we are all about. The opening of Nightingale Architects (SA) brings a valuable and much needed wealth of international expertise and experience to this market. 

"What we are doing here is very exciting - we are fusing together 18 years of specialist expertise from an established, internationally recognized and awarded architectural practice with bright and talented young SA professionals, who want to contribute to the changing face of South Africa.

"We already have several exciting projects in the pipeline and already begun to engage with local and national government, consortiums and private clients alike, and plan to take on other challenging commissions which will demonstrate our full design and delivery capabilities."

 Comments Richard Harrington, chairman of Nightingale Associates (UK):

"There is an increasing demand in South Africa for a new generation of more appropriately designed public sector buildings which respond to the shifting demographics and culture of modern SA society.

"The opening of Nightingale Architects (SA) is therefore without doubt a very important turning point for Nightingale Associates but we are confident that the fusion of our experience with that of local architects under the direction of the SA Directors will demonstrate our commitment to the country and the potential we see in the future.

"We look forward to seeing the results of the talent and expertise that exists amongst our South African subsidary and witnessing the impact that Nightingale Architects (SA) will have on the country's infrastructure."

Earlier this year Nightingale Associates won the Property category of the Health Investor Awards during an event in the Marriot Grosvenor Square in London.  Their latest health commission that was delivered and opened this year was the ZAR 1 billion hospital development for the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) in the United Kingdom.
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Posted by StaffWriter at September 1, 2008 7:17 AM