BDP, the UK鈥檚 largest architectural firm, is in advanced negotiations to acquire Abu Dhabi-based practice Syna

The practices will merge and trade under the BDP name, but will continue to be run by Nadine Nackasha, who has run Syna for the past 10 years, said Gary Dicken, BDP鈥檚 architect director.

He said: 鈥淥ur intentions are to have a presence in the Gulf using Abu Dhabi as a base, and we鈥檙e looking to win work in Kuwait and Qatar.鈥�

BDP is designing 10 universities in Libya.