Results filed at Companies House show that the privately owned practice also increased its turnover 29% from 拢10.45m to 拢13.47m during the year. 鈥淭he directors are satisfied with progress and expect it to continue for the foreseeable future,鈥� said the results statement.
A company spokesperson described the results as 鈥渧ery buoyant鈥� but would not give predictions for the coming year. 鈥淭here is no constant. It depends on which briefs come in and which we accept,鈥� he said.
The company is awaiting the imminent decision on its redesign of the glass mullions on the Bordeaux Law Courts which cracked last year. A third of the 74 fin-like structures that support the building's 15 m high, 75 m long facade had failed.
Richard Rogers, with engineer Ove Arup & Partners, subsequently drew up a scheme to replace them that was submitted to an inquiry by the French bureau of public works. The inquiry will decide on the scheme鈥檚 feasibility and rule on which party should pay for the work.
At the time, Ivan Harbour, project architect for Richard Rogers, said the inquiry was launched by the client in a bid to avoid paying for replacement work. The inquiry is now finished but is waiting to test variations in temperature and their effect on the glass.
A spokesperson for Richard Rogers said: 鈥淭he delay and the new scheme have pushed up the cost, and presumably the mullions are going to have to be replaced at some time. But I wouldn't say the ball falls in our court. We do, of course, have contractual suppliers.鈥� Richard Rogers is about to begin work on a number of large hotel and residential projects in Europe. And work has begun on the 拢40m McArthur Glen shopping centre in Ashford, Kent 鈥� the first retail centre designed by the architect.
Other major projects include the Welsh assembly in Cardiff 鈥� due for completion in April 2001 鈥� and a 拢50m law court complex in Antwerp, Belgium.
Highlights of the company's results for 1997-98 include:
- turnover in Europe rose almost 50% at 拢2.4m
- UK turnover increased 20% to 拢10m while sales in the rest of the world almost doubled to 拢1m
- group operating profit was up 51% from 拢316 934 to 拢480 150
- 5% of the company's profits are shared between staff
- charitable donations of 拢808 000 were made by the company, more than double the 拢323 000 made in the previous 12 months
- The practice took on 13 more architects, which helped expand its total staff from 101 to 124.
