International architecture and urban design firm Weston Williamson + Partners has joined Egis – one of the world’s leading consulting, engineering and operating companies. 

Both parties say the merger expands Weston Williamson and Partners’ design capability and expertise, opens up new international opportunities for the firm, and strengthens Egis’ global presence in the infrastructure and design sectors.

The deal sees the purchase by Egis of a majority stake in Weston Williamson + Partners, with the practice’s name, brand and company leadership carried over under the Egis umbrella. 

For existing UK customers, the practice’s business and client focus will remain unchanged, while all Weston Williamson + Partners clients will now be able to tap into the broader capabilities of the wider Egis group. 

The partnership will allow Weston Williamson + Partners to expand their global reach and compete for high profile projects in new markets. The new Weston Williamson + Partners board will be led by founding partners Chris Williamson and Rob Naybour as chairman and CEO respectively, alongside Weston Williamson + Partners managing partner Philip Breese and four senior Egis-employed board members. 

Weston Williamson + Partners was approached by Egis and soon found close synergies during the course of the merger negotiations, with a clear focus on social, environmental and economic sustainability, creating potential for a strong cultural alignment and a powerful combined skillset to address the climate emergency. 

Weston Williamson + Partners is an award-winning practice with studios in Manchester, London, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne, with particular expertise in large-scale infrastructure, masterplanning and city-shaping projects. The firm has designed and delivered major infrastructure projects in the UK and around the world, with recent projects in the UK including two soon-to-be revealed Elizabeth Line stations at Paddington and Woolwich, the delivery of a masterplan for Edinburgh Waverley station, and new residential projects across London.

With operations in 120 countries worldwide, Egis is a leading player active in the consulting, construction engineering and mobility service sectors. Egis – which recently produced the Paris 2050 Carbon Neutral Plan – already works with some of the world’s leading architectural firms, and has invested in Weston Williamson + Partners as part of a strategic plan to develop architectural talents in-house. 

Chris Williamson, chairman at Weston Williamson + Partners, said: “It is hugely exciting to secure the next phase of Weston Williamson + Partners’ development. Since our foundation in 1985 we have grown to be one of the UK’s leading architecture practices, with recognised expertise in city-shaping projects. I’m proud of our history, excited by the opportunities that the deal announced today with Egis will bring, and looking forward to achieving the next phase of our vision for the practice over the coming years.”

Rob Naybour, CEO at Weston Williamson + Partners, said: “We are thrilled to be joining Egis, and excited by the opportunities to bring our skills and expand our influence on important city-shaping infrastructure projects around the world. For us it’s a great fit: like us, Egis is a people-centred business with a strong record of delivery and collaboration, and a clear focus on crafting elegant and sustainable places. This means that it is still very much business as usual in terms of our existing client relationships, our culture and our high levels of service. We are proud of our track record opening studios in Australia and North America, and our integration with Egis extends our offer to new clients, wherever they may be in the world.” 

David Pringle, director of architecture line at Egis, said: “We are delighted to welcome Weston Williamson + Partners to Egis. The firm’s talent and award-winning credentials in the design of world class infrastructure projects present enormous synergies with Egis and its existing architectural line. Hong Kong based international architecture firm 10 Design was the first practice to join Egis’s architectural line in 2017 and continues to lead the design of large mixed-use projects worldwide. Together, we are able to offer a compelling design offer to clients across all aspects of transport and the built environment, all around the globe.”

Claire Davies, UK managing director at Egis, said: “In the UK Egis delivers projects which help connect people, protect our environment and meet emission reduction targets. Weston Williamson + Partners is a great addition to our fast growing UK team and will enable us to further support clients in meeting their transport, infrastructure and place shaping ambitions whilst driving sustainable change.”

Weston Williamson + Partners was supported by advisors BCMS, DMH Stallard, Menzies and Hall & Willcox.