A SERIES of contracts to design logistics facilities to aid the flow of goods between West and East Europe is delivering international recognition for SMC Gower Architects.

As former Eastern Bloc countries develop their economies internationally – and acquire a taste for Western goods - the need for a clear, efficient logistics capability throughout mainland Europe is growing.

The latest contract to be secured by Leeds-based SMC Gower Architects, which became one of Yorkshire’s biggest practices this spring following its merger with the Leeds office of SMC DTR:UK, is the master planning and design of major new logistic and distribution parks throughout Romania.

The design contract for the £300m scheme, under the title Olympian Parks Project, has been awarded by Bucharest-based commercial developer, Helios Phoenix, which is among investor-driven businesses creating an infrastructure to facilitate trade and create jobs in burgeoning East European economies.

Construction work is expected to start on the first two Olympian Parks schemes at Brasov, approximately 100 miles from Bucharest and Timisoara, near the Hungarian Republic border, by the end of this year, and the entire scheme of up to 1 million square metres located on 30 sites over a total of 75 acres will roll out across Romania before 2012.

The Brasov and Timisoara schemes, which have a combined value of £28m and are on 22 acres and 36 acres sites respectively, will comprise distribution units ranging from 1,500 m2 to 22,000 m2, incorporating refrigeration facilities, offices and car parking.

Also in Eastern Europe, SMC Gower Architects is designing a £15m, 29-acre logistics and distribution park at Sofia, Bulgaria featuring 13 units ranging between 2,000 m2 and 10,000 m2 for commercial property developer, the Kouroushi Bro, Cyprus.

Site assembly for the scheme is currently underway and SMC Gower Architects managing director, Iain Cant, who leads the practice’s East European work, is carrying out master planning. Construction is due to start in 2008 and complete within two years.

Winning both new contracts follows growing recognition among developers and institutional investors operating in East Europe of SMC Gower Architects specialist expertise in East Europe following its design of the 55-acre Mercury Logistics Park at Bucharest, Romania, where two units are now occupied and a third is under construction.

The £26m Mercury Logistics Park, is being developed by Helios Properties, in partnership with international logistics company, Delamode, as Helios Eastern Europe Ltd and local development company Phoenix.

The total scheme is creating 94,000 sq metres of purpose-built, high-bay warehousing and distribution space in units ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 sq metres with offices, infrastructure, service yards and car parking designed to comply with UK-based funding institution and international logistics operators' requirements.

Iain Cant says: “The three schemes on which we are currently working are enabling us to demonstrate to prospective Eastern-based clients that our expertise can improve the quality of design and construction expected by funders and occupiers in today’s rigorous market.

“Trade between East and West Europe is growing as demonstrated by supermarkets such as Tesco and French operator, Carrefour, opening overseas outlets.

“There is availability of land and a workforce and a desire in these countries to grow their economies along West European lines. The growing supply chain infrastructure will eventually result in Croatia, the Ukraine and Kiev benefiting from well-designed, high-quality logistics facilities funded by West European investors.

“SMC Gower Architects is the only Yorkshire practice active in this market. These contracts mean that we have a growing number of contacts in East Europe to the extent that we are considering extending our current strategic alliances and possibly opening an East European office.”

SMC Gower Architects, based at the Round Foundry, Holbeck, was founded in 1964 and has seven directors among its 94 design and technical staff. The practice, part of the international SMC Group Plc, has more than doubled its size and almost tripled its turnover in three years and works nationally and internationally on a range of commercial, industrial, retail, leisure, healthcare, education, conservation and urban design schemes.