Harding is new chair at design consultant BDP

Chris Harding has been elected the new chair of architect and multi-disciplinary design consultant BDP.

Harding, who has been with the company since 1989, takes over the role from David Cash, who has chaired BDP since 2012.

In his new role Harding is aiming to continue the development of the practice as a socially progressive integrated design firm. 

He has been a company director for 14 years and is currently head of the architecture profession across the practice and was previously head of the education sector.

Harding said: “This is a fantastic moment in our history. With a predicted two billion more city dwellers by 2050, urbanisation and the liveable city agenda is a key opportunity for BDP. Our pairing with Nippon Koei creates a global architecture, engineering and design firm to meet the challenges of a dynamic and changing world.”

In March BDP was acquired by Japan’s largest engineering consultancy Nippon Koei for £102m in a deal driven by the Japanese firm’s desire to acquire BIM expertise ahead of a Japanese government BIM mandate.