As the year draws to a close, I’ve taken some time to reflect on what 2024 has brought us. Writing this blog initially felt like one more task in December’s busy schedule, but it’s been a rewarding opportunity to pause and look back on an extraordinary year.

Challenges and Resilience

December is always bustling, especially with the planning required to shut down the office strategically for the festive break. This ensures the team (and myself) can spend time with family and friends. Team and family are central to everything we do at Block and 2024 has brought its share of professional and personal challenges. I have to congratulate everyone on the Block team for their strength and resilience.

Looking back on our social media posts, I’ve been reminded of how much we’ve accomplished despite a tough trading environment for the Construction and Design sector. It’s been a challenging year, but recent insights from Glenigan suggest that 2025-2026 will see better conditions, and we’re already starting to feel that shift.

Key Achievements

One highlight of the year was our first entry into the Urban Realm 100. Now that we’ve made it onto the list, we’re excited to climb even higher in the future.

We also launched our drone services as part of Block Studio, adding a fantastic new dimension to our projects. This technology has been invaluable for promoting client work and our own marketing efforts.

Some of our key client successes included:

• Planning approval for the refurbishment and extension of Garrion Tower, Wishaw.
• Multiple applications for the Lucky B’s restaurant chain.
• Completion of the King Street Apartment Hotel in Stirling.

To all our clients, thank you for trusting us to bring your visions to life. Development is rarely straightforward, but we’re proud to have supported you through the process.

Celebrations and Giving Back

This year, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary at Jackton Distillery, a long-time collaborator. Guests enjoyed an exclusive tour, a variety of whisky, vodka, and gin cocktails, and delicious food in the atmospheric End of Tour Bar. It was a memorable evening, and if you’re ever looking for a unique venue, this one comes highly recommended!

Our team also came together for social and charity events, raising over £10,000 for Kilbryde Hospice. The highlight was our 5-a-side football fundraiser at Broadwood Stadium. Thank you to everyone who supported us!

Looking Ahead

You will probably have noticed a huge shift in our marketing outreach too. This is thanks to Mary Ann Smith of SGFE, Andy Ferguson of ‘aForward Edge’, and Gerard Donnelly of ‘We Contribute’ along with the internal team. Collectively we analysed our market position and set out where we want to be in the next 5 years and how we are getting there. This process has forced me to make some tough business decisions, but we’ve now laid the groundwork for an exciting 2025. While some internal projects remain confidential, I can share that we’ll be:

• Launching an AI bot on our website.
• Continuing to explore sustainable design and #Passivhaus principles.
• Introducing a monthly webinar series.

It’s all to play for next year, and we’re ready to hit the ground running.

Thank You

To everyone who has been part of our journey this year, thank you for your support and collaboration. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Block Architects.
Here’s to an even brighter 2025!

P.S. While you’re here, don’t miss our latest video, sharing how we turn visions into reality. It’s a story we’re proud to tell this season.