Murphy sacked from Donaldson

5 Sep 2007

penny.lewis@carnyx.com

Richard Murphy Architects has been sacked from the Donaldson School for the Deaf project by CALA and replaced by Yeoman McAllister. The project to convert the A-Listed School by William Playfair to housing received planning permission back in 2005 and work was due to begin this year. However, Richard Murphy Architects has discovered that they had been replaced with another practice. RMA is ‘bitterly disappointed’ about CALA’s decision and say that they received no criticism from the client during the project. If the new proposals by Yeoman McAllister includes significant changes to the Murphy scheme, CALA will need to go back to planners and Historic Scotland for approval. When asked about the decision to sack Murphy CALA Homes East Ltd said: " CALA Homes is now working with Yeoman McAllister, architects and interior designers, on the construction and warrant details, space planning, interior design and specification for Donaldson's College, Edinburgh.The company had previously been working with Richard Murphy Associates who were contracted to do the initial designs. On completion of this phase of the project the practice was paid in accordance with their contract." "CALA has decided to work with Yeoman McAllister on the next phase of work as they more closely share the Company’s vision for the project. This has involved a number of changes in design and specification. The Company will be meeting with the planning department in the near future to discuss the changes, which include a 17% reduction in the number of properties and an increase in size of individual properties."

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