The operation strengthens Woolpert’s global design capabilities to meet accelerating demand for data centers and industrial repurposing in Europe.
LONDON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As demand accelerates to repurpose industrial and logistics sites for next-generation infrastructure, Woolpert has acquired UMC Architects, a UK-based architecture firm renowned for its expertise in industrial, logistics, and large-scale repurposing. This acquisition enhances Woolpert’s ability to deliver integrated architecture, engineering, and geospatial solutions across the region.
Since its founding in 2012, UMC now has over 90 designers across its three offices in Newark, Manchester, and London. The full-service architecture firm has provided architecture, master planning, BIM, urban design, feasibility studies, and refurbishment services to clients in the UK and Europe, including Amazon, DHL, Ikea, Coca-Cola, and the BBC.
UMC is widely recognized for its expertise in industrial, logistics, television, and entertainment sectors, as well as its specialized experience in transport and manufacturing facilities—capabilities that align with and bolster Woolpert’s growing activity in the data center sector. Woolpert has been providing data center design services in the UK and Europe since 2022, following the acquisition of Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects (SNHA), an award-winning data center architecture firm based in Chicago and London. With the addition of UMC, Woolpert now has over 600 employees across Europe.
This acquisition comes amid sustained growth in Europe’s data center market, driven by cloud adoption, AI-related workloads, and increased investment in digital infrastructure. Concurrently, land and energy constraints are accelerating the repurposing of industrial and logistics sites across the region.
Together, Woolpert and UMC are well-positioned to help clients transform underutilized industrial and logistics assets into modern, high-performing facilities, including in distribution, advanced manufacturing, and data centers.
“By joining Woolpert, we will be able to build on our strengths while significantly expanding the reach and impact of our work,” says Matthew Duffin, Director of UMC Architects. “By combining Woolpert’s data center experience with UMC’s industrial and logistics expertise, we can guide our clients through increasingly complex repurposing projects across the UK and Europe.”
Matthew Salanyk, Director of UMC Architects, adds: “This is a pivotal moment for UMC and a natural next step in our growth trajectory. We have built a firm with a commitment to industrial architecture and a clear goal to be best-in-class. By joining Woolpert, our team gains access to a broader platform and a global network that will enable us to take on more ambitious projects and continue investing in the talent and culture that define who we are.”
Neil Churman, President and CEO of Woolpert, stated that the addition of the UMC team brings local insight, technical depth, and hands-on experience that will strengthen Woolpert’s integrated service delivery across the region.
“We are thrilled to welcome UMC’s talented professionals to Woolpert and to continue building our team in the UK,” says Churman. “More than an acquisition, this is a partnership built on shared values, complementary strengths, and a common commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients navigating an increasingly complex built environment. UMC exemplifies our commitment to growth, job creation, and community support in the UK and around the world.”
About Woolpert
Woolpert is a global leader in Architecture, Engineering, and Geospatial (AEG) services, with over a century of experience in innovation and impact. We combine deep technical expertise with a forward-thinking mindset to solve complex problems in the public, private, and government sectors. Woolpert is proud to be a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, ranked in the top 25 Building Design and Construction firms, a top 50 ENR design firm, and a top 15 global geospatial firm. Woolpert operates from more than 75 offices across five continents, building smarter, more resilient communities worldwide. To learn more, visit woolpert.com.
About UMC
UMC Architects is a leading UK industrial architecture firm, specializing in distribution and logistics, television and entertainment, transport, and manufactured product design. Operating from its offices in Newark, Manchester, and London, UMC’s team of over 90 talented designers provides architecture, planning, BIM, urban design, feasibility studies, and refurbishment services for clients across the UK. With a dedicated director for every project and a commitment to pairing design excellence with an exceptional client experience, UMC has planned thousands of acres and delivered millions of square feet of space for some of the world’s most renowned companies. To learn more, visit umcarchitects.com.
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