Hampshire: Architecture firm HPW wins $5m Canadian garden centre project

Saskatoon is a rapidly-growing city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, where the Wilsons Group of Horticultural-related companies, owned by brothers Steve and Carl Wilson, is planning to build a new $5 million garden centre.

The Group already owns 80 acres of land of which approximately eight acres will be used for the new centre.

Two years ago the brothers began discussions with Ower-based architects HPW, thanks to the Hampshire firm’s excellent reputation in the garden centre industry.

HPW has since advised them throughout the site appraisal process and provided masterplan layouts and visuals for negotiation with the city and developers in Saskatoon.  Following a visit by the Wilson brothers to the firm's Ower offices, HPW has now been awarded the project.

Steve Wilson, president of Wilsons, said: “We need to work with people who fully understand the garden centre industry.  HPW has a great track record, not only in the construction of garden centres, but also the interior design as well as the full branding. We look forward to getting the project started immediately.”

Gary Wilburn, director of design and sustainability at HPW, said they were delighted to meet the Wilsons and also to gain the contract: “While most of our projects have been with major UK groups such as Dobbies, Blooms and Wyvale, also Haskins Garden Centres at West End Southampton, we have also successfully worked in Germany for Worlein Garden World near Munich.  This will be our first in North America.”

HPW, founded in 1986 currently employs a team of 18 qualified and experienced personnel to cover demand from the retail, leisure and high-quality residential developments.