One of RMJM’s most iconic projects in recent years, the Lakhta Center, reaches completion as it shoots 462 metres into Saint Petersburg’s skyline, and becomes the tallest building in Europe. The Sheremetyevo Airport – Terminal B – in Moscow joins the tower as it is also completed in 2018 and goes on to earn 5-Star status thanks in large part to the improvement of technological infrastructure, and efforts to improve passenger services. Both projects are completed just in time to welcome almost 4.5 million tourists to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Gate Avenue, located in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), combines an urban landscape with a pristine retail environment. Thanks to its functional and future-proof design, it is awarded Retail Project Award (Future) at the Cityscape Global Awards 2017. However, it isn’t RMJM’s only project to receive praise; the Zhuhai St.Regis Hotel is completed and becomes the 10th tallest building to be completed in 2017. The hotel’s natural ventilation efforts extend from the building itself to car parking spaces and are designed to maximise natural daylight.

The Gate of the Orient is one of the most easily-recognisable landmarks not just in Suzhou, but in China. The project’s dramatic appearance captures the significance of China’s role in the modern world and symbolises a ‘gateway’ to the city of Suzhou. RMJM also announces its appointment as the Executive Architect and Interior Designer for ‘The Tower’. The supertall building, designed by Santiago Calatrava, has been dubbed as the skyscraper that will raise the bar for what future buildings can and should be.

RMJM’s international presence grows with the addition of 5 new studios in 5 different countries: Serbia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana. RMJM Sport, a sector-specific studio specialising in the design of sports complexes and sporting landscape design, is established and allows for the inclusion of new industry experts with an abundance of experience in high-profile sports projects. These studios are a testament to RMJM’s commitment to delivering world-class designs in all corners of the globe and across every sector.

RMJM’s role as masterplanner and design champion for the City Legacy Consortium leads to the development of 700 homes in the City of Glasgow. These developments, among others, allows for the accommodation of nearly 8,000 athletes and officials during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. One of the key elements of the plot’s design was how the site will transform and be used after the Games; it goes on to become one of the most sought-after residential areas in the East End of Glasgow.

The Varyap Meridian, a mixed-use development consisting of residential units, hotel rooms, a conference facility, commercial office space, opens in Istanbul. The iconic development’s sustainability features extend beyond green technologies, with the footprint of the towers using just 13 per cent of the available land. The remaining plot space features sustainable design and goes on to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – the first project of its kind to receive this certification in Turkey.

The Duke-NUS Medical School – the first collaboration of its kind – is opened by Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. The building was designed following Duke and NUS’s mission to educate students that will eventually excel in medical research, education and patient care. The building – which has achieved Green Mark certification – is a highly sustainable development, and has been designed to maintain a comfortable temperature in Singapore’s tropical climate.

The design of the Beijing Olympic Convention Center is completed and opened as a multi-purpose facility; used as a key arena for the 2008 Olympic Games, later re-purposed to act as a commercial and leisure activity center following the completion of the games. The building serves many functions throughout the games, with its main purpose to accommodate the International Broadcast Center where journalists report from the games to the rest of the world.

Perhaps one of Scotland’s most recognisable designs, the New Scottish Parliament is opened as part of a unique partnership between Enric Miralles who designed the building, and RMJM. The unique facade represents a natural and organic approach that was decided upon in the initial stages of the design phase. It is intended to be void of any hierarchical perspectives and is known for breaking the rules of architectural composition. It will later go on to win a number of awards, including the Scottish Design Awards ‘Best Publicly Funded Building’.

The Falkirk Wheel, one of RMJM’s most iconic projects not just in the UK, but all across the engineering world, is opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, the Falkirk Wheel has become a marvel for engineers across the globe and has become a much-loved icon in Scotland. The wheel links two canals between the east and west of Scotland, and attracts, on average, half a million visitors every year.

The Tron Theatre, located in the city of Glasgow, opens its doors to the public after being renovated and quickly becomes a thriving multi-faceted venue. A bar, restaurant, dressing rooms, studio theatre, and administration wing were all new additions to the development with the inclusion of a new box office, foyer, and exhibition space recognised as notable features as well. These welcome additions, along with the varied yet culturally-artistic pieces, see the theatre going on to win several prestigious awards.

The Scottish Executive HQ is completed after being provided with a brief that had one overall goal in mind: to provide excellent working conditions. The new HQ sees the relocation of 1,500 staff members and breathes new life into Edinburgh’s docklands in Leith. Many energy considerations were factored into the design. An atrium, insulation and solar protection for heat control, and natural lighting and ventilation are all included and plays a large part in the building being given a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating.

Completed in 1994, the Le Royal Meridien, Baan Taling Ngam Resort is opened, with the restaurant and spa reaching completion in 2001. The Resort and Spa is located on Koh Samui’s secluded and tranquil western coast and gently flows down to the beach below. Nestled amongst a coconut plantation, this spacious and luxurious facility features a number of first-class suites all decorated in a Thai style, overlooking the islands of Ang Thong Marine National Park. It is, in essence, a retreat for the senses.

The Happy Valley Racecourse needed refurbishment of its Grandstand to make the facilities safer, and more visually appealing for users – all to be completed within the four-month closed season. A few additions to the facility include a new covered area with betting kiosks, fast food catering, toilets, jockey changing areas, and a new equerry centre on a new mezzanine floor. Once stripped, the facility also saw the inclusion of three new floors that featured a steel canopy roof to give sun and rain cover to the terraces.

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art garners one of RMJM’s first major awards: Scottish Museum of the Year. Home to an exceptional collection of some of the finest modern and contemporary artworks, the Scottish National Gallery is made up of two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two. Modern One was originally the premises for the John Watson’s Institution, a large neoclassical building that was designed as a refuge for fatherless children.

Kota Kinabulu Airport (previously known as Jesselton) is designed by RMJM and becomes the second largest airport in Malaysia. The opening of the new terminal will see almost all commercial flights shifted to the newer and larger terminal. Before the decision to turn the space into a highly-functional airport, it was originally operated as a military airfield during World War II.

The firm is recognised for its international expertise and activities and it is awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. This also serves as a testament to the outstanding level of design services delivered by RMJM, worldwide. The award aims to highlight and commend British businesses and organisations who excel at international trade, innovation, or sustainable development. This award has changed names over the years but remains as prestigious as ever.

The Hillingdon Civic Centre is the headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon, located in Uxbridge. It is considered one of the most famous buildings in the British neo-vernacular style, and as such, has become a protected building to ensure this style of building is protected. The listed building includes integrated hard landscaping, including paving, planters, steps and walls. The Civic Centre is dubbed one of the first major works in England by a Modernist architect and marks the emergence of a new architectural zeitgeist.

RMJM is named Architects to the Engineers for the Hong Kong Cross-Harbour project, which is opened by HRH Princess Alexandra. The tunnel is successfully utilised to meet the needs of the ever-growing traffic between the twin cities of Victoria, on the island of Hong Kong, and Kowloon on the mainland, and now sees approximately 80,000 vehicles passing through daily. The tunnel is the first in Hong Kong to be built underwater, and before its development, cross-harbour traffic was dependent on ferries.

RMJM Dubai is established not long after the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The firm became the first registered international consultant to be employed by the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The firm will go on to participate in some of the UAE’s most renowned architectural projects.

The Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh is opened by HRH Princess Anne and is part of a larger goal to bring the Commonwealth Games to Edinburgh. The pool is the only Olympic-standard diving facility in Scotland and goes on to be used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the inaugural 2018 European Championships – both of which were hosted in Glasgow. RMJM also goes on to win a RIBA Regional Award and a Structural Steel Design Award, with Robert Matthew picking up a RIBA Gold Medal for Architecture.

RMJM begins work in Saudi Arabia following an invitation to design the first plans for the Western Region, with the masterplans for the Holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and the commercial capital, Jeddah. Several challenges are apparent throughout this project, with one of the most vigorous being the language barrier. RMJM goes on to assemble a team of interdisciplinary architects, engineers, geographers, and statisticians to assist with every stage of the project.

As part of an initiative to grow the number of educational facilities in Nigeria, RMJM is appointed as executive architect for an International Development Association (IDA) – funded programme that will see the development of over 100 schools and colleges in Northern Nigeria. This comes after RMJM undertook a building costs study for the government of Northern Nigeria in 1962. This project is the first for RMJM in Africa and sparks the start of a lasting presence on the continent.

One of RMJM’s largest projects to date, the New Zealand House in London, is opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II after approval for the building is granted by the British Cabinet. Designed by Sir Robert Matthew, the building will become known as a modern skyscraper and is the first tower block to be built in Central London after the war. In addition to many offices of the High Commissioner, the building also houses the New Zealand consulate in London and the military attaché.

RMJM works closely with many world-renowned architects (Gio Ponti and Doxiadis) to develop a masterplan for the city of Islamabad in Pakistan, the capital city for the region. Pakistan needed a capital city that was easily accessible from all parts of the country. Since its establishment, the city has become the political seat of Pakistan and is home to at least 20 universities. It was built to replace Karachi and is now noted for its high standards of living, safety, and greenery.

The original terminal of the Turnhouse Airport is designed to accommodate 70,000 passengers per year and was instructed by the Ministry of Aviation. It is made up of a low, asymmetrical group of buildings, utilising prefabricated steel frame structures (to permit extension) and faced with Auchinlea sandstone and mahogany cladding. Additional office and cargo space is then added in 1959, and a new customs block, baggage reclaim area, buffet, and kitchens, are added in 1964.

RMJM is commissioned by the British Government to design the St.Johns School in Singapore – run by the British Families Education Service for families of British Military. The British Military then withdraws from Singapore in 1971, and the land is repurposed and used for the creation of a private school for expatriates. An international school is then opened and becomes a member of the United World College movement in 1975, and changes its name to the United World College of South East Asia.

The partnership between Robert Matthew and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall is established after Matthew appoints Johnson-Marshall as the manager of his architecture firm based in London. The partnership allowed for the development of one of the most successful architecture firms in the world, and today, RMJM operates as one of the largest architectural networks of its kind.