LONDON, UK, Apr 23, 2026 – Woolpert has acquired UMC Architects, adding industrial and logistics design capability in the U.K. as demand rises for data center development and redevelopment of existing sites across Europe.
UMC provides design services for industrial and logistics facilities, as well as television, transportation, and manufacturing projects. These capabilities extend Woolpert’s data center design work in the U.K. and Europe, which began in 2022 following its acquisition of Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects (SNHA), a Chicago- and London-based data center architecture firm. With the addition of UMC, Woolpert’s workforce in Europe exceeds 600 employees.
The acquisition follows growth in Europe’s data center sector, driven by increased cloud computing demand, AI workloads, and investment in digital infrastructure. Land availability and power supply constraints are also increasing redevelopment activity across industrial sites. Woolpert and UMC will support projects that convert existing industrial and logistics assets into facilities such as distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and data centers.
“Joining Woolpert allows us to build on our strengths while significantly expanding the scale and impact of what we can deliver,” said UMC Architects director Matthew Duffin. “By combining Woolpert’s data center experience with UMC’s industrial and logistics expertise, we can guide clients through increasingly complex redevelopment projects across the U.K. and Europe.”
UMC Architects director Matthew Salanyk added, “This is a defining moment for UMC and a natural next step in our growth story. We have built a practice with a commitment to industrial architecture and a clear purpose to be best in class. Becoming part of Woolpert gives our team access to a broader platform and a global network that will allow us to take on more ambitious projects and continue investing in the talent and culture that define who we are.”
“We’re excited to welcome UMC’s talented professionals to Woolpert and continue building our team in the U.K.,” said Woolpert president and CEO Neil Churman. “This is more than an acquisition – it’s a partnership built on shared values, complementary strengths, and a common focus on delivering exceptional results for our clients as they navigate an increasingly complex built environment. UMC exemplifies our commitment to growth, job creation, and community stewardship across the U.K. and throughout the world.”
Source: Woolpert
About Woolpert
Woolpert is an architecture, engineering and geospatial consulting firm founded in 1911 and headquartered in Dayton, OH. The company provides design, planning, surveying and geospatial data services to public, private and government clients. Its markets include aviation, transportation, water, energy and commercial infrastructure. Woolpert supports projects through engineering design, mapping, asset management and technology integration. The firm combines surveying and geospatial data with engineering to support construction and infrastructure programs. It operates more than 75 offices across five continents and serves local, national and international customers. Industry publications rank Woolpert among the Top 25 firms in Building Design+Construction, a Top 50 Engineering News-Record Design firm and a Global Top 100 Geospatial company. The company employs about 3,200 people worldwide.
About UMC
UMC Architects is an architecture and urban design firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. It provides master planning, concept design, planning applications, detailed design, BIM, feasibility studies, refurbishment, and design coordination services. The firm serves industrial, logistics, manufacturing, energy, commercial, transportation, and media sectors, working with developers, contractors, funders, and occupiers. It designs warehouses, distribution centers, data centers, television and entertainment facilities, and mixed-use developments across the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and the Middle East. Its work spans planning, design development, and coordination across project lifecycles. The company operates offices in Newark, Manchester, and London.