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It just makes sense when talking about the Preston-born architect John Bridge to begin with the bridge.
The new Old Tram Bridge, a project close to the hearts of people on either side of the Ribble, is set to open in 2025 and was designed by John Bridge.
It came after the old bridge was closed due to safety reasons and was replaced after many years of campaigning, funding from the government, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council, but also ideas from people like John Bridge.
And in a few different ways, the project sums up everything that Bridge has tried to achieve in his career to date.
He told Blog Preston: “I’m very proud of the work that we’ve done on the [Old Tram] bridge. With my name, I was destined to design a bridge at some point, but the cool thing is that it started as one of our ‘Golden Egg’ research and development projects.’”
The ‘Golden Egg’ projects refer to the studio’s concepts and ideas designed to stimulate conversation in Preston.
These have included the idea for a green eco-design glass canopy over Winckley Street to make outdoor dining possible on a more regular basis, redevelopment plans for Preston Docks that included an urban beach and floating hotel pods and an idea to turn St John’s Shopping Centre in micro-retail spaces in a unique part-indoor, part-outdoor space.
He said: “I took a plunge in 2019 doing these and they are a vision of an area, or a site, that we are just putting creative energy into and using it as a vehicle for advancements or even simply to start discussion for the good of Preston.
“If it sets an agenda and opens up a discussion to some investor, then that could be a gamechanger. It’s a healthy bit of pressure that can only benefit Preston.
And while, by Bridge’s own admission, these concepts have occasionally seen him given ‘a kick under the table’ for the expectations they can set, he says that the new bridge coming to fruition years later shows that they can be worthwhile.
It wasn’t always going to be bridges for John Bridge.
He started at college with a different career path in mind, different ideas and a different skill set altogether.
He said: “I went to Newman College first – I thought I was going to be a PE teacher. I was all about sport, but I was doing too much sport. I was on the England taekwondo team and I was doing a load of that, as well as basketball, football and all the rest of it.
“My other passion was art but then I had a really nice auntie who warned me that I wasn’t going to make money from art. She wasn’t digging at artists, but just trying to look out for me.
“I didn’t really know what an architect was when I was 17. But then I quickly found out by going to Preston College. Within two months of doing what was a BTEC, I got a job offer at Croft Goode (Architects) in Kirkham.
“They put me on a four day week in the studio and then one day a week at college – and that was me for 15 years.”
The path to becoming a qualified architect is not an easy one and often sees those walking it take on a lot of debt. But Bridge was able to study while working thanks to his employment at Croft Goode which meant he did not generate student debt, even if the learning process took longer than it would otherwise.
He adds: “I went from being active and not that academic to being grabbed by computers and digital design and expressing artistic creativity.
“And that really is what combined my sketching to the computer and that was a catalyst for me. The use of technology in design, and the buzz, brought out my inner geek before the architecture love happened.
“It took about a year of earning and learning to ‘oh, I know what an architect is now’. And then I just got hit with the bug. Spending every weekend away going to see a building and going on holidays intentionally with architects and buildings in mind.”
It was an itch to work on Preston-based projects that meant Bridge was most likely to strike out on his own.
He started Studio John Bridge in 2014 while also working with Frank Whittle Partnerships on a freelance basis to try to build a more Preston orientated portfolio of work. It was there he worked on the first project our readers could conjure immediately in their minds – the new Preston Markets.
He said: “Then by 2018, I had been building up my own projects having reduced my days at FWP. By the time the market opened I was ready to start really carving my path.”
That period in 2018 and 2019 is what John Bridge sees as the real beginning of his business, even if he had technically been trading since 2014.
Setting up a new business can be daunting and brings with it challenges for individuals from every background and skill level.
Bridge was able to utilise business support from Boost, which provides support for Lancashire business at all stages of growth including startups.
The company has received Boost support on a number of occasions including through a peer networking programme as well as received support from Boost’s Business Advice Service. The company is also currently receiving support from Boost’s Growth Catalyst programme.
He said: “I actually have used Boost a couple of times. I had a certain amount of hours of free business consultancy and currently I’ve got some business mentoring they’re helping with.
“In the past I’ve had marketing support, through a student at UCLan.
“The business mentoring, I’m on a second round from them, and it’s invaluable.
“They’ve offered great bits of advice. When I first started, it was how to grow by employing somebody. And then now it’s how to refine and create a business that’s able to grow and all the cogs are oiled. We want to be a 12-strong practice and they’re helping us get there.”
He views authenticity – as well as a viable business plan – as the most important things for anyone hoping to start out themselves.
He said: “Be authentic and enthusiastic. Dig into what gets you going and generates that motivation and if you get really good at that, and put the hours in, it’s going to emit in every bit of work you do.
“Whether it’s a café or a hairdressers or something more professional, if you can be authentic to yourself and your beliefs, that will give you the drive.
“You’ve got to make sure it’s commercial. But I’ve had the balance of paying the bottom line and doing the core-value-passion-projects and bringing spaces back to life.”
The core values of Studio John Bridge are to bring eco-design and sustainability into the projects they take on, and to try to generate a pride of place in Preston while doing so. His fingerprints are on buildings across Preston, from the new market and new bridge through to plans for the Harris Institute near Avenham Park, The Foxton Centre and more.
And he thinks Preston has plenty to be excited about in 2025.
He said: “What a great time 2025 is going to be. The Harris Museum is going to be back open, the Animate is opening before that. The Youth Zone, The Foxton Centre, The Harris Institute will all be happening.
“There’s a lot by other architects like David Cox and FWP.
“For those with negativity about what is happening, come and have a look in the city centre and see what’s going on. We’ve got so much good that’s coming to fruition that I genuinely believe that all it will take is a few pockets of regeneration and there’ll be a sudden new persona for Preston. And we want to be part of it.”
About Boost
Led by Lancashire County Council, supported by Government and ten local authorities, Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, one of 37 Growth Hubs in the UK. Since 2013, Boost has supported over 14,000 businesses.
From September 1 2023, Boost is funded by Lancashire County Council, Department for Business & Trade (DBT), and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations from ten Lancashire local authorities.
Boost’s local authority partners are Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Wyre Council.
Boost offers six core services including: Business Support Helpdesk, Business Advice Service: Growth Catalyst, Scale to Thrive, Flying Start, Access to Finance. The Business Support Helpdesk offers advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business and all new and existing businesses in Lancashire. Businesses located in the ten Boost local authority partner areas are eligible for the Business Advice Service, Flying Start, Growth Catalyst, Scale to Thrive and Access to Finance.
This feature was brought to you as part of a partnership series of stories about business in and around Preston, celebrating start-up and scale-up businesses in and around the city, in conjunction with Boost Lancashire. If you’re thinking of starting up a business or want help growing your existing business then speak to Boost Lancashire or give them a call on 08004880057 or email them to discover all the ways they can help your business ideas to grow.
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