Alsop's August statement was actively discussed in the British media: then no one suspected that it was just a "smoke screen" (as the architect himself called it), designed to divert attention from negotiations with RMJM. Then the issues of the relationship between architecture and painting in the work of the architect, the problem of the satisfaction of architects with their professional activities (Olsop named as one of the reasons for his decision his lack of demand in state and public construction programs, in particular, in the Olympic program). Observers assumed that Alsop would sooner or later return to architectural practice.
In reality, the architect did not even think to part with architecture: now it is only about his own bureau, which he has to leave. In 2006 he sold it to a large group of companies SMC (now - Archial), but retained the position of head of the workshop. In August 2009, it was announced that he would continue to play a consultant role there (his contract expires next February). Archial management now says that they will retain the Alsop brand for the time being, with key staff at the office taking care of current and future projects.
At RMJM, Alsop will take an important position in the London office, which is currently being reorganized: in the future, the branch will become the headquarters of this architecture firm, and the number of employees there will grow from 40 to 100-150 people. Some of these employees will work as part of Will Alsop's personal workshop, Will Alsop at RMJM.
Alsop himself says that cooperation with the global "giant" RMJM will give him a stronger base for working on overseas projects. He is also confident in preserving his creative freedom: RMJM collaborates with Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel, together with Enric Miralles implemented the complex of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
The British architectural community has so far reacted to the news about Alsop's "move to competitors" skeptically, if not negatively. His contradictory "sensational" statements became an excuse for an exercise in wit. For example, regarding RMJM - now the British press writes about this bureau mainly in connection with the approval of the project of the Gazprom tower in St. Petersburg, therefore the questions are asked: is the Okhta Center the same trick as the "Alsop, and is it planned to entrust him to remake this skyscraper - with a shortening by a couple of hundred meters. The "hero of the day" himself also got it: he was reminded of a catastrophic commercial biography (financial problems with his own workshop began in 2004, after only 4 years of sole leadership, so in 2006 he was forced to sell it to the successful SMC group, which - no matter how strange - soon it practically went bankrupt): now, supposedly, Alsop will begin to ruin RMJM.
