Architectus

Every young Australian deserves a home.  Next Friday, we’ll cycle, walk and run our way toward eradicating youth homelessness with Tour de PIF. We’re proud to support the property and construction industry’s leading fitness challenge to raise money for homeless youth, and today is your chance to double your impact with FDC Construction & Fitout matching every dollar donated up to $10,000. As a major sponsor for the first time, this year we also celebrate our long-standing relationship with the Property Industry Foundation, which began in 2006. Joining our team of 32 Architectus colleagues is our very own CEO, Ray Brown, who’s gearing up to conquer the 60km cycling route. “At Architectus, we’re passionate about positively influencing the cities we live in, with human experience at the heart of everything we do,” says Laura Cockburn, Principal and Sydney Studio Leader. “We’re privileged to support the Foundation’s work in creating safe and supportive housing for homeless youth.” Want to join us in making a difference? Every donation, big or small, counts. Please consider supporting our team on their Tour de PIF journey by donating through the link below: https://lnkd.in/gNCreeuJ #TourdePif #Responsibility #PiF #tourdepif #donate

The devil is literally in the details.   In case you missed the opening of Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane last week, the monumental entertainment and leisure precinct represents a vision for the sub-tropical city’s future. Just as importantly, it also reveals a slice of its history.     We’ve spent the last 5 years working on four of the nine Queensland State Listed heritage buildings within the precinct. They represent a core of early 19th century buildings that comprise Queensland’s early government and administrative precinct. “It has been great privilege to work on this group of highly significant buildings, in upgrading them for reuse within the Queens Wharf precinct. These buildings will be accessible to the public and will form a key part of their engagement experience within the new QW precinct” says Heritage Sector Leader David Gole.   The former Printery, has had a base build upgrade completed and ready for potential new use as a retail precinct. The original architect for the building, FDG Stanley, incorporated the Printery’s mascot and mantra that ‘the devil is in the detail’, into stone carvings on the building. If you keep an eye out, you’ll see the new structural plates featuring small devil heads as an ode to the building’s original architects, uses and tenants.     The contrast of these century old buildings with the new architecture of Queens Wharf contributes to a vibrant and diverse city experience. As one of Queensland’s oldest firms, there is a great sense of pride to reveal our city’s stories as it launches into a new era of tourism and growth.    See more of our heritage work here: https://lnkd.in/gMx2ys8b #QueensWharf #brisbane #brisbanearchitecture #queenslandarchitecture #heritage #reuse #adaptivereuse #brisbaneheritage Photos by Christopher Wardle and Amy Court

Designing Allianz’s new workplace strategy came with a unique brief. How do you create places of respite for staff, who look after customers in times of need? It’s a delicate matter.   With the opening of two new offices in Brisbane and Adelaide, Allianz has embarked on a new era of workplace strategy, renewing their focus on staff wellbeing as one of Australia’s leading insurance providers. A key element to both projects were the ‘central stairs,’ planned around social and respite zones. In these new spaces, the stair isn't just a means of transportation; it's a central feature designed to foster connection, collaboration, and a sense of community. By positioning the stairs back-of-house and surrounding them with social and respite zones, employees can easily interact and recharge. The result is a workplace that feels more like a community than a corporate environment. “We’ve set out to create environments that draw employees back to the workplace, where they feel supported and connected while assisting customers in their times of need,” said Architectus Principal, Troy King, who led the Brisbane fit out. In Adelaide, project lead Andrew Schunke explains, “The colour palette helps to define the mood of the spaces – the street being fun, and the retreat areas calm, adopting a biophilic approach similar to Brisbane, with lush landscaping, green tones and warm timbers.” In cities across Australia, workplaces are evolving to create purpose designed spaces for the needs for their staff - tech enabled, comforting and engaging. Allianz's offices now reflect the commitment to their people. Learn more about our workplace design and methodology here: https://lnkd.in/gpA3_4tJ #workplace #design #architecture #innovation #staircase #community #Allianz #Architectus

Australia’s population is getting older. This demographic shift has reinvented what it means to age in our cities and Rendu Towers offers Brisbane a pioneering project for connected living. Today we can share our first photos of the integrated vertical development designed to offer seniors an inclusive community in the heart of the city. The dual tower for Ozcare provides a continuum of care within one location, from retirement living at Rendu Towers to aged care and specialist dementia support in Villa Rosalie. It offers a diversity of choices for residents to adjust the level of care and support they need to optimise their later years. “People who live in the city, want to stay in the city – this development caters to a growing demographic of seniors that want to stay connected to their community and families.  They want to enjoy all the benefits of an urban lifestyle while knowing they have access to the best support and care as they age,” said Architectus Conrad Gargett Principal, John Flynn.  Located in Newstead, one of Brisbane’s most sought-after inner-city suburbs, the project challenges common stigmas of isolation when it comes to senior living developments. Residents can stay connected to the city’s newest venues with easy access to public transport. Community connection is the focus, from social roof terraces for residents down to the street level, where a purpose designed public park invites the neighbourhood in.  Challenge the way you think about ageing in our cities by reading more: https://lnkd.in/gautv4Rz #ageinginplace #ageingpopulation #agedcare #retirementvillage #brisbane #verticalliving #community #retirementliving

We’re one step closer to realising Bank Street Park – a landmark urban renewal project on the edge of Sydney Harbour proudly funded by the NSW Government. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure under delegation for the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has just approved plans to transform the 1.1 hectares into a place of recreation with a naturalistic form and character against the backdrop of Sydney’s iconic Anzac Bridge. Designing for, of and with Country has been integral to the design process for the park and focuses on healing, revealing and caring for the land and its heritage. Underutilised land that’s been fenced off from the community for decades will become a green and accessible waterfront park. As the first stage of the area's urban renewal, this new park will support a range of recreational facilities including a cycleway, walkways, community spaces, public art, and improved access for kayakers and paddlers. Congratulations to our urban planning team who provided project management and planning services to prepare the State Significant Development Application (SSDA), including the Scoping Report and Environmental Impact Statement and Response to Submissions Report. This detailed assessment of biodiversity, heritage, traffic, social impacts, and more has created a bedrock of sustainable principles for the future uses of the site. The park was designed by landscape architect Oculus design with Collins and Turner Architects, Greenshoot Consulting and Greenaway Architecture. We’re proud to have contributed to a piece of urban renewal that will contribute to Sydney’s vibrant future. Learn more about this waterfront community space here: https://lnkd.in/g7M78TRE #urbanrenewal #sydney #sydneyarchitecture #cityplanning #greenspace Arterra Interactive animation

Port Moresby’s aspirations for a vibrant and connected future have driven the design response for Portside Gardens’ master plan. We’re excited to reveal our recent work with Kumul Consolidated Holdings.      With exceptional front-row views over Port Moresby Harbour this development site, named Portside Gardens, represents an opportunity along the city foreshore never to be built-out. It has remarkable potential to represent Papua New Guinean aspirations for a future that is proudly optimistic, contemporary, and distinctly Melanesian.    Principal Luke Johnson, who has been involved with this harbour site for many years reflects, "The master plan delivers an appropriately tropical urban design and architectural response, supported by landscaping at all levels, from an activated public domain to suspended terrace gardens.”     Architectus has worked closely with Kumul Consolidated Holdings and its advisors Ashton Brunswick, to advance a master plan that will positively develop Port Moresby’s future city potential and connect with multiple foreshore developments along the harbour’s edge into a successfully linked network of urban maritime spaces.  Read more about this city-shaping project here: https://lnkd.in/gNE6gBHc #urbanrenewal #citplanning #urbanplanning #masterplan

“On behalf of the people of Sydney, we are glad you’re here.” - Lord Mayor, Clover Moore AO. Last night we were honored to welcome Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, to speak at the celebration of our transformed Sydney studio.  “Architectus is one of a new generation of dynamic design firms – commercially minded with a focus on delivery, costs and timing, and with a strong design ethos.” It was a night for connection, with many of our clients and collaborators in the room to celebrate the work of our Workplace team in re-imagining the space. Sydney has been buzzing with talk about the projects shaping the city, including the freshly-opened Sydney Metro and the Central Precinct Renewal Project. Thank you Lord Mayor for sharing your vision for Sydney and the importance of design and architecture in shaping our city. Your words resonated with our commitment to creating meaningful and sustainable spaces that enhance the lives of our community. Cheers, and here’s to continuing to collaborate with our clients, partners, and colleagues to create exceptional design solutions that make a positive impact. See more here: https://lnkd.in/gY7uARHu #Architectus #Sydney #NewStudio #Collaboration #Community #Design #Architecture #SustainableDesign 

How can we transform traditional classrooms into dynamic spaces that engage students? For the past ten years, we’ve been collaborating with State governments across Australia to answer this question. During this decade, our approach to public school design has evolved. Take Truganina Schools in Victoria as an example. Four projects split across two sites, comprising an Early Learning Centre, a Primary School, a Junior Secondary College and a Senior Secondary College.  The diagrams below illustrate how we re-interpreted the traditional timber classroom of the 1950s to create welcoming spaces for today’s diverse student groups.   Recognising the pressure on Victoria’s Department of Education to deliver 100 schools by 2026, we developed a streamlined design process, which enabled us to balance State School budgets with efficient construction methods. As Senior Associate Kate McKenzie-McHarg who led the design for Truganina says, “The Truganina Schools Projects allowed us to re-evaluate the journey of learners from the very early years, all the way to graduation. The fast-growing Truganina community is incredibly diverse, and we wanted to ensure that learners from all backgrounds would feel a sense of belonging. Our red-paved Welcome forecourts acknowledge the Traditional Owners, the Bunurong clan Kurung Jang Balug (‘red ground people’) and provide a gathering space for both the schools and the community”. Looking ahead, Melbourne’s transformation into a bustling metropolis of nearly 8 million people will reshape the city. As the city evolves, so too will its schools. The future of education demands innovative and sustainable learning environments.  Schools impact communities far beyond their immediate users. We recognise the role that new schools play in emerging communities: an anchor and a heart, they are critical to sustaining connections and ensuring social engagement for the whole community. That’s why our education sector is part of our Communities portfolio, led by Group Director Mark van den Enden Reach out to Kate McKenzie-McHarg or Mark van den Enden, or learn more about the changing landscape of state school design here: https://lnkd.in/gGKR3VYM #schoolarchitecture #schoolbuilding #schooldesign #learningspaces #educationdesign #educationfuture #schoolconstruction #futureofeducation #edtech #designthinking

Leading the way for our latest round of promotions are two formidable experts, each working in unique spaces. Congratulations to Dr Kellee Frith and Elizabeth Seuseu, our new Associate Principals. Kellee is an Education Environments Strategist who’s skilled in articulating the links between pedagogy and design, identifying opportunities to enrich the physical environment and foster diverse, and connected teaching and learning experiences. Her work on award-winning projects such as The Clendon Centre at Loreto Toorak and Carey Baptist Grammar Middle School shows how a partnership between strategy and design leads to exceptional outcomes. An Architect in the Living sector, Liz has worked on everything from high-end residential projects to social housing to mixed-use commercial developments. In recent years, she has played a key role in bringing valuable new work into the practice, including Collins Wharf 5 & 6. At Architectus Aotearoa, she led the delivery of the award-winning Wynyard Central development in Auckland. These promotions span across a range of sectors and markets, including 15 staff who have been elevated to Senior Associate and Associate, and 24 graduates who will step up in the role of Designer. These positions represent our next-gen design professionals who bring energy, passion and focus to our studios, for our clients each and every day. Read about our next generation of leadership here: https://lnkd.in/gvZgWe54 #designexcellence #leadership #eduationstrategy #residentialdesign #multires #education

Six years in the making, our dedicated rail team enjoyed the grand opening of Sydney’s Barangaroo Station with hundreds of commuters early this morning. The redevelopment of the Barangaroo precinct has been one of the most significant urban renewal projects for Sydney in recent times. The station, designed by Foster + Partners with Architectus as the Executive Architect, is part of the Sydney Metro network, providing vital connection to the emerging harbourside precinct of Barangaroo.     Located approximately 20 metres below street level, the space is characterised by simplicity and clarity, ensuring comfort and safety for a diverse range of users.       Architectus Principal and Sector Lead – Rail, Amanda Kershaw said: “Challenged to create a flagship underground station within the new cultural precinct of Barangaroo, our collaborative team of talented architects have delivered an inspiring outcome which is both connected to the place and an operational efficient transport solution.”     Barangaroo Station’s identity is forged through the use of local sandstone. Each material has been selected for longevity and durability – to ensure this transport hub will serve the community for decades to come. Learn more about this city shaping project here: https://lnkd.in/gAMWdiFJ This opening day is a celebration not only for our design team Liam Fitzgerald, Vivian Liu, Adriana Alvarez Salaverria, but a testament to our wider project team Mott MacDonald, Arcadis, Foster + Partners, Arcadia Landscape Architecture, GROUP DLA, BESIX Watpac #sydneymetro #stationdesign #cityplanning #publictransport #urbandesign #openday #metrostation #barangaroo #australianarchitecture Photographer Brett Boardman got in early before the rush, to capture these images alongside our team's photos.