Author: Digital Ops

Job opportunity: Koning Eizenberg Architecture

Koning Eizenberg Architecture, an award-winning design firm in Los Angeles, is searching for an entry to mid-level candidate (2-3 years experience) to work on project teams in various stages of design with a focus on production drawings in Revit. The desired candidate will have skills and experiences that range from schematic design to construction documents. Minimum qualifications include strong technical and effective communication skills; experience developing designs; experience working with a team to produce working drawings with guidance. The following skills are a plus: experience working with multi-disciplinary teams for projects from $5M- $60M. The firm values design and is looking for candidates that share this interest and bring an ability to contribute to and realize design intentions.

Please email resume, portfolio and documentation of experience with above skills in an 8.5×11 PDF no larger than 5 MB to info@kearch.com with subject line ‘Designer’.

From the National President

26 April

This week, 1000 delegates will descend on Adelaide as our 2016 National Architecture Conference comes to town!

How Soon is Now will present us with a global view of architecture’s transformative power, and the people, practices and projects addressing the future. Together, we will investigate resilience, society, equity and agency.

I wish the Creative Directors Cameron Bruhn, Ben Hewett and Sam Spurr and the Institute team the very best. I am sure it will be a great success.

For those of you who are coming, I look forward to seeing you there!

For more information visit the website.

Last week we issued the Notice of AGM and the 2015 Annual Report. The AGM will be held on Friday 13 May. As we have previously advised, on the voting agenda are the changes to our governance structure to assist us with overcoming a number of associated challenges. These are some of the most important changes that have been introduced to our constitution in many years. I will be voting in support of these changes, which have been implemented and unanimously supported by your National Council. Together, we need to support these changes to establish a more progressive and accountable organisation. Please join with me and your National Council and vote ‘YES’!

This is my last e-news column as National President before I hand over the reins to Ken Maher. While my tenure has involved a range of challenges it has also been a very rewarding experience and clearly the most enjoyable aspect has been the regular opportunity to meet and work with a huge number of members who are committed to volunteering their time in support of our profession.

I have greatly appreciated the support of my fellow National Councillors over the past four years – your views have been varied and passionate but most importantly I have appreciated the common courtesy among our table that has allowed everyone to make a valuable contribution and to have their say.

The extensive commitment given by National Council over this past year has been critical to progressing a much needed process of reform and it demonstrates that our National Council is focused on improving our organisation across all levels in support of all members. In particular, I would like to thank the Executive Committee for their extensive support and the Immediate Past President David Karotkin for his leadership surrounding the Governance reforms. I offer my best wishes to Ken Maher, who will shortly be inaugurated as National President at the AGM alongside Richard Kirk as President-Elect.

In closing I would like to thank Greg Ridder and the entire team at the Institute. Greg’s assistance during our transition phase has been greatly appreciated by the Institute team and National Council and he has provided significant support and guidance while we navigate our way through a period of change.

Greg Ridder will shortly depart the Institute following his tenure as Interim CEO. Our organisation is supported by a fantastic group of talented and passionate staff who are looking forward to developing a fresh perspective for the Institute under the leadership of Jennifer Cunich, who will commence as our new CEO on the 16 May.

It has been a challenging year for us however I feel genuinely optimistic about the future of our organisation and I look forward to the Institute having a more effective and accountable relationship with all of our members moving forwards …

Jon Clements
National President

Advocacy and Policy Update

Apr 2016
 

This month

 

 

National Construction Code 2016

NCC 2016 is currently available online and will come into effect on 1 May. The Institute made a number of recommendations for changes to the code. Proposals that did not proceed to inclusion in the 2016 edition were the energy efficiency verification methods JV2 Stated value and JV3 Reference building for class 2 buildings. In response to industry feedback, the Australian Building Codes Board intends to consult more widely with industry on these items.

 

The review of the NCC is on a 3 year cycle. Proposals for change for the NCC 2019 are open from now until 1 Sep 2017 and public comment will be taken from 1 Feb 2018 to 13 Apr 2018. If you have any comments you would like the Institute to put forward on your behalf, please forward them to policy@architecture.com.au

 

 

What you said

The member survey issued in February asked members to rank public policy issues according to their importance. The top five issues are:

  1. Quality of the built outcome (60.87%)
  2. Climate change adaptation and mitigation (49.92%)
  3. Affordable housing (42.34%)
  4. Long term infrastructure planning and funding (38.92%)
  5. Reducing red tape in the planning, development, building and construction processes (35.30%)

 

This will inform the Institute’s position for the upcoming Federal election.

 

The Value of Design

The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia conducted Gallup Poll on how the community values design. Almost all Australians (97%) believe that cities and towns are better to live in when public buildings and public spaces are well designed. People appreciate good design. Almost everyone also agrees that each of seven design aspects of public buildings is important. The design aspects of public buildings and spaces that have the greatest level of importance for Australians are ‘the building makes good use of space’ (70% say ‘very important’) and ‘that open space is provided for the use and enjoyment of the public’ (66% say ‘very important’). Find out more results from the Gallup Poll.

 

 

Advocacy in Victoria

The Victorian Chapter has strengthened relationships with Government as an outcome of a number of events and initiatives. The Chapter is partnering with the OVGA (Office of Victorian Government Architect) to deliver a response to the Christmas bushfires in Wye River that saw around 130 homes lost. Rather than repeat the bushfire response from the 2009 Black Saturday fires, the Chapter is working with a number of members and the OVGA to stage a public exhibition plus design advisory support for those that lost homes in the fires.

 

In another initiative, the Chapter provided last minute support to Creative Victoria to help them deliver a program of events for two design-focussed trade missions (Hong Kong and Italy) that visited Melbourne during Melbourne Fashion week.

 

The Chapter continues to engage with the Government on the introduction of Apartment Design Guidelines; the refresh of Plan Melbourne; a new review of the residential zones reform process that occurred under the previous government; the continued fallout from the Lacrosse building fire in Nov 2014; the development of the Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; and the review of the interim height controls put in place in 2015.

 

In terms of  the Lacrosse Fire, the VBA in February published a report detailing the findings of its external wall cladding audit and the steps they will take in relation to these findings. The VBA audit concluded that the rate of non-compliance was high (51%) but was of a low risk and all buildings remain safe to occupy. Also identified were issues with documentation and design detail and that decision made by different categories of building practitioner throughout the construction process contributed to the rate of non-compliance. The Chapter will continue to consult with the VBA alongside other stakeholders, and are using this forum to advocate for the registration of Project Managers. The VBA has released a technical advisory note on the use of cladding on high rise buildings.

 

The Victorian Chapter has been involved in a number of Government/industry roundtables advising on the development of industry strategies to sit behind the newly launched Future Industries Fund.  The $200 million Future Industries Fund is focused on industry sectors that have the potential to drive significant jobs growth and investment in Victoria. Architecture sits within 2 of the 8 strategies: Construction Technology Strategy and Professional Services Sector Strategy.

 

Canberra – City and Gateway Urban Renewal

The ACT Chapter made detailed comment on the city and gateway urban renewal strategy put forward by government. The chapter is supporting, in principle, development at higher density along the transport network, as it allows increased accommodation within the current urban boundary. However, it believes that government has not provided enough information for the community to provide adequate feedback.

 

 

ACT Government Tendering

Members have raised concerns with government about recent tendering practices, including the following:

  • The unacceptable risk to medium and small design firms, and builders who would not be able to participate in the process.
  • Government will not necessarily get the best outcome, because many builders and designers have excluded themselves from the process.
  • The threat to the local economy if all the work is contracted to interstate firms.
  • Protection of IP

 

 

Darwin Inner and Mid Suburbs Area Plans

The NT Chapter made submissions on the Darwin Inner and Mid Suburbs Area Plans, making a number of detailed comments. The Chapter is encouraging government to be more ambitious in its response to the future urban development and maturation of

Darwin.

 

 

Powerhouse Museum – Sydney

The NSW Premier has proposed moving the museum to a purpose-built building in Parramatta as a major addition to cultural facilities in Western Sydney. The new facility would be funded by the sale of the museum’s Sydney site for residential development.

The Institute’s NSW Chapter strongly endorses the new facility as an addition to the Ultimo museum, but opposes the demolition. The adaptive reuse of the historic power station building won the Sulman Medal in 1988. It is listed on the Chapter’s non-statutory Register of Significant Architecture and on the statutory Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012.

 

 

Design Excellence in Parramatta

Parramatta City Council has released a discussion paper with a set of proposals aimed at exerting greater control over major developments in Sydney’s second city. They include appointment of a City Architect, creation of Design Excellence Review Panels and mandatory competitions for buildings above a designated threshold. The NSW Chapter has delivered a submission endorsing the broad thrust of the proposals.

 

 

Built Environment Meets Parliament NSW

The national Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) initiative has been strongly supported by the Institute since its first event in 2008. The NSW Chapter has also been involved in the planning for a Built Environment Meets Parliament event in the NSW Parliament in August this year. Consult Australia is coordinating this inaugural event.

 

 

Development Assessment Panels (WA)

The WA Chapter affirmed its support for Development Assessment Panels following recent media attention casting doubt over the efficacy of the system. The chapter believes that DAPs have worked well since their inception in 2011 and that it is inherently better that major developments are decided after professional consideration, rather than sometimes short sighted activism and very localised politics.

 

 

Smart ICT in the design and planning of infrastructure

 

A more coordinated and integrated approach to the development and application of smart ICT to infrastructure is one of the key recommendations to Government in a report released by the House of Representatives Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities.

The central recommendation of the report is the formation of a Smart Infrastructure Task Force—based on the UK model—to provide national coordination between governments, industry and researchers.

 

 

National Carbon Offset Standard will be extended to buildings, precincts and cities

The federal government has announced the National Carbon Offset Standard will be extended to buildings, precincts and cities, expanding the standard’s reach from carbon neutral businesses, products, services and events. The government is in the process of establishing an expert committee for carbon neutral precincts and cities, with the goal to have Australia’s first officially certified and operating carbon neutral precinct or city by January 2017. The committee will have representation from major cities, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the Green Building Council of Australia, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

 

Governance proposal update

It’s almost the end of the consultation period for the proposed governance changes which will be considered at the AGM in May.

The period for members to provide feedback for consideration for the final form of the proposed changes closes tomorrow at 8pm AET.

You have until then to have your say at constitution@architecture.com.au.

There has been a request from the Institute’s Gender Equity Committee that there be specific rules requiring gender balance inserted into the Articles for appointments to the Board.

There’s no question over support for gender balance and we had intended to enshrine this aspiration in the respective National Council and Board Charters. Having considered the feedback however, we are now reviewing how this might be included in the revised Articles, as a mandatory requirement, in a manner that will deliver gender balance and still maintain an appropriately democratic process for appointments by the elected members on the National Council. We are consulting with the Gender Equity Committee and will advise the outcome of these deliberations when the final version of the proposed changes are issued to members in a couple of weeks.

Other responses so far have generally been positive. There have been a number of queries about the extent of National Council’s influence on the proposed Board.

It’s not legally possible for the National Council to dictate to the Board what it should do. However, we’ve put in a number of measures to make sure the Board is very aware of National Council’s priorities, suggestions, strategies and responses to member needs, as follows:

  • National Council elects all the Board members one way or another, and except for the president (who has already been ordained as the president-elect the year before) and the Immediate Past President, the other board positions come up for renewal every year.
  • The quorum, and make-up of the Board at its full capacity, prevent the National Councillors on the Board being outvoted by the independent members.
  • National Council will generate the Board’s Charter, nominating which kinds of matters it requires the Board to consult it about.
  • By separating the two so that the Board deals with the legal, compliance and other fiduciary matters, the National Council will have more time to concentrate on the things that matter for you, the members.

 

To those of you that have provided feedback already, thank you. For everyone else you can still have your say at constitution@architecture.com.au before 8pm AET tomorrow. We also encourage eligible members to vote at the AGM in person or by proxy.

Women in Architecture: Kirsten Orr

Professor Kirsten Orr, Head of School of Architecture & Design, University of Tasmania

Dr Kirsten Orr is an academic and registered architect (TAS & NSW) with extensive practice experience. Prior to joining the University of Tasmania in March 2016, she was Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney (1996 – 2015). Her research and teaching balance traditional academic research with contemporary practice-based investigation and are underpinned by a deep interest in Australian architecture and material culture.

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Kirsten Orr, photo by Ben Wild

 

What do you enjoy most in the practice of architecture?

I am passionate about educating the next generation of architects and my teaching seeks to strengthen the practice-based research skills and innovative mindsets that will enable my students to keep pace with, and push the boundaries of, architectural practice into the future. I regularly integrate prototyping activities into my teaching to stimulate student creativity and foster an effective learning environment by mediating between the virtual world of the computer screen and design principles, materials, fabrication processes and construction techniques. This is enhanced by research-led teaching partnerships with industry and ‘live’ projects for community organisations. My innovative teaching approaches were recognised in 2011 when I was awarded a competitive Teaching and Learning Citation by the University of Technology Sydney.

 

Can you tell us about a key project that you have been involved in?

A long-term student project for Ku-ring-gai Council from 2009-2013 culminated in the construction of a precast concrete park structure to the students’ design at Greengate Park in Killara, Sydney. It was awarded the 2014 Parks and Leisure Australia Award for Open Space Development (NSW). The project involved partnerships with industrial fabricators and structural engineers, including Make Good Pty Ltd, a fabricator with a 5-axis CNC milling machine suitable for architectural applications; Warringah Plastics, a fabricator with 5-axis CNC milling and vacuum forming equipment; and Partridge, structural engineers.  Along the way, numerous prototypes were constructed at half- and full-scale exploring different CNC processes and innovative materials. One prototype was a shell of folded ‘Alucobond’ composite panels on a high-tech timber structure, and another comprised mass-customised vacuum formed plastic panels for a roof canopy.  An article on this project is due to be published in the Brookes eJournal of Learning and Teaching in 2016.

In 2015, I established a new partnership with Austral Bricks in a Master of Architecture design studio that spanned theoretical and practical work to explore the tectonic potentials of clay brick, one of the most ubiquitous materials in suburban Australia. In particular, it investigated new ways of assembling and detailing brick, emphasising the experimental and the applied and endeavouring to understand the complex relationships between ideas of craft, workmanship, play, discovery and innovation as they apply to a real architectural project.  Students produced a series of experimental brick assemblages to establish their own individual material languages, which were then applied in designs for a park amenities block at North Turramurra Recreation Area in a live project for Ku-ring-gai Council.  The studio questioned the status of brick in local government architecture and the emerging practices and innovative architectural approaches that may lead to its redeployment. While the utilitarian amenities block typology typically falls outside the “architectural canon,” this investigation is nevertheless important to sustaining, enhancing and innovating municipal architecture in an era of extensive redevelopment.

Collaborations such as these enrich student learning by emulating architectural practice and integrating all strands of disciplinary knowledge.  They also have the potential to introduce new synergies and mindsets within the architectural profession and construction industry.

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Students at Austral Bricks, 2015. Photo by Kirsten Orr

 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a woman in architecture and how did you overcome it?

In 2006, there was a fundamental shift in the ethos of the Architecture Program at the University of Technology Sydney when it moved from being a practice-based, part-time course to becoming a full-time course.  This demanded the reimagining of what an architectural education at a university of “technology” could be.  I embraced the opportunity to take the UTS curriculum in new directions and embarked on a tour of Asia and Europe to benchmark best international teaching practice in both Architectural Design and Architectural Technology.  Among other places, I visited the National University of Singapore, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture – Paris Malaquais, and the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London.  What I saw had an enormous impact and shaped my new approaches to learning and teaching, including the introduction of prototyping activities integrating parametric design technologies (Rhinoceros© with Grasshopper© plug-in) and computer numerically controlled fabrication technologies.  I haven’t looked back.

 

What are you looking forward to in your career?

I am looking forward to bringing my diverse range of skills and experiences derived from academia and architectural practice to bear on my new role at the University of Tasmania as the Head of School of Architecture & Design.  After twenty years at the University of Technology Sydney, this will be an exciting and challenging new chapter in my career.  In particular, I am looking forward to building upon the School’s existing strengths in learning-by-making and community projects to realise the full potential of its nationally distinct workshop facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.

 

What do you see as your core strength in the practice of architecture?

As a registered architect who also has PhD, I am able to bring unique perspectives that straddle the demands of the architecture professional and Australian university context. My comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelationships between the university sector, the architectural profession and the workings of State and Federal Government allow me to provide substantial professional leadership and I have held appointments to all of the major Australian government and professional bodies regulating the practice of architecture, the education of architecture students, and the accreditation of Australian architecture programs.  I am currently

  • Chair, National Education Committee, Australian Institute of Architects
  • Chair, Australian Architectural Education and Competency Framework Project, a joint project of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), Institute, Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA), and Australian Deans of Built Environment & Design (ADBED)
  • Executive Member and Incoming President, Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA)
  • Member, National Panel to review the Australia and New Zealand Accreditation Procedure (ANZ APAP), a joint project of the AACA and Institute
  • Member, 2016 Awards Jury for the Tasmanian Chapter Architecture Awards, Australian Institute of Architects

From the National President

28 Mar 2016

The first National Council meeting of the year was held from 17 to 18 March in Canberra.

Our newly elected National Councillors include Rob Henry, ACT Chapter President; Bruce Wolfe, Qld Chapter President; Andrew Broffman, NT Chapter President; Vanessa Bird, Vic Chapter President; Clare Cousins, Nationally Elected Councillor and Richard Kirk, Nationally Elected Councillor. One of our key items on the agenda was the Election of Office Bearers. I would like to congratulate Richard Kirk who was elected as our next National President (following Ken Maher) and Helen Lochhead and Philip Griffiths who were elected as Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary respectively.

Our new Executive Committee now comprises:

President: Jon Clements
President Elect: Ken Maher
Immediate Past President: David Karotkin
Incoming President Elect: Richard Kirk
Hon Treasurer: Helen Lochhead
Hon Secretary: Philip Griffiths

The Governance Review was discussed at great length and the proposed changes to our constitutional changes were refined with input from the full council.

Last week we emailed members about the proposed changes to the Institute’s Governance structure and the draft submission is now online for review until 5 April. Your feedback is welcome and will be collated and considered by the Executive Committee and Clayton Utz. Any necessary amendments will be incorporated into the final submission, which will be detailed in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, issued to members with voting rights on 22 April. Feedback to date has been very encouraging and it is clearly an issue that many of you feel very passionate about. I encourage you to review the draft constitutional changes carefully and if you have any concerns or suggestions please detail your thoughts in an email to constitution@architecture.com.au.

Jon Clements

National Gender Equity Committee update

The National Gender Equity Committee has been up and running for almost 2 years now – and when I say running I mean it! There has been so much work to do to come up to speed in the gender equity space, to understand what individual Chapter Councils were doing and then to work out where we could fit in at a strategic and practical level.

With an intentional mix of members representing almost every chapter, a mix of men and women from small, medium, and large practices as well as academia, we have been able to establish ourselves as a unified voice from a diverse background.

Early last year we established core areas in which we would focus our attention, namely:

  • Awards and Prizes
  • CPD programmes
  • Profiling women
  • Opportunities for women
  • Institute policy
  • Relationships

 

In each of these, we sought to establish what had been done or what was being done and participate in these discussions in order to push them forward.  It’s an exciting work in progress but I can report the following:

  • We have reviewed the Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct to propose the inclusion of a 5th Principle “The Obligation to Employees”. Ensuring consideration is given to equity and opportunity in the workplace.  This is currently under review by National Council.
  • We initiated a CPD event in Melbourne based on the idea of flexibility in the workplace. This was extremely informative and importantly was filmed and made available online, thus ensuring members have flexibility in how they access this if they were unable to attend the session.
  • We have been working with the national CPD coordinator to include a gender balance in the presentation of the CPD programme but also to include topics that are of interest to men and women as part of the professional development stream.
  • We are in the final stages of developing a National Prize for leadership in equity in architecture. This will be included as part of the AAAA awards.
  • We undertook an audit based on the selection process for juries for architecture awards to ensure equity in their make-up.
  • We advocated for and were able to establish a partnership with Parlour. This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to reach out and connect with non-members as well as to enable Parlour to maintain an independent voice in the gender equity space.  Through this partnership, we will be holding a symposium in the lead up to the National Conference in Adelaide around the role of women in transforming the city – stay tuned!
  • We have developed profile pieces that have been included in the Institute National e-newsletter once a month. The purpose of this being to raise the profile of women in architecture and importantly to advocate for the range of experiences and career pathways.
  • We have been developing a resources list with the Institute and starting a conversation about the role the Institute might play in connecting people in short and long term ways to a range of work possibilities from 3 days of drawing markups to longer term roles.

 

Towards the end of 2015 we had our second face-to-face meeting for the year and established our primary goal for 2016 – to continue to undertake and agitate in each of the areas we have identified but importantly to step up the communication and get this progress out there!

To that end, we look forward to posting more updates on Parlour, to having more news included in the Institutes communications and working to continue to raise the profile of all the amazing women out there!

Through our partnership with Parlour, we are looking forward to continuing the conversation around how to take positive steps to overcome the barriers for many women for meaningful careers in architecture.

2016 also marks an important period of change for the committee with the need to replace four members who have completed their term. With so much change happening at a senior level within the Institute management structure this is the perfect time to make an impact!

 

Emma Williamson
Chair, National Committee for Gender Equity

From the Interim CEO

14 Mar 16

I am looking forward to visiting Chapters in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland over the coming weeks. I will have a chance to speak to staff in person as well as attend some Chapter councils and events. This will be an opportunity for me to get a very real sense of how the Institute’s recent changes have impacted at a local level, as well as discussing the positive signs of progress and near-term improvements the organisation is making.

How Soon is Now is only six weeks away. Our National events team and the Creative Directors are deep into their work for this year’s Conference, which is, as you know, held in Adelaide this year. We have recently announced some new speakers, the seminar program is finalised and the fringe program is locked in. Be sure to visit the website for details.

In addition, we are hosting the Achievement in Architecture Awards during Conference this year – for the very first time. We think this is a great way to open up the event to the wider membership and profession, a great context in which to celebrate the contribution that colleagues and peers have made to the profession of architecture.

 

Greg Ridder
Interim CEO

Women in Architecture: Clare Kwok

Clare Kwok, Associate at ClarkeHopkinsClarke (CHC)

Clare became a registered architect in 2011 and joined the CHC team in 2012. Originally working solely on retail projects, she has recently also joined the multi-residential sector of the practice. Her most prominent projects to date include design work on the Coburg North Shopping Centre that features a  ‘future’ Green Star Coles store (being used an example Australia-wide), the South Morang Central Shopping Centre and commercial offices at York St, South Melbourne.

 

Clarke Hopkins Clarke Staff Portraits
Clare Kwok, photo by Rachael Dere

 

What do you enjoy most in the practice of architecture?

Growing up I was constantly rearranging my bedroom and playing with Lego blocks; I felt the possibilities of design were endless. Today, through this industry I get to experience this on a much bigger scale.

I enjoy starting with a blank page and eventually being able to experience my design in a three dimension built form. I particularly enjoy the challenge of working with a team of different consultants to find solutions and ensure that a project’s social, commercial and financial conditions are met.

I feel architecture is one of few industries that allows professionals to be heavily involved in multiple disciplines at the same time, such as the retail and multi-residential sectors that I specialise in. It’s perfect for someone like me who grew up wanting to do everything!

 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a woman in architecture and how did you overcome it?

I think communication and understanding other perspectives is always a constant challenge, whether that refers to understanding cultural issues, language barriers or being a woman in a male-dominated industry. I have always taken the approach to try and meet these challenges head-on.

I think it is particularly important to ensure you have adequate support both at home and in the office.

Like all aspects of life, there will undoubtedly be situations at work where topics of conversation arise that you may have no interest (or understanding) in. I think the key is to take this in your stride and treat each experience as a potential opportunity to broaden your horizons. You never know, you might actually come to pick up a few things and it does help when your team is going pretty well (go the Hawks!!).

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South Morang Central Shopping Centre by CHC Architects, photo by Emily Bartlett

 

Who do you look up to in the architecture profession?

Les Clarke, one of CHC’s founders who still works in the practice today. It’s great having him in the office, seeing the way he carries himself, and observing how he just gets on with the work every day.

Les always reminds me to keep things simple and not to rely too heavily on technology. Good architecture always speaks for itself!

 

What are you looking forward to in your career?

Quite a lot! 2015 was a big year for me both personally and professionally and 2016 is shaping up to be even bigger.

I am looking forward to moving into a more senior role within the firm and broadening my experience into a new specialisation and sector (multi-residential).
As a new associate at CHC, I look back on all the support I received when I first started my career and think it is critical that we (and I) continue to develop and support the younger members of the firm. I look forward to being able to mentor and develop our junior staff and pass on all the knowledge I have gained over the years.

Similarly, I believe creating work-life balance is critical for a long career. I look forward to balancing my career with family life in the future and think as an industry we have an exciting opportunity to better support a growing number of working mums. I think we are experiencing an exciting time for women in architecture, with a lot more women (and mothers) achieving senior positions. I believe the opportunities are there if you take the initiative and establish what works for yourself and your office. Remember, flexibility is a two-way street.

 

What do you see as your core strength in the practice of architecture?

I believe my key strength is putting ideas into action and not waiting for someone else to fix the problem. I think having ‘can-do’ attitude as well as having a curious mind is an attribute that allows me to better experience all that the industry has to offer.

 

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Images (top to bottom): South Morang Central Shopping Centre by CHC Architects, photos by Emily Bartlett

2016 Membership Renewals Winners

2016 Membership Renewal Prize Winners Announced

 

Refund of 2016 Membership fee

J Arndt, Vic

M West, Qld

J Berryman, NT

B Zoontjens, SA

B Fenton, Tas

 

$100 book voucher

J Wohl, NSW

S Kwok, NSW

E Bell, ACT

X Carthew-Wakefield, Tas

E Dzinkic,  NSW

 

National Seminar Series Double Pass

G Wilson, NSW

K Kormendy, Qld

R Spencer, Qld

L Fretten, NSW

C Tierney, Vic

 

Continuum Pass

K J Mao, WA

R Ashford, NT

J Booth, SA

G Perlman, Qld

B Wray, Vic

G Keen, NT

S Harrison NSW

M Slavin, WA

K Campbell, SA

L Dicker, Vic

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

(Please note that all winners have been notified by telephone)