The Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour, the Gold Medal, has been awarded to the founding directors of ARM Architecture at the Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards.

ARM, based in Melbourne and Perth, are known for their contemporary, often daring, sometimes controversial designs.

As Australian Institute of Architects National President Jon Clements said, ‘This is a practice that has been a genuine leader, influencer, provocateur, culture builder and disseminator of ideas for nearly three decades, and at the core of the practice are three outstanding architects who have created some of the most extraordinary buildings in the short post-colonial history of this country.’

Established in 1988, ARM’s directors Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall have built a successful large-scale practice which has had a profound impact across the national design landscape.

ARM Architecture has been the recipient of 63 Institute awards including the coveted Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture at both the 2013 and 2015 National Architecture Awards. They have won the Victorian Architecture Medal a record five times.

Among their most notable works are Perth Arena in Western Australia, Storey Hall at RMIT University, the refurbishment of Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Hall and the practice’s decade-long reconfiguration of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

In addition to their built works all three have played significant roles as national ‘culture builders’ participating in exhibitions, lectures and national conferences along with educational roles with a deep commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of design thinkers. Both Ashton and McDougall have been Presidents of the Victorian Chapter of the Institute.

On receiving the honour Ian McDougall said ‘We’ve always been interested in architecture that tells stories about our lives, about our cities. It is humbling to have our ideas acknowledged in this way.’

Institute National President Jon Clements presented Ashton, Raggatt and McDougall the award at a special ceremony held at the Adelaide Oval on Friday 29 April following the first day of the National Architecture Conference.

The Gold Medal Jury was composed of Clements, Immediate Past President David Karotkin, Alice Hampson, Annabel Lahz and Professor Carey Lyon.

It is only the second time the accolade has been presented to a trio in its 56-year history.

Previous recipients of the Gold Medal include Glenn Murcutt, Jørn Utzon, Brit Andresen, Harry Seidler and Robin Boyd.

Leaders of the profession have been honoured at the 2016 Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards announced at a special ceremony at the Adelaide Oval on Friday 29 April.

The recipients, from students to stalwarts, were rewarded for their ongoing dedication to architecture across a range of activities including education, sustainability and international endeavours.

ARM Architecture founders – Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall – received the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour, the Gold Medal.

Architect Peter Maddison, best known as host of Grand Designs Australia, was awarded the National President’s Prize by Jon Clements ‘in recognition of his significant service to architecture outside practice’.

The Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize was presented to Professor Michael Ostwald, the Dean of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle. In awarding the honour the jury highlighted ‘his outstanding contributions in all areas of architectural education, the national and international impacts of which resonate beyond the university system’.

In recognition of exceptional contributions to sustainability above and beyond environmental factors to powerful social and economic models, Jeremy McLeod of Breathe Architecture in Melbourne received the Leadership in Sustainability Prize. Breathe Architecture continues to make headlines with their multi-housing projects The Commons and Nightingale.

New York-based renderer, Brian Burr was honoured with the William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize. Burr has worked in New York for 40 years and has ‘established himself as a highly respected and sought-after architectural renderer for a significant and diverse group of international practitioners – all unified by their respect for his artistic ability and his personal camaraderie’.

Amy Muir, of Melbourne practice Muir Architecture, was the recipient of the National Emerging Architect Prize in recognition of her significant contributions to the profession through design excellence, education and industry leadership.

A strong advocate for Australian students of architecture, Peter Nguyen from the University of Sydney was the recipient of the 2016 Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture.
Five emerging architects from around the country were selected for the Dulux Study Tour. Chris Gilbert, Hannah Slater, Qianyi Lim, Matthew van Kooy and Katy Moir will visit practices in Copenhagen, London and Madrid during the two week tour in May.

Full list of winners:

Gold Medal
Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall – ARM Architecture (Vic)

National President’s Prize
Peter Maddison – Grand Designs Australia, Maddison Architects (Vic)

Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize
Professor Michael Ostwald – University of Newcastle (NSW)

Leadership in Sustainability Prize
Jeremy McLeod – Breathe Architecture (Vic)

William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize
Brian Burr – Architectural Renderer (New York)

National Emerging Architect Prize
Amy Muir – Muir Architecture (Vic)

Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture
Peter Nguyen (NSW)

Dulux Study Tour
Chris Gilbert – Archier (Tas)
Katy Moir – Troppo Architects (NT)
Hannah Slater – Architectus Brisbane (Qld)
Qianyi Lim – Sibling (Vic)
Mathew van Kooy – John Wardle Architects (Vic)

The Australian Institute of Architects is pleased to announce Jennifer Cunich as the new Chief Executive Officer of the member organisation.

Ms Cunich joins the Institute from the Property Council of Australia, where she has worked for 20 years, first as the ACT Executive Director and since 2002 as the Executive Director of the Victorian Division.

In these roles Cunich has led ambitious advocacy agendas with considerable success including the establishment of the Metropolitan Planning Authority, and more recently Infrastructure Victoria – agencies which are critical in ensuring a coordinated and strategic approach to managing population and maintaining liveability for decades to come.

Cunich sits on a number of boards and committees including the Property Council Executive Committee, Women’s Property Initiatives Board, the Building Advisory Council and the Building Industry Consultative Council advising the Government on industry related matters.

Cunich is also a champion of promoting women in the industry. In 2015 the Victorian Division of the Property Council of Australia established the Women and Diversity Committee, charged with identifying leaders in the sector and promoting their contribution to the industry.

‘I am thrilled to be appointed to this important role. My time spent in the Australian property sector has shown me the enormous value of design in terms of buildings, precincts, communities and cities. CEO of the Australian Institute of Architects provides me an opportunity to place the inspirational designs of our architects at the centre of a national conversation about innovation, creativity and problem-solving,’ Cunich said.

On the appointment, Institute National President Jon Clements said:

‘The Institute is excited to welcome Jennifer to the role of CEO at this important time for the organisation during a period of reflection and renewal. Jennifer has extensive industry knowledge and an interest in design as an agent for change in delivering a better built world. She is an exceptional and proven leader with the strength and vision to take the Institute and our profession into a new era.’

Cunich will commence on 16 May 2016 and be based in Melbourne.