A number of Architecture firms make key leadership appointments ahead of 2019

A round up of some key appointments across the industry, as firms look ahead to a busy 2019.

Technē expands workplace division, promotes Dana Hutchins

Technē Architecture + Interior Design in Australia has recently promoted Dana Hutchins to Senior Associate, who will now be spearheading the practice’s workplace division with colleague Gabriella Gulacsi.

With almost 15 years’ experience as an interior designer, Hutchins’ portfolio of projects at Technē include the MRC Medallion Bar, a workplace for Deka and the highly anticipated Hotel Esplanade (The Espy) opening in November 2018. With her experience as an interior designer evenly divided in the workplace and hospitality sectors, Hutchins has spent her recent years working within the latter. 

She believes her hospitality experience will give her a new perspective that can be brought into upcoming workplace projects. Hutchins has seen the trend in workplace design moving away from clean-cut,
corporate offices and believes good workplace design is best centred on flexibility and bringing people together.

Founding partner and director Nick Travers is delighted to bolster the practice’s workplace offering with Hutchins’ promotion.

“Dana has already made significant contributions to projects at Technē and we are thrilled for her to continue to apply her professionalism and expertise in our workplace division.” 

- Nick Travers, Founding partner and director

“The Espy is the most deign intense, complex and highly involved project I have ever worked on but I enjoyed the opportunity to work on a heritage project of this scale. I have always been interested in using interior design to intersect everyday life with experiences that are memorable. I appreciate and have missed the process and strategy often underpinning workplace design along with the logic and order of workplace planning.

A good workplace brings people together, organically allowing for collaboration and socialisation between team members. As workplace design has shown an increasing shift towards hospitality and social spaces, it is an exciting time to bring the work and expertise of Technē into the domain of workplace.

Technē is best known for creating cafés, restaurants and pubs which are social hubs and this experience can be translated into the design of workplaces as companies are moving towards agile work practices. Our ambition is that as a team we can create socially rich and memorable workplaces.

I am very excited to do that with Gabi who I have worked with for most of my career. We both have different roles and interests on a project but our complementary skillset makes for a strong combination.”

-  Dana Hutchins, Senior Associate

Bates Smart Appoints a Strategic Advisory Board and Announces Director Promotions

Bates Smart has appointed a dedicated Advisory Board, formed in August this year, comprising five prominent Australian business leaders with diverse experience spanning sectors including property, legal services, finance and corporate business management.

The board members are: John O’Neill AO, Chair of the Advisory Board and Chairman of The Star Entertainment Group; Fiona Hindmarsh, Non-executive Director of Hindmarsh; Julie Levis, Partner of Clayton Utz; Greg Paramor AO, Non-Executive Director of Charter Hall Group and former Managing Director of Folkestone; and Colin Smith, Managing Director of Phoenix Consulting.

Bates Smart Managing Director, Simon Swaney said the Advisory Board will establish a clear strategy for the future and ensure the practice is well equipped to respond to opportunities while maintaining exceptional design quality.

2018 has been a year of significant progress for the practice with the studio announcing the promotion of Kellie Payne (Sydney) and Cian Davis (Melbourne) as Directors, with Rachael McCarthy (Melbourne) advanced to Studio Director.
These new appointments are in addition to further staff promotions across the Melbourne and Sydney studios with a total of 21 Associate Directors and Associates named, two thirds being women.

Swaney notes that the restructure, which commenced in 2013, has been vital in supporting the strong and valued client base while maintaining design excellence. The practice has experienced significant growth over the last five years to service clients’ needs and the expansion in the leadership team reflects

“We welcome our newly appointed Advisory Board and their strategic guidance that draws on their diverse skills to strengthen the practice. Our Directors are delighted to have their experience spanning various sectors, regions and genders available to them as well as their immense capabilities to support the cultural and fiscal success of our practice.

“We congratulate Kellie and Cian, who now join our directorship, for their dedication and achievement in delivering excellence over a number of years, and Rachael who will skillfully continue to develop our Melbourne workplace strategy and design capabilities. We value their expertise and leadership enormously in not only offering exceptional client service but in nurturing the growth of new and existing talent.

“Our business has undergone a significant generational change and the new appointments to the leadership group continue this change and will be supported by our talented teams in their respective architecture and interior design fields.”

- Simon Swaney, Bates Smart Managing Director

Architectus welcomes new Principal to the leadership team

Architectus has appointed Sophie Cleland as Principal to the leadership team.

An architect with over 15 years of experience, Sophie joins Architectus from ARM Architecture where she developed substantial expertise working on public projects, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Athlete’s Village Community and Retail Precinct, the National Museum of Australia and Wanangkura regional sports centre.

Sophie is a member of the NSW State Design Review Panel and the Office for Design and Architecture South Australia (ODASA) for the SA Government.

Sophie’s appointment as Principal follows a year of continued growth at Architectus with recent significant project wins including the Western Sydney Airport Business Park Master Plan.

“Sophie brings a clear strategic approach to the design process and strong client and stakeholder relationships, including extensive experience working with high levels of government, Government Architects and other State and Territory agencies. We are delighted to have Sophie join our Melbourne studio.”

- Ray Brown, Architectus Managing Director

“I am excited to be joining the Architectus leadership team and have the opportunity to drive design strategy in the delivery of high quality public architecture. In my new role, I want to inspire a sense of narrative within the work, to create high quality and forward-thinking spaces that connect people, cultures and their ideas.”

- Sophie Cleland 

Lead image: Kerstin Thompson Architects