Work Integrated Learning

Conwell Architects continue to partner with QUT in their WIL [Work Integrated Learning] program. The WIL program gives students in the Creative Industries a chance to experience the profession during their studies in architecture. This semester we welcome two students, Guy Brunel and Baikun Gao at Conwell Architects to gain experience and insight into various aspects of the profession. Guy has been busy modelling a detailed renovation project and Kun has been developing graphic methods of representing projects. We look forward to sharing some of the work Guy and Kun have been developing.

Guy Brunel

Baikun Gao

Fresh Blood

Conwell Architects would like to welcome two members to the team; Ysabel and Richard. We have been blessed with a busy period and these new recruits are here to assist with producing the work required to service our clients. They both are 4th years students at QUT and are a direct result of our ongoing relationship with teaching institutions having been tutored by Cameron in second year. Ysabel and Richard bring with them the freshness of ideas and an adaptable skill set that go with early career architects. We look forward to seeing them integrate into the practice and produce work as they grow and learn in the industry.

QUT Architectural Design 4: Museum of the Moving Image

Conwell Architects enjoys regular connection with architectural education with Cameron often participating in tutoring B.Arch courses. It’s a great chance to help the next generation of architects, see fresh new designs and the faces behind them. In an effort to share this talent, here are some snapshots of work from the students this semester.

Simone Brott has lead the unit over the past years and the principles featured are particularly relevant to masterplanning, as architects push beyond building material knowledge and embrace, respond and enhance the wider environment to design for place. Many College campuses grow without planning but require the same long term vison often seen in city design.

We wish all the students a well earned break and look forward to seeing them progress into practice.

Practical Completion - NCC Admin

We are pleased to report the milestone of Practical Completion has been achieved on the extension to NCC Administration. Staff have watched the build progress with interest and we look forward to them moving in and occupying their new working environment.

This project investigated various models of office spaces as we sought to find a balance between open plan working and closed office environs. We are planning a post-occupancy evaluation process to investigate / measure the success of this and other design initiatives undertaken in this project.

Site Progress - NCC Admin

After encountering some tricky ground conditions, the primary slab has been poured on site. Problem solving is a part of construction - particularly when dealing with connecting into existing infrastructure. This project has been no different and open communication between consultants, builder, client are superintendent are essential to a successful outcome.

We look forward to showing elements of this build progress where we have explored a different take on typical commercial office accommodation.

Importance of the Section

A recent project in the design phase has highlighted an approach that has been slowly evolving over time at Conwell Architects. That is - the importance of the section. The section is where the qualities of the space are formed, light is curated and forms expressed. Of course, the plan is not diminished in importance, but rather attracts a different goal - efficiency. An efficient plan ensures a building flows and functions as intended with value for our client budgets.

With this in mind, we have looked to communicate the section in our projects in a consistent graphic representation. We aim to produce one simplified section of each project to compare and express architectural qualities in their context.

OFF AND RACING

We have had a small project commence on site in recent days which encountered difficult gestation period. Against pandemics, financial pressure and multiple functional changes, the contracts and signed and site fencing up.

Thanks must go to our Clients and Builder to overcome these challenges in order to get this far. We look forward to sharing imagery from site as the build progresses.

CREATIVE RESPONSES - HOME BASED EDUCATION

These are unprecedented times for many reasons. Today our Instagram feeds are filled with parents sharing their children learning from home in all sorts of setups.

Many families have transitioned to their children staying at home to undertake their education. The physical spaces we live in and call home, are being adapted across the country and world into spaces that also educate.

Designers of education spaces are constantly testing and theorising space formats, sizes, colours, lighting levels, acoustic treatments, ergonomics and levels of flexibility in order to provide our teachers the best environments to deliver pedagogy. One global event has flipped the situation on it’s head by removing students from these environments.

One aspect many families will be thinking about is how to best provide a space that is best suitable for their child’s education. Suddenly the job of designing education spaces has been temporarily removed from the hands of Architects and thrust into those of parents. Everyone will experience different solutions and responses to this challenge. There will be positive and negative elements to this model as some parents experiment and make do with what they have. Architects sometimes pat each other on the shoulder for how creative they are – however necessity is the mother of invention. We look forward to the reflection that will naturally happen at the end of this period to take stock to learn from parents creative response to the challenge.

As a parent myself, I can’t help but desire to enrich the lives of my children at home. Just over twelve months ago, I undertook the typical suburban dad task of building a cubby house in the backyard. Inspiration was first sought from their collection of toys. A model tram was gifted to us from family friends to remind us of our time in Melbourne. This created an idea that used readily available fence materials to make a fun space that activates and engages. One that gives high levels of visibility but creates a sense of enclosure when inside. A spaces that provides amble natural light with much needed sun protection. The images below are the result.

We can’t wait to see what creative responses are generated out of this period.

Tertiary Mutualism

Conwell Architects values connection to tertiary organisations and the mutual benefits it can provide. Students have an energy and thirst for creative exploration. They often will approach thinking from a different angle that keeps things fresh and reminds us to always question and push for new thinking.

Today, we thank Emma Fry who did a short stint with Conwell Architects before returning to the 3rd year of the QUT architecture course. Emma worked on a range of project types and scales during her time here along with some graphic standardisation / templating. Here is some shots of a physical model Emma produced for a unique project that required testing in physical form. Occasionally a project comes along where a 3D model or sketches doesn’t enable form testing. This model is not about producing a polished product, but rather a tool to develop and test ideas.

Thank you Emma for your hard work and we look forward to seeing your career in architecture develop.

Research

Occasionally we are blessed with a Client who is committed to invest in the process of research when undertaking a new building typology. If time and capital are available, it is a great way to ensure all parties in the process are informed on the latest thinking. There are lessons to be learnt on every project and we are thankful to visit various facilities around the country to understand challenges and opportunities before undertaking the detailed design process. We are particularly thankful to the operators, whom can sometimes offer the most incite to the successes and hindsight thoughts.

The nature of our research focused on student boarding facilities, with a particular interest in facilities with integrated indigenous programs.

Wesley College - VIC

We are thankful to our client - Nambour Christian College and the following organisations who generously opened their doors. They provided their time and thoughtful comments which will assist us to design a exceptional facility.

Dalby Christian College - QLD

Macquarie Anglican Grammar School - NSW

Wesley College - VIC

Clontarf Aboriginal College, WA

St. Catherine’s College, WA

We look forward to compiling the research material and presenting the findings to the stakeholders involved. We look forward to the possibility of sharing this knowledge in some form in the future.

Christian University for Australia - Masterplan

It has been a tremendous honour for Conwell Architects to be selected to partner with Christian University of Australia and take the first steps of initiating a concept Masterplan for the proposed campus site in Maroochydore.

We have been working closely with the University along with the landowner [Peter Wise], to create a plan that is intrinsically linked to place. We look forward to developing this concept further with the stakeholders to ensure a long term sustainable development plan for this key piece of education infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.

“Conwell Architects have captured the heart of the vision for this proposed university in their traditional campus master plan. Intricate design implemented to preserve the natural environment has been the driving force underlying the conceptual process.

Before the first creative thoughts were dreamt, Cameron and Kirsty from Conwell Architects met with Peter Wise on the Wises Road land to hear the stories of this special place. They sought to learn of Peter's passion for the land, and the history the soil held. Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, the Conwell team know the significance of this opportunity being granted to us.

Extensive research and prayer inspired this Spirit-breathed master plan. We wholeheartedly believe that not one stone has been overlooked. The plan includes consideration of student accommodation, a chapel, the use of outdoor spaces, sports and recreational facilities, multi-level car-parking, and buildings strategically positioned to interfere with the natural environment as little as possible.

Praise the Lord as He continues to reassure us of His ceaseless faithfulness!

Please stand with us as we believe that the Lord will provide the financial resources we need to purchase the land and see the dream of this campus become a reality.“

More via the link:

https://www.christianuniversityforaustralia.org.au/traditional-multi-acre-campus.html

International Woman's Day

Today we celebrate the women in our industry as we look to illuminate gender bias. Conwell Architects would like to recognise Kirsty Newell and the invaluable contribution she provides. Kirsty wears many hats and provides our practice with the balance it requires.

Floodwaters in Normanton

The recent rain event in north Queensland has made it’s presence felt in Normanton, the site of the recent sports facility built for Gulf CC. During the design process, a great deal of time was spent considering the appropriate level of the building slab in the instance of a significant rain event. Along with the level, consideration was given to finishes, wall construction, plumbing and structure to best weather the storm of the worst case scenario.

Aesthetics are important, but the practical nature of design for environment was foremost in our minds when planning this building - from flood waters to wind driven rain; from extreme operating temperatures to dust ingress.

A member of staff was able to capture these images of the rising waters. It was a great relieve for the design team to see the waters not encroaching into the facility, but stopping just shy. Our thoughts go to those not so fortunate and the people that are volunteering to assist them.

WC Stage 2.5 Progress

We are delighted to report Midson Construction have reached practical completion on Stage 2.5 and the students have begun occupying the various spaces for the start of term. The shade structure has been a big addition to students daily activities and allows them to conduct a variety of activities with some reprieve from the midday sun. As with most of our projects, colour is used with deliberate consideration, particularly when painting structure. We always aim to express hierarchy in structural systems while accenting elements to create a dynamic campus. More images to follow.

WC Stage 2.5 Progress

Large windows to teaching spaces with integrated student seating

Stage 2.5 is powering ahead as Midson Construction were able to use the holiday period to lift large steel into place without risk to students. Insulated panels have been used on the roof along with Z louvres to maximise student comfort levels and increase the hours of operation. This covered area will be a huge change for the students who previously did not have a space to pursue physical education activities without being in full sun.

The internal spaces are also well underway with the large bay windows framed and lined. We are looking forward to seeing how students and educators interact with these bays which offer teaching opportunities along with flooding the spaces with soft natural light.

Sylvan Street Sunset

As the year drew to a close, so did the construction of the Sylvan street project. The Clients were able to move in and enjoy the newly created spaces over the holiday period.

Final items will continue to be finalised along with landscaping, loose furniture and artwork. We look forward to seeing these final touches added and then photograph the project in detail.

WC Stage 2.5 Progress

WC Stage 2.5 is well underway with the framing and waterproofing for the project set in place with the team at Midson Construction. This shot shows an example of using the existing constraints to your advantage, with the wide columns allowing for bench seating to be inset into the wall thickness below the windows. This area will be a great light filled seat, or nook for students to occupy in different ways throughout the day.

Custom Steel Stair

The existing staircase on the Sylvan street project cut off light to the downstairs living area and was in a sad state. A new solution was required to address several practical issues, as well as create a feature to the surrounding living spaces. A custom steel structure of SHS sections combined with welded plate provide the backbone to the stair. Timber treads will be fixed onto the plate which tie the walking surface to the surrounds by using the same timber as the flooring.

Contract Signed

We are very happy to announce that construction contracts have been signed for Stage 2.5 of Wisdom College. This project is the first step in a long term vision for the emerging campus. It has taken a lot of work to reach this point and we are all looking forward to seeing it completed and used by students in 2019.

The project consists of 3x GLA classrooms, a store room and an external play structure.

Never Stop Learning

Every job presents a learning opportunity - none more so than this project. It has gone through many design iterations that focused on ways to achieve maximum value for money. The process forced us to examine each material, it’s properties and question it’s place in the overall project. This process has provided a new perspective on value engineering and in particular, highlighted the creativity and construction knowledge required to fully understand total cost on a building project.

Part new build, part renovation. Part education support, part office accommodation, refining the brief has been part of the journey to help the client address their needs.

We found ourselves questioning many things that impact our design process. ‘what is the difference between commercial and residential construction?’. When does it result in cost increases, why, and is that justified? Under what conditions can you use a cheaper material and have it not adversely impact the design or performance outcome? How does one material or assembly choice force you other decisions down the path?

These lessons are already paying off as we identify parts, approaches and assemblies that can be used on future projects to provide our Clients with considered spending of project budget.

A recent programmatic change from the Client will result in the design evolving again, however many parts will be retained in a different form. In some ways, re-designing this building several times is not ideal from a financial point of view, but the lessons learnt during the process will pay dividends as it adds to our practice body of knowledge and experience. It’s projects like these that wish we had the inherent knowledge of a builder and all their trades to draw upon. Alas, it is impossible to know everything in the construction industry, so it’s about asking the right questions to the right people at the right time, and knowing that you can always learn more.