The Architectus Defence and Infrastructure teams have welcomed experienced design leaders to take on new work in these expanding portfolios. The practice recently made two senior appointments to the Defence team: Principal Andrew Magub in Brisbane and Associate Principal Simon McKeown in Melbourne. 

Magub’s global career has seen him working on projects across Australia, Asia, the UK and the USA. Along with expertise in highly technical, secure facilities for Defence clients, his portfolio features major sport and event infrastructure, including for four Olympic Games. McKeown is another experienced architect whose work extends beyond Defence into sectors as diverse as Health, Education and Infrastructure.

“Our clients are in good hands with Andrew and Simon, who between them have some six decades of design expertise in Defence,” says Ralph Williams, Sector Leader Defence. “They’ll be leading key Defence projects for us across the East Coast.” 

In Infrastructure, Associate Principals Janine Graves and Paul Trinchi recently arrived in the Sydney and Melbourne studios, respectively. 

Graves has designed and delivered data centres, industrial facilities and commercial developments, as well as defence and asset renewal projects. Trinchi has years of experience delivering city-shaping infrastructure, including major transport projects and, more recently, critical facilities such as data centres.

“Our expanded team is taking on increasingly complex and important projects, including the new NEXTDC M4 facility in Melbourne,” says Dean Symington, our Sector Leader Infrastructure. “Janine and Paul have the right skills and experience to keep us delivering for our clients this year and into the future.” 

Meanwhile, Architectus’ Perth studio is expanding to support the growing opportunities and demand for community-focused design in the west. This Carabiner team recently joined the refurbished studio at QV1, while several design leaders have also been recruited to bolster Health, Education and Sports sectors. 

The news comes after more than five years of steady growth in WA, with projects including the Women and Babies Hospital, the Smith Street Build-to-Rent development, Santa Maria College Cultural Centre. and Station Street Cottesloe Hotel Residential and Retail precinct. 

The Carabiner workers are now part of the Architectus team, sharing a larger, refreshed studio inPerth’s QV1 building. Design leader and Principal David Karotkin, a key player in Carabiner’s most significant projects, National Commercial Manager Steve McDonald, former CEO of Carabiner with 30 years of delivery know-how, and experienced Senior Associates Paolo Basini and Pete Spence are all primed to deliver existing projects while also pursuing vital new work. 

Their expertise includes the recently completed Wungong Primary School, one of the state’s largest new K-6 schools. Standouts from their sports portfolio include the Sam Kerr Football Centre and the WA Institute of Sport. 

Other strategic appointments in Perth see health facility designer and Principal Toni Neck join theHealth team. Associate Principal Michael Hardman was recently appointed to the senior leadership team, while Senior Associate Paul Empson has also arrived in the studio after practicing in the USA.

“It’s such a pivotal, exciting time for our team in Perth,” says Mark Black, WA Studio Leader. “As we expand and change to meet the needs of our growing market, our focus always stays the same: working with clients to achieve design excellence while making a positive, lasting impact on our city and our state.” 

Architectus
architectus.com.au

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