The May meeting of 2014 was hosted by Geoff Warn in Perth with representation from 6 states.

Attendees:
Geoff Warn (WA), Melinda Payne (WA), Carmel Van Ruth (WA), Geoffrey London (VIC), Ben Hewett (SA), Peter Poulet (NSW), Malcolm Middleton (QLD), Alastair Swayn (ACT)

Guests:
Kerry Hill, Kerry Hill Architects, Stephen Varady, Stephen Varady Architecture, Peter Mould (former NSW GA)

Apologies: Lawrence Field (NT), Robert Nation, Robert Nation Architects, Kirsteen Mackay (SA)

ACT update

Design Review projects include Supreme Court, Redevelopment of the Canberra Theatre and Redevelopment of Constitution Avenue. Design Review has been well received and the value is becoming evident.

Proposed research projects include:

Workplace design

• Prompted by recent government office moves
• Review of existing conditions and comparison with improvements in efficiency and performance in the new building

Housing typology research (with University of Canberra)

• Prompted by development in the city and potential northern corridor light rail with resulting development.

ACT City Plan released in March 2014.

VIC update

Discussion about repositioning of OVGA within government.

 Design Policy has progressed.

SEPP65 Apartment Design Standards, draft finalised and receiving industry support.

Updating best practice guidance documents

Design Review pilot program – funding ceased in June 2014. Moved to a fee-for-service model.

 Flinders Street station (post competition) – supporting Major Projects Victoria to put up a business case.

Other projects: Road Rail Infrastructure projects, prison at Ravenhall, East-West Link, Bendigo Hospital, Master Plan roll out at Melbourne Olympic Park, Federation Square East.

SA update

Increase in development in CBD. More focus on master planning and expansion of Design Review activities (Port Adelaide, Inner Metro, Courts Precinct, Riverbank Precinct).

Procurement – Guidance on Major Projects’ EOI, RFPs and criteria, design-led engagement processes and competitions.

Informing policy – Planning Reform, Urban Renewal Bill, SA Urban Design Charter.

QLD update

New City Architect on Gold Coast: Ed Haysom

Procurement and design guidelines (adapted from OVGA’s Government as Good Client guidelines). Aiming to have included in the Capital Works Management Framework.

Involved with Casino project, Bus and train tunnel project, Commonwealth Games Village, Brisbane Open House, South Bank commercial case study.

NSW update

Detail regarding machinery of government changes.

Australian Urban Design Protocol – seeking industry support and positioning for the Policy.

Pre-qualification Scheme for Design Collaborations.

Design Excellence provisions delegated to the Government Architect’s Office.

Detail on Government Architect’s role on Central City Planning Committee: has a voting position and represents the design sensibility and the 3-dimenstional understanding and impact of the developments. Does not assess planning issues.

WA update

Quarterly reports to record the breadth of projects and policies.

Working on New Perth Stadium project, Metropolitan redevelopment authority, WA Museum, Swan River Pedestrian Bridge, Perth Railway station, City Square.

Design Competitions – Overviews from Kerry Hill and Stephen Varady.

Kerry Hill made a conscious decision to embrace competitions to undertake research and broaden experience in new building types. Competition work assists develop a competitive spirit within the office / between offices. Provides opportunity for young architects to demonstrate / develop design skills.

Stephen Varady outlined competition fundamentals and the tangible benefits to appointing an architect to provide advice on how to run a competition. Discussion about the Green Square Library Competition 2012.

GANA website update

Ben Hewett provided an update on the GANA website upgrade and future management.

GANA/RMIT Value of Design Research Pilot

Geoffrey London provided an update on the research project to articulate the value of good design, using SEPP65 as the model.

Competitive Design Processes

Peter Mould discussed the City of Sydney Design Excellence Program.

Case Studies:

• District Court (WA)
• Royal Children’s Hospital (VIC)
• Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VIC)
• Bendigo Regional Hospital (VIC)
• East West Link (VIC)
• Ravenhall Prison (VIC)
• New Perth Stadium (WA)

Key discussions on day two:

• Design Review updates from South Australia and Victoria
• Status of the Australian Urban Design Protocol
• GA position on the use of BIM

Site Tours

• Perth Arena
• Old Treasury Buildings
• State Theatre Centre

17 & 18 October 2013

In October of 2013 GANA met at Rigagtta Point in Canberra with representation from 7 states

Attendees:
Alastair Swayn (ACT), Peter Poulet (NSW), Robert Foote (NT), Malcolm Middleton (QLD), Ben Hewett (SA), Kirsteen Mackay (SA), Sharon Mackay (SA), Geoffrey London (VIC), Jill Garner (VIC), Melinda Payne (WA)

Guest speakers:
David Parkin, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Architects
Dorte Ekelund, Director General for Environment and Sustainable Development
Ian Gilzean, Chief Architect of Scotland
Rob Thorman who is the Chair of the ACT Land Development Agency Design Review Panel

Design Review/Advice:

State updates on the status and progress on Design Review. Investigating opportunity for collective GANA approach or endorsement of state approaches. Importance of independence of panel and/or Government Architect (GA).

• General agreement advice provided by GA’s and DRP’s must continue to be supported and advocated for by design professionals.
• Various GA’s are undertaking work to establish the value of design for the Australian context.
• Design quality teams /panels exist in various agencies across Australia and can include Government Architects for status and independence.

Design Competitions:

Comparison of the Royal Adelaide Hospital Site Competition process in Adelaide, to Flinders Station in Melbourne. Opportunity identified to assist with AIA guidelines.

Ben Hewett & Sharon Mackay presented the process (including public engagement) undertaken throughout the Royal Adelaide Hospital site Competition. http://odasa.sa.gov.au/rahsite/

Different competitions models examined from Brisbane, EU and New York.

Of note:

Geoffrey London provided final version of the OVGA ‘Government as Good Client’ document. Endorsement was awarded by GANA.

GANA Tour of the National Arboretum.
GANA Tour of the Lodge Exhibition at the Gallery of Australian Design.

David Parken – update on the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) policies and priorities.

Presentations by guests speakers

• Dorte Ekelund, Director General of Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate: Canberra’s future – Big projects and contributions by design processionals.
• Ian Gilzean, Chief Architect of Scotland: 10+ years of investment in good design and policies for architecture and place. The Scotland study ‐ What is the value and where and why is there value (available end February 2014).
• Rob Thorman – Manager Design Review Panel ACT Land Development Agency: Government Architects and Design Review Panels – best practice and current roles in Australia.