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MESSAGE FROM BLUESCOPE
PRINCIPAL CORPORATE PARTNER
The team at BlueScope are
continually motivated by building
design that creates a sense of
place and connects us with our
unique environment.
We are thrilled to be in our 30th
year as Principal Corporate
Partner and proud to support the
advancement and excellence in
Australian Architecture through
the 2015 Australian Institute of
Architects Awards programme.
At BlueScope, in conjunction
with our industry leading brands,
we continue to look forward to
sharing our ideas on innovative
steel products that can optimise
the value and sustainability of
your creative designs.
From BlueScope, congratulations
to the architects who have
designed or executed buildings
of high merit, produced work of
great distinction or endowed the
profession of architecture in a
distinguished manner.
Rob du Toit
National Specification Manager
Higher quality apartment design
research project
This exciting project, instigated
by the Institute, brings together
key architects and experienced
researchers from three
universities. It is all very well
for those in the know to talk
eloquently about the beneficial
impact of good design on the
lives of apartment dwellers;
what we need after 13 years of
apartment buildings regulated by
SEPP 65 is hard data to back up
the rhetoric.
If we can match qualitative
research with quantitative
data we will be able to define
‘amenity’ with metrics based on
information from the real world
of existing apartments. The effect
on community attitudes towards
the construction industry could
be profound. The research
potentially could underpin the
next review of SEPP 65 and also
support changes to Australian
Standards, the BCA, and even
every LEP & DCP in NSW.
The available evidence suggests
that well-designed apartments
can improve the quality of life of
their inhabitants, and may lower
costs to the government and
the community through reduced
mental and physical health costs.
We need to be able to quantify
this improvement and measure
the cost savings.
This in turn will make it easier
for business and government
to compete in the international
market place for highly skilled
labour, providing New South
Wales with social, economic and
competitive advantages.
Mentoring program
The revived program was
launched in early May with
over 100 participants. It differs
from the previous program
in that mentors and mentees
are now usually separated in
age by only five to 10 years,
meaning participants can relate
to each other more easily and
understand what career steps are
next within their reach. It is also
mentee-led; the mentee driving
the agenda and goal-setting,
making it easier for the mentor
to provide support and a broader
perspective. Thanks to Monica
Edwards and Laura Meyer as the
energetic drivers of the program,
with excellent professional help
from Annette Gray of Growth
Leadership Solutions.
Chapter Council on the road
The first of our out-of-town
Chapter Council meetings
was hosted by the Inner West
Architects’ Network in early
May. This was a great evening
that gave the networks the
opportunity to ask questions
and engage their Council and
President in conversation on
what they see as the Institute’s
priorities, and ideas to strengthen
the relationship between the
Networks and the Institute. The
next of these meetings will be
hosted by Hassell, followed by
the Country Division Bathurst
conference in September.
Shaun Carter
NSW Chapter President
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