The Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Chapter welcomes the appointment of Mark Tendys as the inaugural City Architect for Ipswich City Council. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, most recently serving as Principal Architect at James Cubitt Architects (JCA), Tendys brings deep expertise in heritage advocacy and social equity. His appointment is a significant step forward for the city as it embraces strategic, sustainable urban growth.
Tendys, a long-time member of the National Trust, will join the City Design team, contributing his expertise to help shape Ipswich’s built environment with a strong focus on resilience and heritage preservation. His role will allow Ipswich City Council to benefit from a design-led approach, supporting the community in developing spaces that reflect both historical integrity and forward-thinking sustainability.
This appointment aligns with the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2024 election priorities, which call for increased architectural capacity within governments. Russell Hall, Queensland Chapter President, praised Ipswich City Council for recognising the critical value that a City Architect brings, stating, “The expertise that architects like Mark bring to public infrastructure and urban development will ensure that places, people, and climate resilience are considered, benefiting the broader community.”
In recent years, the Institute has championed the appointment of city architects across Queensland’s regional councils, reinforcing the importance of independent architectural oversight. “Architects play a pivotal role in delivering major urban projects that balance the needs of the environment and the community,” said Queensland Chapter Executive Director, Anna Svensdotter. “Their ability to drive place-making and design with an understanding of climate impacts ensures that we are building not just for today, but for the challenges of tomorrow.”
The Institute’s 2024 election priorities include improving design quality in all government projects and expanding in-house architectural roles. The Queensland Chapter believes that the introduction of city architects like Tendys will support these goals by embedding high-level design oversight into urban development projects, ensuring that key priorities like climate resilience, sustainability, and community-focused design are met.
“The Ipswich community stands to benefit greatly from Mark Tendys’ expertise. His passion for heritage and social equity will ensure Ipswich continues to evolve into a city that respects its past while looking towards a sustainable future. An architect is essential to assist the city to return to the magnificence of its past in an appropriate way with the evolution to the present and beyond,” said Russell Hall.
The appointment also underscores the Queensland Government Architect’s role in shaping urban futures, having been involved in the recruitment process alongside the City of Ipswich. This partnership exemplifies the Institute’s call for expanding architectural roles in state and local governments to ensure robust, thoughtful urban planning as outlined in their 2024 election priorities.
Mark Tendys will commence his role as City Architect on November 12, 2024.
About the Australian Institute of Architects
The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession and works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design.
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