NT Executive Director update

The NT Architecture Awards went off without a hitch and has been viewed hundreds of times live and online since. The virtual awards were a new approach which we needed to do due to COVID-19 but NT architects are accustomed to adapting to changing environments and members embraced the online celebration with the customary camaraderie that the Territorians are known for.

I want to again thank our local and national partners who helped us bring this together. Our Hully Liveris Design Company and Jack Gooden Architects won two gongs, including the top honour – the Tracy Memorial Award.

We were also excited that we were the only chapter that was able to have an awards dinner across Australia with concurrent events with 48 people in Darwin and 16 in Alice Springs.

The full list of winners are:

  • Educational Architecture
    The NT Chapter Award | STEAM Building – Darwin High School | Hully Liveris Design Company and Jackman Gooden Architects
  • Chapter Commendation
    Acacia Hill School | Susan Dugdale and Associates
  • COLORBOND® Award For Steel Architecture
    Chapter Award | DMS – Multipurpose Hall | Rossi Architects
  • Chapter Awards and Prizes
    The Tracy Memorial Award | STEAM Building – Darwin High School | Hully Liveris Design Company and Jackman Gooden Architects
  • The Indigenous Community Architecture Award
    Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia Shelter | Tangentyere Design
  • Student Prize
    Nicole Ng
  • People’s Choice
    DMS – Multipurpose Hall | Rossi Architects

Now that the awards are over we are back to the reality that the NT election is coming soon. I strongly encourage you to send the NT Chapter positioning paper to all your clients, friends and families so that we can advocate for good policy outcomes in the NT. Each section links online to the full paper so make sure you have a good reread of the work we have been doing in the Territory and nationally.

On advocacy issues, we are also looking into bringing together a group to discuss housing issues, particularly remote housing. We’ll be working on this for the second half of the year so watch this space for updates. We’re also looking into the registration process for reregistering architects so we can make sure people re-entering the workforce have the right skills and support. This will give us an opportunity to support architects wherever they are in their career journey.

Thanks to those who also participated in the NT Chapter’s ‘Lunchbox CPD sessions’ we had over 50 attendees at these sessions. Given this is a structure people are engaging with we will continue to offer different options. If you have any great ideas, please feel free to contact me directly and we will endeavour to make it happen.

EmAGN and SONA have been active with a session on ‘Life after University’ event. This mentoring event was to help students learn how to transition into the industry, prepare their portfolio and to help them learn about what to expect in their first job. This was very insightful and helpful to people graduating soon.

Once again I would like to congratulated the winners of UPSCALE and thank Rossi Architects and Allison Stout for their sponsorship.

The NT Chapter is working closely with Charles Darwin University to grow the architecture program. CDU has reviewed all offerings and has developed a streamlined program that responds to the issues identified by industry and students in 2019.

The Bachelor of Arts (Architectural Design) has commenced, which has increased the focus on design in the built environment relevant to the Northern Territory, design for climate and sustainability, the issues of our region and its future.  As part of the Higher Education COVID-19 response, CDU has also added a short course, the Undergraduate Certificate that maps directly and provides credit into the Bachelor program. This course will be reviewed this year and if successful can be adapted and improved for the future.

Through the placement in the College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society, students will be also able to undertake additional electives in areas of importance in our region such as disaster management and response as well as Indigenous studies and understanding the politics and cultures of our region.

On Thursday the 23 July, we have our quiz night ‘Architects vs Engineers’ at the Darwin Trailer Boat Club.

This is your chance to make sure that architects are the premier quiz masters while also taking the opportunity to network. We have all become familiar with ‘iso’ and we haven’t been able to have some of those connections. This event is supported by the Trailer Boat club and all funds raised on the night go to HPA so some come along, network and support a local charity.

Book your table now. We look forward to seeing you at the quiz night

As we head into the second half of the year we would like to hear from you more. So in no subtle way I borrow from JFK and ask ‘not what the Institute can do for you – ask what can you do for the Institute’. Architects are at the forefront in responding to our ever-changing world both the built and physical environments and we want to make sure you are front and centre of your profession.  

Raquel Nicholls-Skene
Executive Director – Northern Territory Chapter

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