Dear Subscriber,

This past quarter brought an exciting wave of projects, innovation, and thought leadership to our studio.

Inside this edition of inFORM3D, our landscape architects unveil their favourite Australian natives, our interiors team gives an immersive account of their recent VR-based dementia-friendly design training and our architecture team reflect on the pioneering sustainable design of the Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre 15 years on.

We'll share progress on two of our current projects and details on Craig and Kavan’s upcoming speaking events at the 10th Annual Future Justice and Corrections Summit and the ICPA Prison, Design & Technology Conference.

Let’s dive in and explore this quarter's highlights!

PROJECTS / SPORTS & RECREATION

Brisbane | McKinnon Sports Park Clubhouse

Our latest clubhouse for Logan City Council is under construction. GB-A were engaged to reimagine the McKinnon Sports Park in Yarrabilba, beginning with a comprehensive site analysis and survey to determine the optimal location for a new clubhouse. After evaluating four potential sites within the park, the area central to the football fields, near an existing amenities building, was selected as the preferred location due to its accessibility and functionality.

The new clubhouse features a central club room designed for both sporting and community events, supported by a commercial kitchen and administration facilities. The existing amenities block was remodelled to include public unisex toilets and referees’ change rooms, while two large sporting change rooms were designed to be flexible, allowing them to be divided into four smaller spaces as needed.

PROJECTS / EDUCATION

Melbourne | Western Autistic School

GB-A attended the opening of the recently completed Stage 01 works to Western Autistic School. The upgrade was formally opened by Sarah Connolly MP, who commended the project as one of the most calming spaces she has had the pleasure to inaugurate. Her comments highlight the project’s great value, and thoughtful use of space and budget.

At the opening, the project received positive feedback from teachers, students and school parents who appreciate the new learning environments. Involving the wider school community, along with members of the Autism Teaching Institute (ATI) in the design process greatly assisted shaping facilities that not only met the demands of the school's evolving, curriculum but offer supportive, purposeful environments for learning autonomy and transition into mainstream education.

LANDSCAPE

Spotlight on Australian Natives: Our Landscape Architects' Top Picks (Part 1)

Australian native plants offer incredible resilience, vibrant colours, and vital ecological support. Over the past year, we have highlighted several remarkable species across our social media platforms in a series called Australian Native Spotlight. We received fantastic feedback from our community of plant lovers and design enthusiasts.

Now, we are bringing those insights together in one comprehensive guide. Our landscape architects have curated a selection of their absolute favourite native plants to feature in this first instalment. You will learn about the unique characteristics of each plant, their specific ecological benefits, and how you can apply them to your own landscape projects.

Read more >

INTERIORS

Dementia-Friendly Design: Designing for Dignity and Independence

Thoughtful interior design can shape our daily experiences, influencing everything from our mood to our productivity. But for individuals living with dementia, the built environment plays a much more critical role — it can either be a source of confusion and risk or a foundation for safety, dignity, and independence.

To deepen our understanding of this, our Interiors team recently participated in Dementia Australia’s "Enabling EDIE: Virtual Reality Dementia Experience" training. It was a powerful, eye-opening session that reinforced why empathetic design is not just a goal, but a necessity.

Read more >

ARCHITECTURE

A Legacy of Sustainable Design: Reflecting on the Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre 15 years on

Fifteen years ago, our team at GB-A embarked on a project that would come to define our core philosophy. The Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre was more than a brief; it was a challenge to create a building that could teach, inspire, and seamlessly merge with its natural surroundings.

Our vision for the Centre, located in the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, was ambitious. We didn't just want to design a functional space for art and community gatherings. We wanted to craft a living case study in sustainability, a structure that would actively demonstrate how architecture can coexist with and even enhance the local ecology.

Read more >

UPCOMING EVENTS / SPEAKING

10th Annual Future Justice and Corrections Summit - Melbourne (23rd-24th March)

Kavan and Craig are speaking at the 10th Annual Future Justice and Corrections Summit. The conference theme is "Delivering Better Outcomes for People in Custody Through Reform, Rehabilitation and Facilities" Together they will present on "Designing for Dignity: How Biophilic Architecture Transforms Correctional Environments". The presentation will draw examples from the recently completed Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre. The event will be held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

UPCOMING EVENTS / SPEAKING

ICPA Prison Design & Technology Conference - Rabat, Morrocco (21st-24th April)

Kavan and Craig will also be speaking at the Prison Design and Technology Conference that brings correctional experts from across the world together to shape the future of prison infrastructure and technology. Craig will be presenting on “The 1% Things – Small Design Interventions That Can Make A Difference” and Kavan will be conducting a workshop on “The Comprehensive Approach to Correctional Facility Planning What Do You Need to Know (Plan And Prepare For) Before Designing a New Correctional Facility?”