OUR APPROACH

We believe we must design buildings that, once built, will then grow. This growth is in the discovery of different uses via purposeful flexibility, and in the evolving landscape in which they are placed. We also believe that good design sustains community, and generates a psychological ownership and care for a place’s condition and use.  We have delivered flexible, enriching, sustainable, human and functional places that work with, and remove friction for their users.

We take a collaborative approach that streamlines the design & build process and minimises headaches for our Clients. We often involve Academics and research based inputs into our process. We start with a well developed stakeholder engagement process that not only clarifies the brief, but minimises resistance to change and maximises enfranchisement and ownership of what is delivered.

Sandy supplies Director involvement and accountability to all projects – from pre-design to post-contractual stages. She is recognised and active in the profession.  She recognises that the success of a project derives from how well it aligns with the strategic intent of the organisation, and how well it responds to the underlying values and philosophy that underpin its intended use. Her focus is on  drawing out the potential of a space to freely enable its program of intended uses, integrating architecture, interior design and landscape.
Her creative thinking and ability to stimulate and lead stakeholder discussions have become invaluable - both in fully clarifying the brief, and later informing the communication for the change management so often necessary for overall success.

Jenni has been designing and delivering educational and community spaces for more than 25 years, including a 6 year sojourn in the USA. As a Principal, she is responsible for the procurement, management and delivery of projects as well as being a central part of the leadership team that sets the ethos and direction of the firm. Jenni has a particular passion for environmentally sustainable design and was instrumental in developing the first Green Star public school in Victoria. Her interest and experience extends to the wider architectural community where she is has been an active committee member of Learning Environments Australasia, a sessional lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s School of Education and is an examiner with the Architect’s Registration Board of Victoria.

Vicki brings 30 years’ experience across a diverse range of public and institutional work, including education, health and aged care, sports and leisure, and workplace projects. With a focus on educational work for over fifteen years, Vicki enjoys helping clients to visualise and realise new facilities that enable their learning communities to thrive. Her approach to client-focussed relationships, team and project management, and attention to detail has resulted in consistently high-quality, award-winning projects. She has served on the local chapter committee of Learning Environments Australia, volunteered with Architects Without Frontiers, and is a casual lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

Kim is a highly skilled and experienced architect, with a proven track record as a project leader, designer and strategic thinker in the building industry. He has led teams to design and deliver a broad variety of project types and scales. From finely crafted single dwellings to +$100m university and commercial projects, Kim loves the creative process of developing innovative and inspiring designs that are elegantly detailed, specifically tailored to a client’s brief, and responsive to their urban condition. He has a thorough technical working knowledge of all stages of project delivery, from initial client engagement and briefing, through to construction and contract management. He is passionate about getting the best out of people, leading teams that are dynamic, collaborative, enthusiastic and resourceful. Kim is involved in the wider architecture community, as a guest mentor at ‘Mentor Me - Speed Dating’ event, AIA Emerging Architects and Graduates Network,and ArchiTalk 13 at Curtin University.

Amanda is a Principal at Law Architects with a strong background in education and early learning environments. She has over 14 years of experience in this field and has been with the Law Team since 2014. Her role involves overseeing projects from their initial concept to completion, with a focus on ensuring exceptional outcomes for users, clients, and stakeholders. Amanda's passion for creating meaningful architecture in learning environments is driven by her desire to enhance people's engagement with each other and the built environment. She possesses a high level of expertise in design and construction knowledge, as well as the processes involved in the entire project life cycle. In her position as a Principal at Law Architects, Amanda is responsible for the procurement, management, and successful delivery of projects. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in the firm's leadership team, helping to shape its ethos and direction.

Since starting at Law Architects in 2021, Marnie has been involved in a range of architectural projects within the educational sector from grant applications through to contract administration and project delivery. Marnie’s keen eye for detail, focus and methodological approach has been cultivated within the dynamic environment of Law Architects and offered her further opportunities to grow, working across many aspects of projects and different scale. Working within mainly educational projects, Marnie has continued to explore her interest in community/placemaking within architecture and the potential offerings that seemingly singular typologies may have to the development of a wider community building.

George has a career history in Human Resources and since Law Architects’ inception is its Business Manager, serving with Stoicism in the sweaty engine room of the business. He facilities business infrastructure, systems & process establishment and continuous improvement, as well as supporting the team with contractual matters. He holds a Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects as an Assoc. Member and for the Association of Consulting Architects Vic/Tas is the Industrial Relations Chair. He takes great satisfaction in providing a framework that helps team members succeed.

Since joining the Law team in 2017, Krystal has been part of numerous educational projects in all phases of the design process, from masterplanning through to contract administration. Her strengths are flexibility and lateral thinking, offering new ideas and communication with clients. Over the past years Krystal has been witness and party to the significant growth of Law Architects. The collaborative and integrated approach of the practice is initiated by a well-developed stakeholder engagement process that helps clarify the brief, minimises resistance to change and maximises the end users’ ownership of the deliverables. Krystal enjoys the evolution and interrogation of a brief through client workshops and design meetings. Effective communication with the client, stakeholders and wider community is paramount in understanding the opportunities and constraints of any project.

Alex joined the Law team in 2021. She has been involved in the design, documentation and delivery of numerous educational projects. With the support of the practice she has maintained a critical relationship with RMIT University, where she is a Design Studio Leader in the Bachelor of Architecture program. During her time at Law, Alex’s passion for championing student agency in design has grown. She is focused on developing architectural spaces that support students, professionally and personally, as they navigate increasing levels of independence. Her strengths lie in communication, team work and a thorough approach to documentation.

Kat joined the team in 2012. Through her strong project delivery experience, she has a keen interest in working side by side with clients, consultants and contractors to cleverly navigate and resolve unforeseen issues during the design and construction phases whilst ensuring design intent is central to the outcome. Positive and genuine working relationships are highly valued by Kat with all in the design and construction process. Aided by her broad interests and thorough, systematic work ethic, Kat also contributes in a variety of roles including leadership, wellbeing, marketing, quality assurance, and efficient workflow practices.At heart, she is a creative maker and crafter - from the garden to the kitchen and into the places we inhabit. Ultimately, she hopes successful projects can enrich people’s wellbeing and experience of built environments, potentially engraining the value of meaningful design within society as a whole.

Mark has been working in building design and architecture for more than 15 years and working as a registered architect since 2019. He has gained a range of experience whilst working on projects of different scales and typologies including residential, commercial, hospitality and education. Mark is able to utilize his experience to efficiently deliver projects by working meticulously through the design, documentation and construction stages. With a range of experience in working on educational projects including large multi-story learning buildings or the refurbishment of internal administration buildings Mark is able to effectively communicate with the client, consultants and contractors.

Andrew joined the team at Law Architects in 2020 and brings nearly 20 years of experience including residential, commercial, institutional and theological fields. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the office and has been instrumental in the transition from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD leading the BIM training throughout the practise. He loves the challenges associated with the coordination of consulting engineers’ designs into architectural models, identifying and resolving issues during the design development phase and the preparation of high quality, and well-articulated architectural documentation. He personally strives for the highest standards and with a focus on continuous improvement, Andrew’s highly-efficient practises and attitude benefits our projects and the office as a whole. In his spare time Andrew loves to have fun with his children. He loves cooking, gardening, skateboarding and generally being active outdoors.

Noah joined the Law Architects team at the start of 2023 and currently study a Master of Architectural Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He has assisted on a number of projects at various stages, and has enjoyed the process of skill building alongside experienced architects, and the collaborative, inclusive environment at the office. Throughout his studies, Noah has developed an interest in community centred design, integration of hand making and small scale manufacturing in architecture, and the interplay between structure and space.

Emma joined the team at Law Architects in 2024. She has completed a Bachelor of Architecture at RMIT and has plans to continue her studies through to a Master of Architecture level. With an array of horticultural experience over the recent years, through her time working as a Bush Revegetation gardener, Emma has developed a keen facination with indigenous plants and the ecologies of Melbourne. This passion has carried through to her tertiary studies where she is interested in exploring the complex relationships between architecture and ecosystems.

Nicole has been working in educational architecture at Law Architects since 2015. As a registered architect, she has a vast experience in school projects, from master planning through to contract administration. Nicole excels at navigating government project processes, utilising reporting systems, report submissions, and area schedule analysis. Her expertise and interest lies in designing spaces that promote inclusive learning and prioritise student’s well-being. Nicole's recent projects have honed her skills in understanding student neurodiversity, equitable place making, and well-being hubs. Nicole’s these projects have included a wide range of typologies including shared learning, library hubs, specialist facilities and outdoor learning. She is also on the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) committee of Learning Environments Australasia.

Suki has over 20 years experience managing architectural practices and has been at Law Architects since 2017. With broad skills ranging from financial management, human resources, grant applications, marketing and submissions, she has a hand in most aspects of the office. Suki focusses on office culture and is a member of the Association for Consulting Architects Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum and the Architectural Administration and Accounting Group. She has a passion for community and is a board member of the Yarra Junior Football League.

David joined Law Architects in 2022 having worked at award winning design practices in Melbourne and the UK, where he focused on education projects across multiple scales. David is known for his meticulous and considered architecture with an expertise in education projects including tertiary, public and private schools. David approaches architecture with a desire to create better environments, through understanding client aspirations and identifying opportunities to add value to the process, starting with briefing and continuing throughout the design stages into construction. A natural problem solver with the ability to communicate and coordinate complex ideas and information with all collaborators.

Since joining the Law team in 2017, Joshua has worked closely in collaboration with project architects and project team members, responsible for the production of designs from master planning concepts into fully realized sketch design and design development project outputs. Fostering a very keen interest in the development of client communication assets, including renders, animations, presentations, tenders, awards submissions, and reports, he leads a collaborative team of architecture students working at Law Architects, ensuring the best graphical practices are utilized and encouraged. Joshua is currently undertaking the final year in his Master of Architecture degree at RMIT and is due to be complete by the end of 2023.

Since joining the team at Law Architects in 2014 Chris has been involved with an assortment of architectural projects of varying scales, operating largely within the educational sector. Chris relishes the interrogation and evolution of a brief and developing feasibility studies and strategic masterplans in response to project sites. He enjoys working closely with sub consultants and contractors, coordinating and incorporating specialist advice and ensuring documentation achieves regulatory compliance and best practice outcomes while utilising effective communication with all parties involved. Chris’ curiosity around the relationship of buildings and their connection to landscape, whether urban, rural or suburban, and the creation of edges and dealing with thresholds to assist in place making has been and continues to be nurtured at Law Architects. He is a leader of conversations around the education of the current and future generations.

Hansi joined the Law team in 2019 after completing her Bachelor of Architectural Design. She has been involved in various stages of design, from masterplanning to contract administration; applied across refurbishment and new building projects within the education sector. Working closely with senior members of the team, she enjoys the collaborative and communicative aspects of design generation, and the creative problem solving and critical thinking required to deliver these projects. Hansi values positive relationships, steady thinking, and attention to detail. Her interests lie in architecture for the human scale, design communication, materiality, emerging design tools and hands-on approaches to design.

Mark has significant experience across educational, childcare , multi-residential and ecclesiastical-focused architecture, encompassing all stages of the process - from project inception to completion, involving close consultation with clients, stakeholders, users and builders. Having joined Law Architects in 2019 after gaining experience in various sized offices in Australia and abroad, Mark's passion for these typologies stems from a desire to create meaningful architecture which aims to enrich people's engagement with one another and with their immediate built environment. He has a particular interest exploring new building technologies which are more sustainable, safe and cost-effective. This has led to a deep interest in the use of renewable structural timber in large buildings as a substitute for concrete.

Since relocating from Auckland and joining the Law team in 2017, Celine has been part of numerous projects in all phases of the design process from masterplanning through to project delivery. Her friendly, interested demeanour Her strengths are flexibility and lateral thinking in problem solving issues on site. With experiences spanning from small refurbishment works to new builds, she enjoys seeing the journey of a project coming to life from inception through to completion. Celine enjoys the evolution and interrogation of a brief through client workshops and design meetings. Effective communication with the client, stakeholders and the wider community is paramount in understanding the opportunities and constraints of any project.

Damian joined Law Architects in 2012 bringing a love of simple, cleaver and creative detailing, developed, nurtured and grounded in solid construction knowledge over 20+ years in the industry. While mostly involved in the technical design & delivery of educational architecture, he has also spent significant time in adjacent design fields such as healthcare, civic, residential, community and performing arts. In any discussion from early design right through to onsite resolution, Damian brings a wealth of knowledge gained from experience in commercial projects ranging in in complexity, type, scale, location, quality and construction methodologies.

Since joining the Law team in 2018, Patrick has worked on a range of educational projects from masterplanning through to project delivery. His particular strengths are in responding to on site issues with flexible problem solving and maintaining positive relationships with all parties.
Having a particular interest in the construction process, he enjoys the journey of following through the building detailing with rigour, ensuing the built form is filled with the delight and care the end users are deserving of.
Patrick also specialises in BIM documentation and enjoys the challenges of managing complex projects in a way that ensures clear and accurate digital modelling which reduces risk for the client during construction. He has an ongoing interest in the use of digital models in the industry as part of the construction process and into facility management.

Rachel joined the Law Architects team in 2019. An integral part of the design and documentation team, Rachel has been involved in the delivery of numerous educational projects.
Combining a love of design with extensive ArchiCAD skills, Rachel has made a valuable contribution to the collaborative design process at Law. Recent project sshe has been involved on are the VSBA New Schools 2022 Bundle A, St Kilda Primary School and Damascus College.

Josef is involved with Arts Project Australia and works both at a cafe and part time at Law Architects, helping to keep our indoor jungle alive, preparing our Friday morning teas, keeping us stocked up with necessities, and generally lending a hand in the upkeep of the studio.
His interests include AFL, going to the Gym, and dancing.

Marissa is completing her Master of Architecture degree at RMIT. She has experience working in multi-residential design in Melbourne, encompassing feasibility studies, concept design and town planning. Marissa values people centric design, where the voices of the communities impacted by the Architecture are at the forefront of the design process. Through her tertiary education at the University of Melbourne and now RMIT, she is particularly interested in communicating the value that design can bring to the broader community , and believes that architecture should be accessible to everyone.

Lottie is one of several furry friends that hang out in the office. While not contributing to the Architecture due to not having the requisite qualifications, her charming contribution is very valued. Unfortunately, materials samples and stuffed toys do not last as long as they should.