Cox Architecture’s Brisbane studio, Cox Rayner Architects, has appointed six new associates – Christina Cho, Kate Pottinger, Ali Farmer, Michael Bailey, Shane Horswill and Alex Leese.
Principal director Michael Rayner says the appointments were highly strategic and will enable the practice to better meet the demands of changes occurring in both markets and client service needs.
He went on to praise the associates for their experience in running significant and complex projects, noting that they are “at the vanguard of critical issues such as environmental design, workplace design, building information modelling and quality assurance.”
In conjunction with these appointments, Carol Brubaker has also been appointed senior associate, and will be responsible for coordinating the new associates who join Hang Ling, Antony Scott-Pegum and Vesna Lazarevic.
The practice introduced the six new associates:
Christina Cho will take up lead roles in environmental design and engaging with the younger generation of graduates. Christina studied architecture at University of California Berkeley and the University of Queensland, graduating as Valedictorian with first class honours. She is an accredited Green Star and LEED Design Professional. Her previous experience includes global practice HOK and local practice Donovan Hill. She is currently Project Architect for the Kings Square Precinct development in Perth. Christina is co-organiser of the PechaKucha program in Brisbane and past chair of Young Architects Queensland.
Michael Bailey’s specific roles are to galvanise the design culture in the office and improve our design development methodologies. Michael studied at the University of Queensland and Cape Town University, graduating with a Masters of Architecture. Previously at Donovan Hill Architects, where he worked on the award-winning Translational Research Centre, he has been a key team member of the international competition-winning National Maritime Museum of China and was Project Architect for the zero-carbon solar-hydrogen energy Sir Samuel Griffith Centre at Griffith University. He is currently Project Architect for the Tatts Group’s new headquarters in Brisbane.
Ali Farmer is promoted to associate with particular roles in ensuring client satisfaction and overviewing project architects. Ali graduated with Honours from the University of Queensland, coming directly to Cox Rayner in 2008. She was Project Architect for the challenging refurbishment of the Queensland Museum, and a key team member for the new UQ Oral Health Centre at Herston and the Commonwealth Games Aquatic Centre at Southport. Ali is currently a lead architect for the new Queensland State Velodrome at Chandler.
Kate Pottinger is Cox Rayner’s new Head of Interior Design, responsible for our eight-staff Interior Design Studio. Kate graduated with a Bachelor of Built Environment (Interior Design) from QUT in 2003, is an accredited Green Star professional and a Registered Nurse. Her long term interest in human behaviour has led the team to develop innovative workplace strategies in which she now specialises. Kate’s recent workplace projects include the head offices of ERM Power, Jones Lang La Salle, Rider Levitt Bucknall, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, and the Crime and Misconduct Commission Queensland. She is currently designing the Tatts Groups’ new 29350sqm workplace in Brisbane.
Alex Leese will perform the role of advancing Cox Rayner’s building information modelling and digital engineering systems and practices. Alex graduated from the University of Sheffield with Masters of Architecture in 1999 before coming to Brisbane where he specialised in retail architecture with the Buchan Group. He has most recently been the Project Architect for the highly complex Griffith University Health Centre on the Gold Coast, and a key team member on the National Maritime Museum of China, developing world-leading production and fabrication technologies. Alex will also be responsible for developing Cox Rayner’s retail architecture expertise.
Shane Horswill has and will continue to be Cox Rayner’s leader in contract management, construction administration and quality assurance. Shane joined Cox Rayner in 1989 after graduating from QUT and re-joined the practice in 2000 after gaining other experience. He has overseen and managed the construction success of major projects such as One One One Eagle Street Brisbane, Ipswich Courts, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Goodwill Bridge and Thuringowa Riverway, the latter winning the AIA National Award for Urban Design. He is currently completing the contract management of the University of Queensland Health Centre adjacent Royal Brisbane Hospital at Herston, and has brought the discipline of quality assurance to a world-class level.
