“Environment makes a critical difference to how children learn at different stages. It takes a lot of consultation and listening to teachers, specialist support staff and students to get the atmosphere right.”

Allen Jack+Cottier Architects (AJ+C) welcomes Dua Green as a newly appointed Director in its Sydney studio. Since joining the practice in 2007, Dua has been involved in lighthouse projects across the hugely important education and student accommodation sectors. Dua was instrumental in the design and delivery of the multi-award-winning Judith Poole Multi-Sports Hall for Abbotsleigh School in Wahroonga, Sydney. Its awards included The William Kemp Award for best education building in NSW (AIA, 2016) and a World Sport in Architecture Award (WAN, 2018).

She continues the Abbotsleigh relationship through AJ+C’s master planning of the junior and senior schools, which will see a campus-wide renewal and pivotal new learning spaces. She is also working on the overall master plan and a new boarding house for Loreto Normanhurst.

“The school sector caters to a diverse age range – responding to this and overlaying each school’s unique education model means every project is different. So there’s a lot of consultation with teachers, specialist support staff and students to get it right. I’m constantly learning and growing my knowledge as a result of that process. It’s really enriching.”

“The Abbotsleigh Junior School project is transformational, but it’s also special to me because I’m designing for children the same age as my own.”

“Loreto Boarding House is architecturally very interesting because we’re using the steep topography as a design driver, stepping the building with the landscape creating a strong connection between the two. The landscape terraces and level changes provide a natural delineation between public and private zones without the need for extensive barriers and fences.”

Before joining AJ+C Architects, Dua worked in the UK on projects in Britain, Europe and Buenos Aires. “What attracted me to AJ+C, as well as the variety of important projects, was the great people to work with and learn from, and a progressive attitude to work hours. As a mother of young children, that‘s very important to me.”

In announcing the appointment, CEO, Principal Design Michael Heenan praised Green’s design talent and her commitment to her projects.

“Dua’s promotion to Director recognises her outstanding contribution and leadership qualities. She is a highly skilled designer at a conceptual, technical and economic level – what I call ‘design in the round’. Her commitment to clients is peerless, and her deep understanding of the education portfolio is invaluable. Dua works flexible hours within the practice, which we see as a positive. When you’re as capable as Dua, there should be no barriers to opportunity when you’re managing your work/life balance.”

For interviews or information, contact Joanne Sim, Clients + Markets Manager t: +61 415 548 532; e: joanne.sim@architectsajc.com