Arthur Bligh began sole practice on 7 August 1926 in Toowoomba, Queensland. With the advent of the Architect’s Act, he became one of Queensland’s earliest registered architects in 1929.

He spent the second half of the decade establishing himself in this prosperous regional centre, quickly gaining a wide range of clients and securing commissions for houses, factories, commercial offices and churches.

Following the 1929 stock market crash and ensuing depression, there was a sharp decline in opportunities in and around Toowoomba. Arthur was forced to look further afield, securing a housing development in Newmarket, Brisbane for Linray Constructions. Through this project he met Colin (Col) Jessup, forming a lifelong personal and professional association.

Despite the dearth of opportunities even in Brisbane, Arthur made the move to the city, employing Col and undertaking mostly residential commissions. During this period, Arthur demonstrated a talent for promoting his practice, the profession more broadly and his particular passion for brick on edge construction, tested on his own house, Limrodae 2, at Clayfield.

He became a well-connected and respected practitioner with an increasingly large and diverse portfolio of projects.

With the outbreak of World War II, construction activity ceased, forcing those architects who didn’t enlist to seek other work. Arthur and Col were both engaged in defence-related volunteer work, Arthur for Second Battalion in Brisbane and Col for Commonwealth Works and the United States Army in Townsville.

Following the war, they rejoined, established Bligh and Jessup Architects and commenced rebuilding the practice, initially from a makeshift office in Windsor. With work picking up towards the end of the decade, the partnership relocated to an office in Queen Street, Brisbane.

Despite a slow start to the decade as the country recovered from the economic impact of the war, commissions began to flow in the 1950s and they were soon busy with a range of residential, commercial, industrial and ecclesiastical projects. Athol Bretnall merged his practice with Bligh Jessup to form Bligh Jessup Bretnall and Partners (BJB&P) in 1957. Ronald Voller also merged his practice the same year, becoming a partner several years later.

Athol and Ronald brought new clients and projects to the practice including Toombul Shopping Town and Inala Sports Centre. These reflected the increasing affluence of society and the popularity of retail and leisure activities. Churches were important commissions for many architects during this time, with Ronald bringing Christ Church, St Lucia to the merged practice.

Inspired by his father’s passion, Arthur’s son Graham enrolled in architecture at the Central Technical College in 1952, heading overseas after graduation.

Graham Bligh returned from his travels in 1961, joining the practice and injecting new energy and design ideas from his travels and work in the UK. Ronald’s son Jon also decided to join the profession, commencing his architectural studies at The University of Queensland in 1962. With work becoming more plentiful, the practice was securing larger and more prominent private sector and government commissions.

The baby boom and expanding Brisbane suburbs brought the firm residential, retail and leisure related buildings including the Camden high rise apartments and bowling alleys in Greenslopes and Clayfield. Increasing car ownership led to numerous Amoco service stations across the state for which the firm pioneered a signature canopy sheltering the bowsers. Office buildings came from earlier agricultural sector connections, with the Brisbane Milk Board one of the firm’s first in the CBD.

Sixties growth and optimism was curbed by an early decade credit crisis that brought unemployment and slowed projects. The firm responded by establishing a relationship with The University of Queensland (UQ) that commenced with the Priestly Building (in association with James Birrell) and the Physics Annex at the St Lucia campus. Work for the university extended to a 30-year long involvement in Gatton Agricultural College.

Graham and Ronald become partners in 1965 and the decade ended with the construction of a new office at 445 Upper Edward Street, showcasing Athol’s innovation in open plan office design that did not become commonplace for decades.

During these years, Arthur Bligh was developing and promoting his plans for the redevelopment of the disused Roma Street markets site, germinating into the Roma Street Plan or The Bligh Scheme. While not realised, the investment and energy behind these ideas produced lasting benefits for the practice. A notable manifestation was the District Court building in George Street, the firm’s first significant State Government project.

The 60s was a defining decade for BJB&P, during which it broadened its portfolio and client base, consolidated its presence in the market and cemented its collaborative approach to ownership and design.

In 1970, Bligh Jessup Bretnall & Partners Architects Pty Ltd became the first architectural practice to be incorporated as a limited liability company. As an early adopter of this structure, BJP&P could streamline its financial structure, simplify ownership arrangements and offer access to superannuation benefits. This strategic change set the scene for further growth, mergers with other practices and the introduction of new principals.

As demonstration of its inventive thinking, the firm formed Urban Design and Planning Associates (UDPA), a separate town planning and urban design business, with the goal of securing city-making projects and engaging in their strategic phases.

The firm’s portfolio was further enhanced by two CBD towers, Watkins Place in Edward Street and the MLC Building in George Street, won on the same day in 1972. Despite the staffing challenges, these became Brisbane landmarks.

The District Courts was followed by the Supreme Courts, also in George Street, highly regarded for its elegant, rational modernist design and high-quality finishes, an exemplar civic building of the day. Institutional work continued with several university buildings added including the UQ Commerce Building.

The 1970s buildings established the firm as one of Queensland’s best known and respected architectural practices. Increasingly it was earning a reputation for an egalitarian culture, a training ground and a stepping stone for many aspiring architects.

This decade also saw the first changing of the guard, with Arthur and Col both retiring in 1974 followed by Athol in 1979. Despite this vacuum, the process of succession to secure the firm’s longevity was firmly in place, with Graham and Jon positioned alongside Ronald and Bob Gardner to lead into its next phase.

The decade began with the resignation of Helen Mills, ending her five-year long tenure as the firm’s first female partner, weary of the gender bias in the industry, moving on to become a member of the clergy.

Strategic planning was again afoot, with the formation of the Bligh Maccormick joint venture and a serious and successful pitch for the role of master planner and master architect for Expo 88 in Brisbane. In parallel and through an association with Australian Construction Services, the firm was awarded the new Brisbane Domestic Airport Terminal.

The success of Expo and its iconic sails, along with the Sir Zelman Cowan award-winning domestic airport terminal, boosted the firm’s prominence and enhanced its reputation as civic thinkers and its capability to undertake high-profile and technically challenging projects.

With the retirement of Ronald Voller in 1985, the firm again turned its attention to renewal and succession, deciding to merge with Noel Robinson to form Bligh Jessup Robinson (BJR) in 1987. Noel, Graham Bligh, Jon Voller and Robert Gardner were principals and equal owners of the new firm. Queensland Police Headquarters and Lake Crackenback Village were both underway at this time with the latter receiving the Sulman Award for outstanding architecture.

The early 1990s were the lowest point in the firm’s history, with the dissolution of the short-lived Noel Robinson merger and the devastating effects of the “recession we had to have”, which saw the firm reduced to a skeleton staff, on minimal wages. Somehow, this resolute group, now called simply Bligh Voller, managed to weather the year-long drought in projects, re-group, secure milestone commissions and reinvent the practice.

Bligh Voller introduced a new generation of principals who would re-energise the firm and take it in new directions. On the strength of the Brisbane Domestic Terminal, BV partnered with Civil & Civic to win the new Brisbane International Terminal. Along with the executive architect role for the Robin Gibson-designed 111 George St office building, the office was soon bursting at the seams.

In 1995, from a Canberra office retained after BJR, it won the new Russell Offices, the national headquarters for Defence located in the parliamentary triangle. This was a truly remarkable commission for a Brisbane-based practice, the product of a long working relationship with Civil & Civic and an openness to new methods of procurement and construction. The firms’ expertise and involvement in the defence sector grew from here and continues to this day.

Plans were soon underway for expansion into Sydney and a joint venture was established with the Lobb Partnership, Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture (BLSA), to pursue sporting venues generally, and particularly for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The Sydney office was opened in 1994, with early success at the Westpac Trust Stadium in Wellington, NZ. BLSA went on to win Stadium Australia with Multiplex in 1996, along with the Olympic Tennis Centre and Games overlays.

From a long association and several joint projects with Lawrence Nield and Partners, Bligh Voller Nield was created in 1997, further expanding the firm’s range to include hospitals and high-profile public projects such as St Vincent's Hospital Redevelopment and Cook and Phillip Park Pool.

After ten years practising with Nicola Bradley as Grose Bradley, James Grose rejoined through a merger in 1998, securing the influential Campus MLC workplace soon after.

Following a BLSA project office in Melbourne for the Docklands Stadium, a permanent office was established in 1999 through a merger with PINK, leading to sport, education and defence projects.

This evolution opened up multiple opportunities and led to projects that built on the established strengths of the current and new principals – healthcare, sport, workplace, scientific research, education, defence, commercial and institutional projects were secured and the firm grew to 300 or more staff.

The decade also saw the retirement of Graham Bligh and Bob Gardner, leaving Jon Voller as the last of the Toowoomba and Brisbane lineage.

With the Sydney 2000 Olympics successfully staged and the retirement of Jon Voller in 2003, it was time again for the firm to focus on succession. The ownership was expanded with the appointment of eight new principals and the decade was spent consolidating its position in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, developing its specialist skills and expanding its portfolio.

Capitalising on knowledge and experience from Sydney 2000 came commissions for masterplanning, venues and overlay for Beijing 2004, Athens 2008 and London 2012. The London Athletes Village (with Lend Lease and Patel Taylor) was an important step in the evolving model of transforming the village into apartments post Games.

With the new principals, there was capacity to pursue and manage a greater number and diversity of projects. The practice now had a broad range of interests and opportunities, leading to many rich and rewarding experiences. Significant projects were added to the established portfolio.

Defence experience expanded through redevelopments such as Lavarack Barracks, Gallipoli Barracks, HMAS Cresswell, RAAF College Relocation and Puckapunyal. A string of workplace projects followed Campus MLC including National@Docklands, Deutsche Bank, Stockland and Myer. The first workplace commission for ASB Bank was secured with C:Drive, leading to Sovereign House and ASB North Wharf, along with the Christchurch Airport Regional Terminal extending the firm’s reach into New Zealand.

Substantial hospital projects were awarded with the redevelopment of the Mater and Robina hospitals in Queensland and Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. BVN’s first medical research buildings were produced during this decade with The Brain and Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Building and the Westmead Millenium Institute.

This period also saw the education portfolio established, with Ravenswood School for Girls, Mabel Fidler Building and the UTS Faculty of Health and Arts in the converted Fairfax Building, both winning Sulman awards. The firm’s commitment to environmental sustainability was recognised with the RAAF Richmond Squadron Headquarters receiving 6-star Greenstar certification.

Following Lawrence Nield’s retirement in 2008, the practice ended the decade by evolving the brand to simply, BVN.

During this decade, the firm continued to seek international opportunities with an eye on establishing a permanent presence outside Australia. It secured a number of projects, most prominently, the Australian Embassy Bangkok for which a satellite office was established. This approach was also adopted in Hong Kong to provide advisory and design services to the Hong Kong Government on several new hospitals. On the strength of winning projects in Canada, America, Europe and the UK, new studios were established in New York and London to expand horizons and seek opportunities in these markets.

In 2012, BVN merged with Brisbane’s highly regarded Donovan Hill, creating BVN Donovan Hill. Brian Donovan joined as a principal and the Brisbane studio relocated for the first time in 20 years, from The Cake Shop in Fortitude Valley to the Brisbane CBD.

The retirement and appointment of several other principals marked a decade of changing leadership, with some joining from other practices and some appointed from within. BVN Donovan Hill reverted to BVN in 2014.

Many projects were added to the firm’s portfolio during this decade as it continued to build its knowledge base, expertise and reputation for high-quality design and project delivery. Projects for Defence expanded significantly with ELF2B, Moorebank Units Relocation, Larakeyah, HMAS Watson and the nationwide Land 121.

Showcase workplace projects for Herbert Smith Freehills, Charter Hall, Macquarie Bank, Challenger and BHP were completed. Hospital and health-related projects continued with new hospitals at Northern Beaches, South-East (Bega) and Maitland, and redevelopments of Logan, Nepean and Randwick Prince of Wales hospitals.

BVN secured many projects in the demanding multi-unit residential market, particularly in design competitions within the City of Sydney, including Vivacity and Figtree Drive in Homebush, City Tattersalls in the CBD and Jolyn and O’ Dea Avenue in the inner suburbs.

Education brought an array of projects for private and public schools, including Ascham School, Melbourne Girls Grammar School, Kincoppal Rose Bay, MLC School, St Patrick’s College, Brisbane South State Secondary College and Arthur Phillip Public School (with Grimshaw). The firm’s environmental advocacy was on display with an adaptive re-use for Our Lady of Assumption School Primary School using mass timber.

Scientific and medical research projects included The Braggs, Australian Plantbank, CSIRO Synergy, and Kinghorn Cancer Centre. Public libraries at Double Bay, Woollahra and Marrickville spearheaded a shift for them, offering a more community-focused experience.

Through various forums and engagement with leading thinkers, the firm invested time in establishing its position on ethics, the environment, gender equity, design thinking and relationship with Country to name a few.

The first half of the 2020s has seen BVN invest in its people through learning, development and support structures, while also investing in initiatives that broaden its contribution to the role of architecture in society. Major hospital and defence projects continue to be secured, including redevelopments of John Hunter, Nepean, Canberra, Prince of Wales Randwick and Maitland Hospitals, HMAS Watson, RAAF Tindal and AIR3503.

The practice values challenging projects, particularly those where the brief, site, community expectations, the opportunity to surprise and delight, and, most of all, the potential to minimise environmental impact are greatest. A particular focus has been to identify ways that BVN can leverage construction innovation to reduce carbon footprint, including adaptive reuse towers Greenland and QQT (with 3XN), the mass timber buildings for ANU Kambri, the timber-framed floating roof of the Sydney Fish Market (with 3XN) and the hybrid timber Atlassian Central (with SHoP).

Multi-unit residential projects make up a growing proportion of the firm’s work, with high profile projects in the City of Sydney won through design competitions including City Tattersalls, Sirius Redevelopment and Greenland Centre.

The decade brought a new mindset towards flexible work that BVN has embraced, fostering trust-based relationships, work-life balance, gender equity and family-friendly arrangements, unthinkable in earlier decades. A rare opportunity arose in 2021 for a new Brisbane studio in a building of our own design, relocating into a space rich in natural light and greenery in The Annex. This design, along with Yarilla Place and Green Square Public School embraced the Designing with Country advocacy led by Kevin O’Brien, which continues to enrich the designs of all BVN projects.

The 100-year anniversary celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the founding partners, reflect on our history and commit to the firm’s evolution. BVN’s core purpose, “collective creativity to design a better future” is based on cooperation and sharing of ideas. This has been preserved and nurtured by successive principals and continues to define BVN. The hallmarks are equity, the value of collaboration and latitude to keep exploring ideas.

The practice sustains a profound humanity that endures after 100 years, underpinning a culture of generosity and compassion. As Arthur Bligh intended, the practice continues to bring people together, encourage everyone to have a voice, find their place in the collective and influence the firm’s direction through individual contributions united by a shared purpose.

Arthur Bligh began sole practice on 7 August 1926 in Toowoomba, Queensland. With the advent of the Architect’s Act, he became one of Queensland’s earliest registered architects in 1929.

He spent the second half of the decade establishing himself in this prosperous regional centre, quickly gaining a wide range of clients and securing commissions for houses, factories, commercial offices and churches.

Following the 1929 stock market crash and ensuing depression, there was a sharp decline in opportunities in and around Toowoomba. Arthur was forced to look further afield, securing a housing development in Newmarket, Brisbane for Linray Constructions. Through this project he met Colin (Col) Jessup, forming a lifelong personal and professional association.

Despite the dearth of opportunities even in Brisbane, Arthur made the move to the city, employing Col and undertaking mostly residential commissions. During this period, Arthur demonstrated a talent for promoting his practice, the profession more broadly and his particular passion for brick on edge construction, tested on his own house, Limrodae 2, at Clayfield.

He became a well-connected and respected practitioner with an increasingly large and diverse portfolio of projects.

With the outbreak of World War II, construction activity ceased, forcing those architects who didn’t enlist to seek other work. Arthur and Col were both engaged in defence-related volunteer work, Arthur for Second Battalion in Brisbane and Col for Commonwealth Works and the United States Army in Townsville.

Following the war, they rejoined, established Bligh and Jessup Architects and commenced rebuilding the practice, initially from a makeshift office in Windsor. With work picking up towards the end of the decade, the partnership relocated to an office in Queen Street, Brisbane.

Despite a slow start to the decade as the country recovered from the economic impact of the war, commissions began to flow in the 1950s and they were soon busy with a range of residential, commercial, industrial and ecclesiastical projects. Athol Bretnall merged his practice with Bligh Jessup to form Bligh Jessup Bretnall and Partners (BJB&P) in 1957. Ronald Voller also merged his practice the same year, becoming a partner several years later.

Athol and Ronald brought new clients and projects to the practice including Toombul Shopping Town and Inala Sports Centre. These reflected the increasing affluence of society and the popularity of retail and leisure activities. Churches were important commissions for many architects during this time, with Ronald bringing Christ Church, St Lucia to the merged practice.

Inspired by his father’s passion, Arthur’s son Graham enrolled in architecture at the Central Technical College in 1952, heading overseas after graduation.

Graham Bligh returned from his travels in 1961, joining the practice and injecting new energy and design ideas from his travels and work in the UK. Ronald’s son Jon also decided to join the profession, commencing his architectural studies at The University of Queensland in 1962. With work becoming more plentiful, the practice was securing larger and more prominent private sector and government commissions.

The baby boom and expanding Brisbane suburbs brought the firm residential, retail and leisure related buildings including the Camden high rise apartments and bowling alleys in Greenslopes and Clayfield. Increasing car ownership led to numerous Amoco service stations across the state for which the firm pioneered a signature canopy sheltering the bowsers. Office buildings came from earlier agricultural sector connections, with the Brisbane Milk Board one of the firm’s first in the CBD.

Sixties growth and optimism was curbed by an early decade credit crisis that brought unemployment and slowed projects. The firm responded by establishing a relationship with The University of Queensland (UQ) that commenced with the Priestly Building (in association with James Birrell) and the Physics Annex at the St Lucia campus. Work for the university extended to a 30-year long involvement in Gatton Agricultural College.

Graham and Ronald become partners in 1965 and the decade ended with the construction of a new office at 445 Upper Edward Street, showcasing Athol’s innovation in open plan office design that did not become commonplace for decades.

During these years, Arthur Bligh was developing and promoting his plans for the redevelopment of the disused Roma Street markets site, germinating into the Roma Street Plan or The Bligh Scheme. While not realised, the investment and energy behind these ideas produced lasting benefits for the practice. A notable manifestation was the District Court building in George Street, the firm’s first significant State Government project.

The 60s was a defining decade for BJB&P, during which it broadened its portfolio and client base, consolidated its presence in the market and cemented its collaborative approach to ownership and design.

In 1970, Bligh Jessup Bretnall & Partners Architects Pty Ltd became the first architectural practice to be incorporated as a limited liability company. As an early adopter of this structure, BJP&P could streamline its financial structure, simplify ownership arrangements and offer access to superannuation benefits. This strategic change set the scene for further growth, mergers with other practices and the introduction of new principals.

As demonstration of its inventive thinking, the firm formed Urban Design and Planning Associates (UDPA), a separate town planning and urban design business, with the goal of securing city-making projects and engaging in their strategic phases.

The firm’s portfolio was further enhanced by two CBD towers, Watkins Place in Edward Street and the MLC Building in George Street, won on the same day in 1972. Despite the staffing challenges, these became Brisbane landmarks.

The District Courts was followed by the Supreme Courts, also in George Street, highly regarded for its elegant, rational modernist design and high-quality finishes, an exemplar civic building of the day. Institutional work continued with several university buildings added including the UQ Commerce Building.

The 1970s buildings established the firm as one of Queensland’s best known and respected architectural practices. Increasingly it was earning a reputation for an egalitarian culture, a training ground and a stepping stone for many aspiring architects.

This decade also saw the first changing of the guard, with Arthur and Col both retiring in 1974 followed by Athol in 1979. Despite this vacuum, the process of succession to secure the firm’s longevity was firmly in place, with Graham and Jon positioned alongside Ronald and Bob Gardner to lead into its next phase.

The decade began with the resignation of Helen Mills, ending her five-year long tenure as the firm’s first female partner, weary of the gender bias in the industry, moving on to become a member of the clergy.

Strategic planning was again afoot, with the formation of the Bligh Maccormick joint venture and a serious and successful pitch for the role of master planner and master architect for Expo 88 in Brisbane. In parallel and through an association with Australian Construction Services, the firm was awarded the new Brisbane Domestic Airport Terminal.

The success of Expo and its iconic sails, along with the Sir Zelman Cowan award-winning domestic airport terminal, boosted the firm’s prominence and enhanced its reputation as civic thinkers and its capability to undertake high-profile and technically challenging projects.

With the retirement of Ronald Voller in 1985, the firm again turned its attention to renewal and succession, deciding to merge with Noel Robinson to form Bligh Jessup Robinson (BJR) in 1987. Noel, Graham Bligh, Jon Voller and Robert Gardner were principals and equal owners of the new firm. Queensland Police Headquarters and Lake Crackenback Village were both underway at this time with the latter receiving the Sulman Award for outstanding architecture.

The early 1990s were the lowest point in the firm’s history, with the dissolution of the short-lived Noel Robinson merger and the devastating effects of the “recession we had to have”, which saw the firm reduced to a skeleton staff, on minimal wages. Somehow, this resolute group, now called simply Bligh Voller, managed to weather the year-long drought in projects, re-group, secure milestone commissions and reinvent the practice.

Bligh Voller introduced a new generation of principals who would re-energise the firm and take it in new directions. On the strength of the Brisbane Domestic Terminal, BV partnered with Civil & Civic to win the new Brisbane International Terminal. Along with the executive architect role for the Robin Gibson-designed 111 George St office building, the office was soon bursting at the seams.

In 1995, from a Canberra office retained after BJR, it won the new Russell Offices, the national headquarters for Defence located in the parliamentary triangle. This was a truly remarkable commission for a Brisbane-based practice, the product of a long working relationship with Civil & Civic and an openness to new methods of procurement and construction. The firms’ expertise and involvement in the defence sector grew from here and continues to this day.

Plans were soon underway for expansion into Sydney and a joint venture was established with the Lobb Partnership, Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture (BLSA), to pursue sporting venues generally, and particularly for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The Sydney office was opened in 1994, with early success at the Westpac Trust Stadium in Wellington, NZ. BLSA went on to win Stadium Australia with Multiplex in 1996, along with the Olympic Tennis Centre and Games overlays.

From a long association and several joint projects with Lawrence Nield and Partners, Bligh Voller Nield was created in 1997, further expanding the firm’s range to include hospitals and high-profile public projects such as St Vincent's Hospital Redevelopment and Cook and Phillip Park Pool.

After ten years practising with Nicola Bradley as Grose Bradley, James Grose rejoined through a merger in 1998, securing the influential Campus MLC workplace soon after.

Following a BLSA project office in Melbourne for the Docklands Stadium, a permanent office was established in 1999 through a merger with PINK, leading to sport, education and defence projects.

This evolution opened up multiple opportunities and led to projects that built on the established strengths of the current and new principals – healthcare, sport, workplace, scientific research, education, defence, commercial and institutional projects were secured and the firm grew to 300 or more staff.

The decade also saw the retirement of Graham Bligh and Bob Gardner, leaving Jon Voller as the last of the Toowoomba and Brisbane lineage.

With the Sydney 2000 Olympics successfully staged and the retirement of Jon Voller in 2003, it was time again for the firm to focus on succession. The ownership was expanded with the appointment of eight new principals and the decade was spent consolidating its position in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, developing its specialist skills and expanding its portfolio.

Capitalising on knowledge and experience from Sydney 2000 came commissions for masterplanning, venues and overlay for Beijing 2004, Athens 2008 and London 2012. The London Athletes Village (with Lend Lease and Patel Taylor) was an important step in the evolving model of transforming the village into apartments post Games.

With the new principals, there was capacity to pursue and manage a greater number and diversity of projects. The practice now had a broad range of interests and opportunities, leading to many rich and rewarding experiences. Significant projects were added to the established portfolio.

Defence experience expanded through redevelopments such as Lavarack Barracks, Gallipoli Barracks, HMAS Cresswell, RAAF College Relocation and Puckapunyal. A string of workplace projects followed Campus MLC including National@Docklands, Deutsche Bank, Stockland and Myer. The first workplace commission for ASB Bank was secured with C:Drive, leading to Sovereign House and ASB North Wharf, along with the Christchurch Airport Regional Terminal extending the firm’s reach into New Zealand.

Substantial hospital projects were awarded with the redevelopment of the Mater and Robina hospitals in Queensland and Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. BVN’s first medical research buildings were produced during this decade with The Brain and Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Building and the Westmead Millenium Institute.

This period also saw the education portfolio established, with Ravenswood School for Girls, Mabel Fidler Building and the UTS Faculty of Health and Arts in the converted Fairfax Building, both winning Sulman awards. The firm’s commitment to environmental sustainability was recognised with the RAAF Richmond Squadron Headquarters receiving 6-star Greenstar certification.

Following Lawrence Nield’s retirement in 2008, the practice ended the decade by evolving the brand to simply, BVN.

During this decade, the firm continued to seek international opportunities with an eye on establishing a permanent presence outside Australia. It secured a number of projects, most prominently, the Australian Embassy Bangkok for which a satellite office was established. This approach was also adopted in Hong Kong to provide advisory and design services to the Hong Kong Government on several new hospitals. On the strength of winning projects in Canada, America, Europe and the UK, new studios were established in New York and London to expand horizons and seek opportunities in these markets.

In 2012, BVN merged with Brisbane’s highly regarded Donovan Hill, creating BVN Donovan Hill. Brian Donovan joined as a principal and the Brisbane studio relocated for the first time in 20 years, from The Cake Shop in Fortitude Valley to the Brisbane CBD.

The retirement and appointment of several other principals marked a decade of changing leadership, with some joining from other practices and some appointed from within. BVN Donovan Hill reverted to BVN in 2014.

Many projects were added to the firm’s portfolio during this decade as it continued to build its knowledge base, expertise and reputation for high-quality design and project delivery. Projects for Defence expanded significantly with ELF2B, Moorebank Units Relocation, Larakeyah, HMAS Watson and the nationwide Land 121.

Showcase workplace projects for Herbert Smith Freehills, Charter Hall, Macquarie Bank, Challenger and BHP were completed. Hospital and health-related projects continued with new hospitals at Northern Beaches, South-East (Bega) and Maitland, and redevelopments of Logan, Nepean and Randwick Prince of Wales hospitals.

BVN secured many projects in the demanding multi-unit residential market, particularly in design competitions within the City of Sydney, including Vivacity and Figtree Drive in Homebush, City Tattersalls in the CBD and Jolyn and O’ Dea Avenue in the inner suburbs.

Education brought an array of projects for private and public schools, including Ascham School, Melbourne Girls Grammar School, Kincoppal Rose Bay, MLC School, St Patrick’s College, Brisbane South State Secondary College and Arthur Phillip Public School (with Grimshaw). The firm’s environmental advocacy was on display with an adaptive re-use for Our Lady of Assumption School Primary School using mass timber.

Scientific and medical research projects included The Braggs, Australian Plantbank, CSIRO Synergy, and Kinghorn Cancer Centre. Public libraries at Double Bay, Woollahra and Marrickville spearheaded a shift for them, offering a more community-focused experience.

Through various forums and engagement with leading thinkers, the firm invested time in establishing its position on ethics, the environment, gender equity, design thinking and relationship with Country to name a few.

The first half of the 2020s has seen BVN invest in its people through learning, development and support structures, while also investing in initiatives that broaden its contribution to the role of architecture in society. Major hospital and defence projects continue to be secured, including redevelopments of John Hunter, Nepean, Canberra, Prince of Wales Randwick and Maitland Hospitals, HMAS Watson, RAAF Tindal and AIR3503.

The practice values challenging projects, particularly those where the brief, site, community expectations, the opportunity to surprise and delight, and, most of all, the potential to minimise environmental impact are greatest. A particular focus has been to identify ways that BVN can leverage construction innovation to reduce carbon footprint, including adaptive reuse towers Greenland and QQT (with 3XN), the mass timber buildings for ANU Kambri, the timber-framed floating roof of the Sydney Fish Market (with 3XN) and the hybrid timber Atlassian Central (with SHoP).

Multi-unit residential projects make up a growing proportion of the firm’s work, with high profile projects in the City of Sydney won through design competitions including City Tattersalls, Sirius Redevelopment and Greenland Centre.

The decade brought a new mindset towards flexible work that BVN has embraced, fostering trust-based relationships, work-life balance, gender equity and family-friendly arrangements, unthinkable in earlier decades. A rare opportunity arose in 2021 for a new Brisbane studio in a building of our own design, relocating into a space rich in natural light and greenery in The Annex. This design, along with Yarilla Place and Green Square Public School embraced the Designing with Country advocacy led by Kevin O’Brien, which continues to enrich the designs of all BVN projects.

The 100-year anniversary celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the founding partners, reflect on our history and commit to the firm’s evolution. BVN’s core purpose, “collective creativity to design a better future” is based on cooperation and sharing of ideas. This has been preserved and nurtured by successive principals and continues to define BVN. The hallmarks are equity, the value of collaboration and latitude to keep exploring ideas.

The practice sustains a profound humanity that endures after 100 years, underpinning a culture of generosity and compassion. As Arthur Bligh intended, the practice continues to bring people together, encourage everyone to have a voice, find their place in the collective and influence the firm’s direction through individual contributions united by a shared purpose.