Australia’s architectural industry continues to scale great heights in the global arena with six Australian practices ranking in Building Design’s World Architecture 100.

Every year UK architectural news publication Building Design (BD) presents its compendium of the world’s biggest practices, compiled through a survey of architecture studios from all over the globe. The biggest 100 practices in the world are ranked by the number of fee-earning architects employed by each firm. This year’s list features six Australian studios including Woods Bagot, Bates Smart, Buchan Group, GHDWoodhead, Architectus and Hames Sharley.

Woods Bagot was ranked number seven in Building Design’s World Architecture 100 with 840 architects on its rolls and a fee income of $150-159 million. According to BD, Australia’s largest practice continues to explore new global markets with more than half of its revenue coming from international projects, and Asia and North America being its biggest overseas regions.

Sydney and Melbourne-based studio Bates Smart moved up from last year’s 57th spot to 45 this year, having increased architect numbers by 25 per cent in the last 12 months. The practice now employs 250 architects and boasts a fee income of $40-49 million.

BD says that Bates Smart saw a rise in the commercial office market as well as in high-rise residential and hospitality projects. An increasingly internationally minded client base also led to projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

Buchan Group went up three spots from last year, coming in at 55 in this year’s list. The firm’s recent business alliance with Japanese giant Nikkon Sekkei holds great potential. With 204 architects employed, Buchan reports a $50-59 million fee income.

Rising 18 spots from last year to number 71, architecture and engineering consultancy GHDWoodhead added 47 architects in 2016 as part of its mission to double staff numbers and revenue in five years. The firm employs 163 architects and reports $50-59 million in fee income, with government and transport being its most fruitful sectors last year. Projects include rail stations on the new Forrestfield Airport link in Perth, ferry terminals for Brisbane City Council, and the recently completed underground Perth Busport.

Placing at 97th and 100th respectively, Architectus and Hames Sharley were the two newcomers to the list this year. While Architectus employs 100 architects and reports a $40-49 million fee income, Hames Sharley employs 92 with a $20-29 million fee income.

Image: Chadstone Shopping Centre by Buchan Group

Architecture & Design Team

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