The South Australian government architect will recruit eight new staff members to the Office for Design and Architecture South Australia (ODASA). The new appointments will almost double the office’s staff numbers to 18.
The move comes after Scottish-born architect Kirsteen Mackay was appointed government architect in July 2015. In August, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure announced additional new appointments. They included Nick Tridente, past president of the Australian Institute of Architects South Australian chapter (2011-2013) to the role of associate government architect; John Byleveld, creator and presenter of The Plan radio program to the role of manager of strategic projects.
The Advertiser reported the office will be restructured into two divisions: one for overseeing government projects including providing strategic advice on the Adelaide Festival Plaza redevelopment and a new CBD high school; the other for the design review of developments over four storeys, projects valued $10 million or more and Port Adelaide projects valued $3 million or more.
South Australia’s Design Review Program, which consists of an independent panel of experts who support the government architect, was also recently expanded in response to a growing number development proposals in the City of Adelaide and surrounding municipalities.
“I’m finding people are coming to knock on our door more regularly rather than us convincing people why they should care about good design,” Mackay told The Advertiser.
