Conrad Gargett and Architectus have announced the two practices will merge later in 2023.
The alliance will extend the national reach for both practices, which have hailed the merger as “an important milestone.”
Conrad Gargett was established in Brisbane in 1890 and is one of Australia’s oldest firms. It merged with Riddel Architecture in 2012 and Ancher Mortlock Woolley in 2013.
The practice has expertise in health, defence, heritage transport, education and research, infrastructure, residential, retail and hospitality.
Today, it has offices in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a studio in Ethiopia.
The National Herbarium of NSW was designed by Architectus, Richard Leplastrier and Craig Burton.
Image: Brett Boardman
Architectus was founded in 2001 through the union of four independent practices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. It opened offices in Adelaide in 2015 and Perth in 2018.
The practice specializes in builds for aviation, commerce, defence, education, health, living, infrastructure, interiors, rail, urban futures, and the public.
The merger transition is set to take place over the next year. Conrad Gargett managing director Lawrence Toaldo will join Architectus’s board and become the company’s group director of health and defence.
“For 133 years, Conrad Gargett has been evolving and diversifying its offering. Merging with Architectus marks an exciting next chapter for our practice, allowing us to offer both scale and expertise nationally and internationally,” Toaldo said.
“We share with Architectus deep cultural synergies and a closely aligned design philosophy of creating resilient and meaningful places for people that are both poetic and pragmatic.”
Architectus CEO Ray Brown said, “Our merger with Conrad Gargett will accelerate the strong growth we’ve experienced in recent years and broaden our expertise in health, defence, and heritage.
“Our ambition is to become Australia’s leading national architecture and design practice, and our merger with Conrad Gargett will ensure we’re well on track to achieve this.”
