Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) is one of Australia’s foremost and awarded architectural practices. Its origins are in Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp Architects (MGT, established 1980) who won the international design competition for Parliament House in the nation’s capital, Canberra. The practice proceeded to complete significant and challenging projects throughout Australia and South-East Asia, with the results being acclaimed through receipt of Australia’s highest architectural and construction awards.

Designed by one-time Sydney University medallist Richard Francis-Jones, it overlooks Victoria Park towards the centre of Sydney, and features 16 seminar rooms, four 100-seat lecture theatres, a 300-seat auditorium and a ‘moot court’ that gives students simulated first-hand court experience. The project has received numerous awards including AIA awards for Architecture, Urban Design and Sustainability.

Restructured in 2003 as fjmt, the practice continues its commitment to design excellence, executing many complex commissions. Most notably, The Scientia, a landmark multi-purpose performance centre at the University of New South Wales and the new Headquarters of the Historic Houses Trust – The Mint. For the first time, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects simultaneously awarded The Mint the Sir John Sulman Award for Architectural Excellence and the Francis Greenway Award for Conservation. The jury described the project as “a gift to Sydney… an exemplary collaboration of minds and skills…”.

Professor Gillian Triggs, Dean of Sydney Law School said: “The architects have designed an elegant and spacious structure that cannot fail to inspire our academic staff, administrators and students. A functional and beautiful environment respects those who use the spaces and motivates all who work in the building.”

The Baulderstone-built building boasts a sophisticated glass double-skin ventilated façade which is made up of occupant-controlled timber louvres to control solar gain and glare. The cavity space within the façade naturally ventilates the building. Other features include a 20 metre high light tower which is used to direct natural light into the underground law library. Clad in curved stainless steel panels and large glass panes, the building also features mixed-mode, chilled-beam and displacement air conditioning and precinct storm water collection.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 4:27 pm and is filed under Architecture Design. Tags: architecture, Architecture Design, Architecture Educational, awarded architectural practices, educational building, naturally ventilates, Sustainability, University of Sydney, Urban Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.