John Roberts is a Graduate of Architecture with a passion and commitment to Architecture, Design and Urban Placemaking. He completed a Masters of Architecture at the University of Canberra in 2020 following a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2017. In 2017 he received the John Redmond prize from the Australian Institute of Architects for the highest achievement in architectural studies for that year. In 2018 he completed a Bachelor of Arts and Design (Honours) at UC, where he learnt to manage and deliver a focused dissertation research project, and received a First Class Honours for his work exploring utopia in a Canberran case study.
John has worked in the architectural industry since 2017, and since 2021 he has been employed as a Project Lead/Graduate Architect at Collins Pennington Architects in Manuka, working as part of a team across residential, education and public architecture projects. He has continued to develop his skills leading projects from initial concept design stage through to Building Approval and Construction Documentation. In 2021 he was a key part of the design team for a competition winning scheme for Yowani Golf and Country Club, and he has led and coordinated consultant teams for the delivery of several new multi-residential and education facilities.
John has been interested in Architecture from a young age, and continues to explore self-set design challenges in his spare time. John’s work focuses on creating a better built world, whether in his own ‘backyard’, or in vastly different social circumstances.
Experience and Education
Collins Pennington Architects, Griffith ACT — Project Lead/Graduate Architect
JAN 2021 – SEP 2022
John has worked as a Graduate Architect at Collins Pennington in Manuka since January 2021. He has learnt to work independently under the direct supervision of the firm’s Directors, as a design architect on a variety of single residential, multi residential, education, and public projects. His skills range from initial concept design, consultant and stakeholder coordination, preparation of documents for Development and Building Approval, through to detailing and integration of structural design for construction. In 2021, John was a key part of the design team for a competition-winning scheme for a new Yowani Golf and Country Club clubhouse precinct.
Arquitectura, Campbell ACT — Architectural Assistant
JUL 2017 – DEC 2020
John worked as an architectural assistant at Arquitectura in Campbell from July 2017 to December 2020, working primarily on documentation for development application and construction on a number of single residential, alterations and additions and secondary residence projects.
University of Canberra — Master of Architecture
JAN 2019 – DEC 2020
John completed a Master of Architecture at the University of Canberra in 2020, receiving the Dean’s Excellence Award for top academic performance over a number of semesters.
University of Canberra — Bachelor of Arts and Design (Honours) – First
Class Honours
JAN 2018 – NOV 2018
John was awarded the University of Canberra Honours scholarship and received a
degree of First Class Honours for his dissertation entitled Autopsy on Utopia:
Exploring Space & Subjectivity in the Contemporary City, a research project exploring
the ambiguities of ‘real’ and ‘unreal’ space in modernist utopia, using
Canberra as a historical case study.
University of Canberra — Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
JAN 2015 – DEC 2017
John Graduated from a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture at the University of
Canberra in 2017 and received the John Redmond Prize for the highest
achievement during the first three years of architectural education for that year.
Dickson College, Canberra — Year 12 Certificate
JAN 2013 – DEC 2014
John completed year 12 at Dickson College in 2014, with a Double Major in Design
and Graphics and an ATAR of 99.35, and subsequently received the University of
Canberra Chancellor’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence and University of
Canberra Undergraduate Scholarship.
Skills
-Concept design skills
-Consultant and stakeholder management and coordination
-Project leadership and management skills.
-Academic writing and research skills.
-Familiarity with ACT/NSW Planning systems.
-Preparation of development/building approval documentation.
-Coordination of structural design for construction documentation.
-Teamwork and presentation skills.
-Autodesk Revit, Autodesk AutoCAD.
-Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator
-Trimble Sketchup, Trimble Layout
-Corel DRAW, Corel PhotoPaint,
-Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint.
-Google Docs Suite.
-Hand drawing
-Current Construction Induction (white card) and Working with Vulnerable People clearance
Achievements
COX prize, University of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Design Exhibition 2020.
University of Canberra Honours Scholarship 2018.
Australian Institute of Architects John Redmond Prize 2018.
University of Canberra Undergraduate Scholarship 2015.
University of Canberra Chancellor’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence 2015.
University of Canberra Dean’s
Excellence Award Semester 2 2015,
Semester 1 2016, Semester 2 2016,
Semester 1 2017, Semester 2 2017,
Semester 1 2018, Semester 2 2018,
Semester 1 2019, Semester 2 2019,
Semester 1 2020.
Capital Chemists Scholarship for
Academic Excellence 2012.
Exhibitions
2014, College Express 6, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra.
2014, Design Gate, Dickson College, Canberra.
2014, Step into the Limelight, ANU School of Art Gallery, Canberra.
2013, College Express 5, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra.
2013, Step into the Limelight, ANU School of Art Gallery, Canberra.
2013, Design Gate, Dickson College, Canberra.
2011, When Science Meets Art, CSIRO Discovery Centre, Canberra (3rd Prize).
Professional Memberships
Australian Institute of Architects (Student Member)
Community Organisations
Public Transport Association of Canberra, 2019-present
Ginninderra Wind Orchestra 2013-2020
Lerenor 