The architectural and interior design practice has grown over the decades, notably through mergers with Anderson Street Architects in Queensland, Prior & Cheney Architects in Victoria and dwp in Asia and the Middle East.
The firm's new ARCH wordmark embodies the new name and represents strength, simplicity, and grace in form and function. A universal symbol, the arch tells a visual story of connection and convergence, a conduit of ideas, a union of thought, a collection of ambitions. It embraces the practice's values of people, place, planet, and purpose and sets the stage for their future.
Chairperson and Principal Architect, David Rose, has been pivotal to the successes and growth of ARCH. With a 40 year legacy, David feels
"while a history of mergers with like-minded organisations forged new directions and paths, it is this current evolution that sees the most significant coalescence of purpose in the firm's 66-year history, inspiring confidence for the future."
ARCH builds on its high-quality design reputation with a simple, lean management structure allowing for nimble decision-making and responsive leadership. Their expertise spans ten specialist sectors focused on delivering community solutions: civic & community; education; health & wellbeing; hospitality; industry & science; residential & seniors living; sport & leisure; and workplace.
Consistently resonating with the community, the practice's projects encourage people to thrive through engaging facilities that serve as social hubs, centres of wellness, places of respect, venues for sport and leisure, and destinations for entertainment – each weaving their way sustainably into the social and cultural fabric of our environments. The new wordmark celebrates this built quality and its human connections.
"As Suters Architects since 1958 and as dwp for six years, we have designed and delivered projects in all states and territories of Australia. We create places that are loved by our clients, building users and the wider community and many of our projects have been recognised with globally respected design awards. More recently we have expanded our presence with new studios to support clients. We achieved zero carbon for business operations in 2020 and sustained that performance based on verifiable data. In 2023, we completed our Sustainability Action Plan and received endorsement for our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. Our architectural design practice has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional client and end-user experiences throughout its 66-year history." Michael Hegarty, Principal Architect & CEO
ARCH is best known for such significant projects as the multi-award winning Blundstone Arena in Tasmania, the Hanna Neumann Building at ANU Canberra and the Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney, which is as impressive in the "flesh" as it is in photos, and their work in conservation with the recent opening of Taronga Zoo's new Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centre.
They also have a rapidly growing portfolio of major acute public hospital redevelopments in Queensland and NSW, and transformational mental health facilities in Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide, regional NSW and the Gold Coast.
ARCH is recognised for delivering innovative and stimulating learning environments such as the USQ Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronic, a building that acts as a ‘living lab’, with a unique structural health monitoring system. Their talented teams frequently collaborate across sectors, integrating best practice sports and health planning into seniors living, workplace and education projects.
On 30 July, the new ARCH wordmark will launch representing an 18-month journey culminating in the expression of their core purpose as "the community experience specialist". The ARCH as a symbol respresents engagement in transformation of disparate landscapes, cultures, and philosophies, creating inspired places for people and connection.
ARCH brings a fresh and inspired voice to architecture and interior design in Australia.
This story has been brought to life by two exceptional agencies.
Fluid Branding's series of workshops and interviews uncovered a deep seeded sense of purpose felt by team members, the reward for designing community infrastructure, enabling and connecting diverse groups of cultures and abilities to live better lives and interact positively with community. Fluid's research also revealed that clients greatly valued ARCH's depth of experience, responsiveness, and innovative approaches to sustainable design. ARCH is immensely grateful for Fluid's exceptional work. Their innovative approach and painstaking focus on specifics have successfully encapsulated the brand's essence and given expression to its vision.
More recently, Craft Digital Marketing was engaged to capture the essence of the business through candid headshots and videos profiling the dynamic organisation. The new ARCH website, also designed by Craft showcases sectors, services, and people, with latest news in a visually compelling and intuitive design – visit dwp.design
When it came to communicating the values that ARCH embodies, Michael Hegarty, CEO, sees them as representative of a compass; in the same way North, South, East, and West navigate direction, so People, Place, Planet, and Purpose navigate ARCH's every intent and interaction. Michael further details,
"Designing with PEOPLE is all about you, us, and the community – it's what makes it all worthwhile – our people, clients, and partners are our business, and the personal approach is part of our DNA. PLACE, is where we live, work, play and thrive. We promote a respectful culture in our business and always take the time to learn, reflect and thoughtfully respond to place and diversity. Our PLANET sustains us; it's the life support for who we protect and it is our responsibility. We emphasise our past, present and future when providing real outcomes for our planet. Most importantly, our PURPOSE is the why. We embrace a world of inspiration. The future fuels our passions, ignites our desire and gives us the confidence to deliver tangible benefits to clients and the end-users of the buildings and places that we design."
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