Perth key to Woods Bagot global push

Woods Bagot has been ranked seventh in a list of the world’s top 100 architecture firms for the second consecutive year, with the company’s Perth studio emerging as one of its most strategically important.

The company was also ranked the top architecture firm in Australia, as well as sixth in planning, eighth in consulting, ninth in retail, interior design and residential, and 10th in transportation worldwide in Building Design’s annual World Architecture 100 list.

In total, there were six Australian firms ranked in the 2015 list, down from seven last year.

The other companies were HBO+EMTB, Cox Architecture, The Buchan Group, Thomson Adsett and Hayball.

Woods Bagot Australian executive chairman Mark Mitcheson-Low said the rankings were important for the company to evaluate where it sat among its global competitors.

Mr Mitcheson-Low told Business News the Perth studio had emerged as a vital plank of its growth ambitions in key Asian markets.

High-profile projects rolled out of the Perth office include the $700 million redevelopment of Perth Airport and the second office tower at Brookfield Place, while Woods Bagot was also recently appointed by Seven Group Holdings to design two 50-storey residential towers at Kings Square.

“We see Perth as very important in our strategic plans to link with South-East Asia and Singapore,” Mr Mitcheson-Low said.

“Perth has become a much more strategic part of our business and is up there now as one of our three big studios, with Melbourne and Sydney.”

Mr Mitcheson-Low said Woods Bagot had moved a lot of employees from international studios to its Perth office in recent years, giving the local arm significant global expertise and large project experience.

“The pipeline for Perth is quite strong, we’re employing people and we have been continually for the last year,” he said.

“We’re seeing a lot of investment from our South-East Asian neighbours, Singapore in particular, who are investing heavily into Perth and that’s a good opportunity for us as a global company.”