Carolyn ‘Austin’ McFarland and Russell McFarland.
The winning school hall.
THE hall and library at Wingham St Joseph's Primary School, designed by Austin McFarland Architects has received a special mention in the Architizer A+ International Awards in the kindergartens, primary and high school category.
The Architizer A+ Awards, run by www.Architizer.com, a world leading online platform for architecture, honours the world’s best spaces and structures, and the minds behind them.
With entries received from 100 countries, the special mention distinction is awarded to work entered that exhibits remarkable achievement and that scored in the top 20 per cent of entrants.
In November, the Wingham based practice was surprised to receive an invitation by Architizer to submit their project at St Joseph’s Primary School into the awards.
When the list of finalists was announced last month, Austin McFarland Architects were notified the project had received a special mention.
The practice comprises of husband and wife architects, Carolyn (Austin) McFarland and Russell McFarland and graduate architect Dylan Wood.
“We have received local and state recognition for this project but getting that email delighted us, that our modest project has been seen internationally,” Russell McFarland explained.
“We believe the success of this project was not only due to a client who was willing to support architectural design but how the whole project team of architects, consultants, builder and suppliers worked together to deliver a building of this quality for an incredibly tight budget”
The project was the only Australian entry in the category.
Marc Kushner, CEO of Architizer said in recognition of the exceptional quality of submissions received, the jury has acknowledged outstanding entries as special mentions, alongside its finalists and winners.
“It is Architizer’s core belief that everyone is a fan of architecture without even knowing it, and it is our job to remind them. That is why our jury consists of thought leaders and doers from inside architecture, and from beyond.”
The awards program is unique as it features more than 200 judges from around the world. The diverse jury is emblematic of the unique approach Architizer has taken with the A+ Awards.
The jury comprises architects, cultural leaders, key developers, brand managers and other business luminaries that commission and support great architecture with names like Elle McPherson, Evan Sharpe the co-founder of Pinterest and Christopher Hawthorne Architecture Critic for the LA Times among the mix.
“While we are not a finalist, we are extremely proud to be the only Australian project honoured in the kindergartens, primary and high school category,” Carolyn McFarland said.
The hall and library have also received the Blacket Prize for regional architecture.
