Architecture and design firm HDR has strengthened its education and science sector capabilities with several hires and internal promotions following significant project wins – and as part of the practice’s commitment to learning, development and diversity in the industry.

The burgeoning senior leadership team now consists of Director and Tertiary Education Project Leader, Alex Wessling; Director and K-12 Education Project Leader, Jacqui Straesser; Senior Laboratory Planner, Amy Papas; and new Project Leader and Senior Architect, Simone Benvenuti. With a combined 70 years of experience, they are committed to designing high-performance buildings, delivering smart infrastructure and pushing boundaries at a time when education, science and health are converging.  

National Director of Education and Science Graeme Spencer said he is proud to be part of a team that has 80% female representation across project leadership roles. “At a time where women make up just 16% of STEM qualifications, our senior leadership team is shifting the dial on the delivery of highly technical, complex projects across the education and science sectors. With continued commitment to diversity, collaboration and transdisciplinary innovation, we are well positioned to build resilient and inclusive infrastructure for the communities we serve into the future.”

With the arrival of the pandemic, clients’ needs across education, life sciences, physical sciences and translational health sciences are being reconceived across the globe. In addition, mRNA technology platforms, vaccine manufacturing, research laboratories, containment facilities, advanced manufacturing, hybrid learning classrooms and vertical university campuses are setting the stage for a decade of once-in-a-generation evolution. 

“With this unique opportunity comes a commitment to developing and growing talent from within,” Wessling said. “We are evolving at the pace of the sector, and it is our responsibility to share our cross-sectoral expertise and diversity of thought to design highly adaptable laboratory research facilities. These places should cultivate knowledge transfer, deliver major health and education infrastructure and precincts, and democratise learning environments to deliver equitable, student-centred outcomes for a new generation.” 

With an interest in new and emerging typologies, learning and development is not only critical to the future of the sector but also to the makeup of HDR’s Education and Science team. The practice is committed to upskilling staff as part of its retention strategy and commitment to job satisfaction and staff wellbeing. In addition, the team is part of HDR’s global Education and Science network and Lab Planning Group that fosters ongoing ideation and collaboration from a broad design perspective.

“As a woman in STEM, learning and knowledge-sharing is becoming increasingly important,” Benvenuti said. “Not only does it increase our knowledge base, but it challenges our own assumptions and ensures we are delivering the most effective and innovative solutions to some of our most complex education, science and health challenges.” 

Since completing cutting-edge projects for the University of Sydney and Macquarie University, HDR’s Education and Science sector has been going from strength-to-strength. Projects currently in the design stages include CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness and the University of Sydney's Biomedical Accelerator, among others. 

The team also includes additional female members, Elisa Nakano, Rena Wang, Ady Chen, Mira Ebaf, Sisi Wang, Nazanin Ibrahim and others, who are collectively making a significant contribution to the future trajectory of education and science at HDR.

“In collaboration with our global counterparts, we have created an interconnected pool of knowledge, and the Education and Science team is working in partnership to traverse silos and deliver deeply technical outcomes underpinned by performance and innovation,” said HDR Managing Principal Cate Cowlishaw.