# BVN Architecture

BVN is an Australian architecture firm, with studios in Sydney, Brisbane, New York and London.

## History

The firm was founded in Brisbane in 1926 by Arthur Bligh, with Colin Jessup joining him later as a partner. After the Second World War, Athol Bretnall and Ronald Voller joined the partnership, leading to its name being changed to Bligh, Jessup, Bretnall and Partners. Arthur Bligh's son Graham entered the partnership in 1965, followed by Ronald Voller's son Jon.
The firm was renamed Bligh Voller Architects in the early 1990s. In the late 1990s (1997 to 1999), the firm became Bligh Voller Nield, through mergers with Sydney-based firm Lawrence Nield and Partners Australia, Grose Bradley and Melbourne-based firm Pels Innes Neilson and Kosloff.
Bligh Voller Nield became BVN Architecture in 2009 and merged with Donovan Hill in 2013 to form BVN Donovan Hill. In 2014 the practice transitioned to the name BVN.
BVN is a large architectural firm, employing over 300 staff. Its portfolio includes projects such as airports, commercial and public buildings. Beyond its work in Australia, it has also designed facilities for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2012 London Olympic Games.

## Notable projects

BVN has designed numerous award-winning buildings, including the following projects:
| Completed | Project name | Location | Award |
| 2000 | Tennis Centre of NSW | | Sir John Sulman Medal |
| 2003 | University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, Building 10 | Broadway, Sydney | Sir John Sulman Medal |
| 2006 | 36/37 Squadron Headquarters, RAAF | | Sir John Sulman Medal |
| 2014 | Australian PlantBank | Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan | WAF High Commendation Research BuildingsRAIA National Award for Sustainable ArchitectureRAIA National Award for Public Architecture |
| 2012 | Taronga Zoo | Mosman, Sydney | RAIA Urban Design AwardPIA Australia Award for Urban Design Small Scale Commendation |
| 2012 | Ravenswood School for Girls, Mabel Fidler Building | Gordon, Sydney | Think Brick Landscape AwardRAIA Public Building AwardsRAIA NSW Sir John Sulman Medal for Public ArchitectureMBA NSW Private School Construction AwardATFA Factory Finished Floor of the Year Award for ExcellenceASI Large Projects Highly CommendedInternational Architecture Award (2013)Chicago Antheneum International Architecture Award (2013)AIDA Winner – Interior Design Impact (2015) |
| 2014 | ASB North Wharf | new Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, New Zealand | NZIA Architecture Award – Sustainable ArchitectureNZIA Architecture Award – Commercial ArchitectureNZIA Architecture Award – Interior ArchitectureNZIA Architecture MedalNew Zealand Commercial Project Awards – Gold AwardProperty Council New Zealand – merit in Resene Green Building Property AwardProperty Council New Zealand – Hays Commercial Office Property AwardSupreme Award – Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry AwardsRAIA Interior Architecture Award in the International categoryWAF High Commendation Office BuildingsIDEA High Commendation International category |
| 2013 | Translational Research Institute | Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane | RAIA National Award for Interior ArchitectureRAIA National Award for Public ArchitectureRAIA QLD Sustainable Architecture CommendationRAIA QLD FDG Stanley Award for Best Public BuildingRAIA Brisbane Sustainable Architecture CommendationRAIA Brisbane John Dalton Award for Building of the YearIDA Public Design High CommendationIDA Best of State Commercial AwardTDA Best Northern Region Award for ExcellenceLighting Design Award of Excellence (IES Lighting Design Awards Qld Chapter)Luminaire Design: Commendation (IES Lighting Design Awards Qld Chapter) |
| 2014 | Christchurch Airport, Regional Terminal | Christchurch, New Zealand | NZIA Architecture Award – Commercial ArchitectureNZIA Architecture Award – Interior ArchitectureShortlisted International Aviation AwardIDEA International Award |
| 2015 | BVN Brisbane Studio | Brisbane, Queensland | RAIA Brisbane Regional Commendation – Interior Architecture (2015)AIDA Best of State QLD – Commercial Design (2015) |
| 2013 | The Kinghorn Cancer Centre | Darlinghurst, Sydney | RAIA NSW John Verge Award for Interior Architecture (2013)Chicago Antheneum International Architecture AwardWAF High Commendation – Health |
| 2012 | Puckapunyal Military Area Memorial Chapel | | Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award (2012) |
| 2010 | Brain and Mind Research Institute | University of Sydney, Sydney | RAIA NSW Sir John Sulman Medal (2011)RIBA International Award for Architectural Excellence (2011)International Health Design Award High Commendation (2011)World Architecture Festival – World Health Building (2010)Chicago Antheneum International Architecture Award (2012) |
| | Robina Hospital Extension | Gold Coast, Queensland | RAIA Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Regional Commendation and Building of the Year (2012)AbaF Arts and Health Foundation Award (2011)WAN Awards – Winner Interior Design Healthcare (2011) |
| 2008 | Stockland Head Office | Sydney | RAIA NSW Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture (2008) |

## Employment Data

| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Female Employees (as a % of total) | 43.7 | 47.6 | 47.3 | 47.2 | 46.9 | - | 49.1 | - |
| Male Employees (as a % of total) | 56.3 | 52.4 | 52.7 | 52.8 | 53.1 | - | 50.9 | - |