ARM Architecture Wins Gold Medal

ARM Architecture was founded by Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall in Melbourne in 1986; today the firm has offices in Melbourne and Perth. Institute National President Jon Clements describes ARM as "a genuine leader, influencer, provocateur, culture builder and disseminator of ideas for nearly three decades." Further, "At the core of the practice are three outstanding architects who have created some of the most extraordinary buildings in the short post-colonial history of this country."

ARM Architecture is known for colorful, contemporary designs that are lauded for their daring yet which often come with a fair share of controversy. Significant projects mentioned in the award include the Perth Arena in Western Australia, Storey Hall at RMIT University, the refurbishment of Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Hall and their reconfiguration of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

In receiving the award at a special ceremony held at the Adelaide Oval on 29 April following the first day of the National Architecture Conference, ARM's Ian McDougall said, "We’ve always been interested in architecture that tells stories about our lives, about our cities. It is humbling to have our ideas acknowledged in this way."