The Buchan Group

Chris has extensive experience in the design of education, residential, retail and commercial facilities, as well as expertise in all aspects of architectural design and delivery. His projects include Watergardens Town Centre, the VRC Members’ Grandstand, facilities for Caulfield Grammar School, Victoria Point, and various facilities for BMW. Chris is currently working on Palm Mall Deira, Dubai, for Nakheel, the Spotlight Carnegie and the Chatswood Chase retail developments, as well as a residential project in Northcote and the new swimming pool enclosure at the Wheelers Hill Campus of Caulfield Grammar School.

Peter Bayer specialises in retail, residential and mixed use development design and master planning. A Director in the Brisbane office, he has led projects such as Element on Coolum Beach, Sebel Noosa Resort, Arbour Lane at Robina Town Centre, Calamvale Central, Logan MegaCentre, Yeppoon Central and No 1 Airport Drive, Brisbane. Peter is currently leading work on Mt Ommaney and Fairfield Waters Centres, Cairns Beaches Town Centre, Edmonton Business & Industry Centre, and Chermside, T&G Townsville and Riverway Thuringowa mixed use developments.

Grant Beck is the Chief Executive of the Melbourne practice and one of the key designers of the Group, with specialist expertise in master planning mixed use developments, including retail and bulky goods developments and town centres. He led the Group on Sydney Central Plaza, the VRC Grandstand, Chadstone, Elizabeth Town Centre and Werribee and Epping Plazas. Grant has also worked on a number of developments for Spotlight and a wide range of town centre developments.

Ashley Bell is Director, Business Systems & Technology, in Melbourne. He is a specialist in systems development and implementation, particularly for major projects, and also in document management and project delivery systems for local, national and international projects. Ashley is also responsible for the Graphics and 3D Visualisation teams, with particular focus on inter-operability and also for Building Information Management (BIM) systems in remote locations.

David Cole is a specialist in the design of large-scale projects and is currently leading the design work on a series of mixed use waterfront developments in Dubai including the Palm Jumeirah, as well as a new residential and serviced apartment tower at 27 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, and a new hotel tower in Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. He also led The Buchan Group on the recently completed Lucient Tower in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, the LaLaport Shopping Centre in Yokohama, Japan, the Melbourne Park Hyatt Hotel, the No.1 Martin Place redevelopment of the Sydney GPO, Victoria Point and Channel Seven Headquarters both in Melbourne's Docklands, and the new Christchurch Art Gallery.

Michael Connolly is a specialist in the master planning and delivery of major retail projects. As Project Principal he has taken a leading role on many significant developments across Australia, including Logan Hyperdome and Grand Central Toowoomba in Queensland, Westpoint Blacktown, Roselands, Tuggeranong and Stockland Nowra Shopping Centres in New South Wales, and The Galleria Morley and Kingsway City in Western Australia.

Lou Cotter has extensive experience in site and master planning, project feasibility, concept design and design on a range of architectural and interiors projects. His projects include Curtin University Aboriginal Studies Centre, the Drama Centre at PLC, Lake Joondalup Baptist College, Technology and Enterprise Centre, Curtin University Lecture Theatres, Quadrant Office Building, Crawley Apartments , Al Fujairah Maternity Hospital, BG+E Perth Office and the Alluvion Tower. Currently, Lou is leading the Group's team on 226 Adelaide Terrace, the Brighton Apartments, the refurbishment of 150 St George's Terrace, and various low rise 4.5 Star office developments.

David Forbes has specialist expertise in the area of design and master planning of mixed use hotel, residential, and retail projects, with projects such as No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney; Quay West Apartments, Conrad Jupiters Casino, St Philip's Church and Christchurch Art Gallery. He is currently working on the Star City Redevelopment project and is also leading the practice on Northland Shopping Centre redevelopment, The Mill Wagga Wagga and the Tooronga Retail project.

Joe Genovesi is a specialist in design development, contract documentation, site services, contract administration and major project delivery systems. He is currently Project Director of the Westfield London development. He was Delivery Director for the Victoria Point development in Melbourne's Docklands, and also played a leading role on Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre and Offices, Airport West Shoppingtown and other major retail, hotel and mixed use developments.

Gerry Holmes is one of the Group's key Design Directors and has taken a lead role on a broad range of significant projects including mixed use, residential, retail, commercial and master planning. These include the Vision tower in Brisbane, the Surfers Paradise Hilton on the Gold Coast, The Palms in Christchurch, Kawana Home Central and Element on Coolum, both on the Sunshine Coast, and a major mixed use project in Qingdao, China.

Mike Jakobi is Managing Principal of The Buchan Group's Auckland and Christchurch offices and has specialist knowledge in medical research facilities and industrial/commercial developments. He is working on projects across New Zealand, including a master plan for Hornby Mall and the Richmond Mall, Centre City New Plymouth and Coastlands Mall expansions. He is also Project Principal on the new BMW/Mini showroom in Christchurch.

Alpar Kocis has specialist expertise in the architectural management of large scale, complex projects. These include, as Documentation Director, the Westfield London and Stratford City developments in the UK, and as Project Architect for LaLaport Shopping Centre in Japan, Christchurch Art Gallery in New Zealand, Westfield Bondi Junction redevelopment and, in Melbourne, two stages of expansion at Highpoint Shopping Centre, the Park Hyatt Hotel and Sheraton Towers Southgate.

Bruce Lockwood has extensive experience leading the design and delivery of major and complex retail, commercial, residential and mixed use projects in Australia and Southeast Asia. He was Project Director of the Myer Centre and Australian Taxation Office in Adelaide, Royal residences & Guesthouses in Brunei, The Mines Shopping Centre and Mine Beach Resort in Malaysia, and The Wharf at Woolloomooloo. Bruce is currently leading projects at Nerang, Aspley, Mackay, Bundaberg, Jimboomba and elsewhere in Queensland.

Peter Lourey is a specialist in project delivery and site management, as well as retail design and master planning, as Project Architect, has led projects such as the Myer Grace Bros refurbishment and the Auburn Power Centre in Sydney, Forest Hill Shopping Centre, Werribee Plaza Stages 2 to 6, Essendon Football Club Gymnasium, office and training facilities. As Director he has led projects such as Epping Plaza Stage 3, South Melbourne Lifestyle Centre, Frankton Bulky Goods Centre and various projects for Spotlight. He is currently working on Myer Melbourne fitout and the refurbishment of a number of other Myer stores.

Andrew Mackenzie is a retail and mixed use specialist, with more than 20 years of experience in the planning and design of retail, entertainment and mixed use facilities. He is a director of The Buchan Group. Andrew's recent projects include the Elizabeth and Broadmeadows shopping centres, Bayside Entertainment, the Colonial First State Melbourne head office and Chadstone Shopping Centre. He is currently working on Chadstone Stages 30 and 33, and Rockingham Shopping Centre.

David excels in the design and master planning of mixed use hotel, residential and retail projects. He has taken a lead role in the master planning and design of a number of significant projects for the practice, including master planning and conceptual design roles for retail developments at Dandenong, Preston, Keysborough and Jimboomba, a major residential project in Northcote and the Edgewater retail and commercial development. Currently, David is leading The Buchan Group’s project team on a 325,000 m2 mixed use development in Taiwan.

Harvey is an outstanding designer whose projects include The Grandstand at Flemington Racecourse, the Christchurch Art Gallery, NZ, and the Victoria Point development at Melbourne Docklands. He also made a significant contribution to the design of LaLaport Shopping Centre, Yokohama; Kashiwanoha Campus Station Environs, Tokyo; the expansion of Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, and the new VRC Corporate Headquarters at Flemington Racecourse. Harvey’s current projects include Palm Mall Deira, Dubai, for Nakheel, and a residential high-rise development on Melbourne’s Southbank.

Craig McLeod has extensive experience as Project and Design Architect on complex, large-scale retail and entertainment developments, including both the Level1 and the Southern Extension developments at Highpoint Shopping Centre, Boardwalk at Point Cook, the development of Moorabbin Airport, Watergardens Supercentre 2, Westfield Bondi Junction redevelopment and Golden Grove. Now London-based, he is Delivery Director on the Stratford City Development project for Westfield.

Ken Musto is the Managing Director of the Perth office and is a skilled retail planner and designer, and also has specialist expertise in marketing and job management. His projects include Galleria Morley, Cockburn Gateway, Rockingham City, Cable Beach Resort, St George's Square, Kingsway City and many more. He is taking a leading role on Cockburn Gateway Stage 3, Centro Galleria Expansions, Riverton and Currambine Shopping Centres.

Nick specializes in the delivery of projects from design development, through documentation to completion on site.  He is currently the Project Architect for the Lucient luxury residential development by Lustig & Moar and Macquarie Bank, the Project Architect for the Rialto Hotel Refurbishment, the 670 Chapel Street, South Yarra mixed use retail and residential development and a proposed high-rise residential development on Melbourne’s Southbank.

David O’Riordain has extensive experience of large-scale retail projects and major commercial developments in London, Kent and the UK Midlands.  As Project Architect, David is leading our London-based team for the Westfield London project.  He has particular strengths in site services management, consultant co-ordination and team leadership, as well as the ability to deliver large-scale projects within challenging time constraints. 

Angela Riggs is the Executive Director of the Melbourne practice, a role that involves aspects such as finance, insurance and risk management, legal issues, contract and fee negotiations, project resourcing and human resources development. She undertakes the duties of company secretary in Melbourne, and also plays a significant role in international project mobilisation and commercial management.

Brett Saville leads the Group's Gold Coast office and is a specialist in hotel, resort, residential and mixed use developments. His projects include developments for Conrad Jupiters, Q1 Tower, Aria, Nexus Towers, Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, Magnetic Island and Viridian Noosa. Brett is Project Director currently working on Rosslyn Bay Inn at Yeppoon, Broadbeach Lifestyle Centre and Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast and Itara at Riverway, Townsville in North Queensland.

Phil Schoutrop is the Director managing The Buchan Group's Sydney office, and has extensive experience in the design of retail, entertainment, mixed use and hospitality projects. His completed projects include Cairns Central, Broadway, The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, Rhodes Waterfront and the Hills Homemaker Centre. He is currently leading Stockland, Ticor and Apple projects as well as retail/mixed use developments in India, China and the Philippines.

Bruce Shaw is the Managing Director of The Buchan Group in Melbourne and a key designer. He is expert in the design and master planning of major retail and mixed use developments and has led the practice on many major developments, including all stages of Highpoint Shopping Centre since 1993, the Point Cook Town Centre and Watergardens Town Centre, the expansion of Eastland Shopping Centre and Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre. He is currently leading the team on the expansion of Chatswood Chase, Caroline Springs Stage 2, the Vogue on Chapel Street development and the Taichung Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Greg Sheehan is Managing Director of the Buchan Group's Brisbane practice, with significant expertise in retail and mixed use planning. He led the delivery of the Conrad Treasury Casino and Hotel, The Myer Centre, and McWhirters mixed use in Brisbane, Riverside Casino in Hamilton NZ, and numerous sub-regional and neighbourhood centres. He is currently leading teams on the expansions of Grand Plaza, Noosa Civic and Bay Central Shopping Centres, Whitsunday Shores Resort and the refurbishment of Brunswick Street Railway Station.

John is highly experienced in design development and project management, making a significant contribution to projects such as Century City Walk, numerous duty free stores in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and various developments for Spotlight. He is currently working on the Rockingham City Shopping Centre development in Western Australia, three Spotlight developments, Dandenong Market, an office building at Wheelers Hill and the redevelopment of Northland Shopping Centre for CFSPM. More recently, John has taken a leading role in our current work in Dubai.

Grant Withers is a specialist in concept design and master planning of mixed use developments. He led the Melbourne team on the expansion of Watergardens Town Centre, and also played a leading role on the Victoria Gardens development. Grant's other projects include Bendigo Marketplace, Woodgrove Shopping Centre, a mixed use commercial, retail and residential development at Knox, and the redevelopment of Preston Market. He is currently based in Dubai, as Project Director of several large, mixed use projects.

Victor has a depth of expertise in conceptual design and urban planning. His projects include Breeze Centre retail development in Taipei, the Melbourne Park Hyatt Hotel, master planning for major projects in Dubai, Channel 7 at Docklands and the Tianjin Modern City, China, mixed use residential and commercial development. He has a leading role on the Zhengzhou Union Square project in China, as well as the master planning for a large scale, mixed use Port Adelaide development and the Epsom Village convenience shopping centre.

Peter Zillman has many years' experience in the master planning, design and delivery of major retail and entertainment developments throughout Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand. As Project Principal he has led the architectural teams on the Piazza Entertainment and Leisure Precinct at Logan Hyperdome, The Palms Shopping Centre in Christchurch and Home Central, Kawana. He is currently leading projects including the Northern Malls Redevelopment at Robina Town Centre, Tweed City redevelopment and key retail developments in New Zealand.