Wilson Architects

Wilson Architects is one of Australia's oldest continuous architectural practices.[1] The firm specialises in the design of educational and laboratory spaces and facilities and for more than 50 years a key feature of the firm's designs has been the integration of landscape with architecture. The current managing director of Wilson Architects is Hamilton B. Wilson, great grandson of the firm's founder, Alexander Brown Wilson.

History

Alexander Brown Wilson, the fifth son of a merchant was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1857. In 1864 his family emigrated to Brisbane where the young Alex's flair as an artist attracted attention when some of his watercolour drawings were exhibited at Brisbane's School of Arts in 1873. Two years later he joined the Buildings Branch of the Queensland Department of Public Works where he was mentored by Colonial Architect F.D.G Stanley. When Stanley commenced a private practice Wilson joined him soon after in 1882 as principal draftsman. Wilson established his own Brisbane architectural practice two years later where he was joined by his architect-engineer son, Ronald Martin Wilson in 1920. After Alexander Wilson's retirement in 1928, Ronald Wilson continued the practice until 1955 and the Wilson design dynasty was ensured when he too was joined by his son, Blair M. Wilson, a University of Queensland graduate and father of current managing director Hamilton B. Wilson.

Notable Projects

Brisbane Grammar School's Lilley Centre

Named after Sir Charles Lilley, the founding father of 146-year-old Brisbane Grammar School, this $26 million library and teaching facility was in 2011 internationally acknowledged as an exemplary educational facility by the OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments.[2] Prominently positioned on a clifftop to give it a visible and assertive connection to the city of Brisbane, the Lilley Centre features technologically enhanced learning spaces with cutting edge audiovisual resources. These include a contemporary forum space, student computer rooms, library facilities and a teaching laboratory that facilitates research into classroom learning.[3]

External Links

Wilson Architects papers, 1883-1966. Wilson Architects Collection, UQFL112, Fryer Library, The University of Queensland Library.

References

  1. ↑ Wilson Architects, Four Generations of Continuous Practice, February 2005, Authors: Professor Michael Keniger AADip, LFRAIA, RIBA, Donald Watson BArch, FRAIA, Dr Judith McKay MA, PhD, Glenn Cooke BA, MA
  2. ↑ A look inside the history of Brisbane Grammar School, The Lilley Centre, July 2010
  3. ↑ ArchitectureAU,Lilley Centre, July 2010
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, November 02, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.