Architecture
Bill Firth Architecture
Firth Lee Architects, Firth Doreen Architects, Altius Projects
Born in Sydney, Australia, Bill worked in the building industry prior to studying architecture at the University of New South Wales where he obtained a Bachelor of Architecture.
He founded the practice of Bill Firth & Partners in 1969, which grew to become a major practice in Australia. He expanded the practice into South East Asia in 1992. Whilst living in Asia for 3 years he completed major projects in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand also gaining experience in Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar.
On his return from South East Asia, Bill and Peter Dorreen combined their practices to form Firth Dorreen Architects Pty Ltd.
Bill’s experience has encompassed Architecture, Development, Project Management, Master Planning, Development Planning and Interior Design of all categories of developments in Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific regions. His special skills lie in project initiation, design and management of the design brief, the design process and cost/quality control of the final product.
Bill has always been a “hands on” architect, dedicated to good design, value for money, respect for the impact on our built environment and the enhancement of it. During the course of his career, Bill worked directly for major and international clients including various Australian Government instrumentalities and foreign governments. Most of his major clients have stayed with him for in excess of twenty-five years.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Architecture – FRAIA
Skills
- Architecture: Master Planning, Project Initiation, Opportunity Assessment and Development Management
- Project Management and Construction Management
- Design and Documentation Management
- Contract Negotiation and Contract Administration
Professional History
- Altius Projects Pty Ltd 2005 – 2012
- Firth Dorreen Architects Pty Ltd 1996-2005
- Woodhead Firth Lee Architects 1994-1996
- Firth Lee Pty Ltd 1989-1994
- Bill Firth & Partners 1969-1989
- Gordon Jenkins & Assoc/Hanson Todd / 1963-1969
Hawke & Pereira
Project Experience
Industrial/Business Park Projects:
- ZF Australia Pty Ltd, Arndell Park, NSW – Office/warehouse development $2.5M
- Sky City, Norwest Business Park, Baulkham Hills, NSW – Commercial/office development $48M
- Nortel Data Exchange, Harris Street, Ultimo, NSW – Refurbishment of building approx. $4.5M equipment and back-up > services $16M. Building owner Sproats & Partners.
- Ricoh Australasian Headquarters, Frenchs Forest, NSW – New 4-level office building and warehouse/distribution centre. Construction value approx. $8.5M. Full services provided to HSBC Asset Management via Sproats & Partners (Development Managers).
- Enterprise Data Corporation, Norwest Business Park, Baulkham Hills, NSW – 4-level building, data exchange and offices, approx. $4.5M base building and $16M services.
- CCH Australia Limited, Talavera Road, North Ryde, NSW – Bill Firth was involved from site acquisition through 7 stages over 20 years to complete development of the site to a full 1:1 FSR. Full services were provided to all stages.
- Kemin Industries Asia Pty Ltd, Singapore – New offices, laboratory, 2-storey factory and warehouse for owners Kemin. Bill Firth arranged a design and construct package with Lend Lease Singapore for Kemin. Completed on time and within budget.
- Paya Rumput High Tech Industrial Park, Paya Rumput, Malaysia for Globe Silk Store – Part of a 600 acre development and a complete township, which included 3 major industrial developments totalling 50 acres. The development application was approved in 1995, but the development did not commence until 2000.
Retail Projects:
- Stage 2 Erina Fair, Erina, NSW – Original DA for Lewis Developments
- Emu Plains Shopping Centre, Emu Plains, NSW
- Complete Town Centre including shopping centre, Paya Rumput, Malaysia
- National Australia Bank outlets, Gosford, Chatswood and others (NSW)
- Surry Hills Shopping Centre extension, Surry Hills, NSW
- Australia Post shop fitout, Westfield Shopping Centre, Hornsby, NSW
- Australia Post shop fitout, Surry Hills Shopping Centre, Surry Hills, NSW
- Australia Post shop fitout, Westfield Shopping Centre, Hurstville, NSW
- Australia Post shop fitout, Westfield Shopping Centre, Parramatta, NSW
- Volvo retail outlet Albury, NSW
- Volvo Sales & Service Centre, Artarmon, NSW
- Early Learning World, Westfield Miranda, NSW
- Café and Foyer, Chandos Street, St. Leonards, NSW
- Gateway Offices and shops, Maroubra Gateway building, NSW
- Batemans Bay Shopping Centre, Batemans Bay, NSW – Partial redesign, documentation and superintendence. Finished December 2004 for $45M.
Commercial Projects:
- AAMI Building, 40 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW – 5-level office building with parking under 2,000m² of nett lettable area.
- Hutchisons Building, 60 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW – 5-level office building with parking under 3,200m² of nett lettable area.
- 96 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW– 5-level office building with parking under.
- 91 George Street, Parramatta- 7-level office building with parking under.
- Lakeside Corporate Centre, Norwest Business Park, Baulkham Hills, NSW – 6-level office building including 2 levels of basement car park. Construction cost $10M.
- 6-32 Bridge Street, Sydney, NSW – Due diligence report prepared for National Australia Trustees and HSBC Asset Management
Project Management & Master Planning:
- Industrial/Residential Development, Seven Hills
Project Value: $30 Million Construction Cost
Total Site Area 8.3 Hectares
Altius Projects/Firth Dorreen Architects was commissioned to project manage the difficult procedure of reversing the RTA denial of access onto Old Windsor Road across the proposed Transitway and obtain a rezoning, a subdivision approval, preserve aboriginal heritage and the Cumberland Forest section. Flora and Fauna, Creeks, Riparian zones and Hydraulics were also major considerations in the design of alternative Industrial and Residential uses.
The major thrust in negotiations with all the authorities was co-operation to obtain a “win-win” situation for all parties, including the local residents. - Kooralbyn Station, Beaudersert, Qld
This 8,000Ha resort and country club estate included hotel, international school, broad acre “hobby farm” and residential sub-division. It also included a country club, horse riding trails, saddlery club, polo-cross fields, quarter horse stud, 18-hole golf course, artificial lake, medium density condominiums detached housing and airfield. - Satellite Township, Paya Rumput, Malaysia
This project required Bill Firth to project manage and master plan the development of a complete township including medium and high-density housing, shopping centre, theatres and offices. This centre served the detached housing and the three industrial precincts from hi-tech industrial through to local service industry. - Fiji Sports Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji Islands
Master Planning for a scheme to provide facilities for the 1979 South Pacific Games and then to develop as a landscaped parkland extending from the University of the South Pacific through to the Pacific Ocean. This project was a joint effort design by the Fiji office of Firth Rounds & Partners with A.P.D.P. in response to a request form the National Sports Council.
Client: Government of Fiji (Project partially completed 1979). - Ballina Resort Hotel
This beachfront hotel resort was project managed and master planned through to development approval stage by Bill Firth. This project included 250 cabin-style rooms, beach facilities, restaurant, spas, lake and other facilities. Approved in 1973 and sold on. - Emerald Township & Above-ground Mine Facilities for BHP
This project involved the project management and master planning of increasing the size of Emerald Township by 100% as a dormitory town for the Gregory Mine where we project managed and planned all the aboveground facilities. The project completed construction in 1980.