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COLLABORATE

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As the highway fell away beneath us leaving sunny and beautiful Coffs Harbour we had a chance to recollect what a successful Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division Conference we had enjoyed this year.

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At the Welcome Reception on Tuesday sponsors/partners and architects had a chance to catch up on what for most of us has been a particularly hectic 2017. We enjoyed great live music beside the lagoon at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. As some of us danced or just bobbed along to the music the conversations ranged widely and we had our first chance to put some faces to names we’d spoken to over the year – such is the nature of a profession so widely distributed around NSW. For many the annual conference is the main chance to meet or catch up with peers and friends in person and as partners and families are also welcome there is always a warm and friendly atmosphere. This was especially evident at the Reception.

We were enjoying the surrounds of Coffs Harbour as Tuesday’s rain was replaced by stunning sunshine when on Wednesday we travelled a short distance south to the picturesque coastal village of Sawtell. We enjoyed the presentations of Ken Maher (Hassell Studio) and Garry Murray (Red Belly Design) in the morning as much as the stunning beach at the Sawtell Surf Club. Sue-Anne Ware (U Newcastle) presented after lunch and everyone enjoyed the chance to stretch legs and walk to the community owned and run Sawtell Cinema. The afternoon sessions included a discussion with Ann Gee, Oliver Gee and Stephanie Ney and this was followed by a screening of Glenn Murcutt: Spirit of Place by the talented Australian arts filmmaker Catherine Hunter at the beguiling Sawtell Cinema. The theme of the 2017 NSW Country Division Conference was COLLABORATE and Wednesday’s sessions featured a broad and multi-faceted range of collaborations which generated much lively discussion over the coming days.

Thursday began with a special welcome and introduction of the partners/sponsors and this was quickly followed by a session with Catherine Hunter called Media Collaboration during which she encouraged architects to keep an archive of projects and processes for the future. AWS was then invited to present a Tech Talk on thermal performance of windows and doors which generated a lot of discussion later in the day. The architects who approached us afterwards spoke about how great it is to have an industry partner working on products that achieve exceptional results as the energy requirements of Australian buildings continue to become more stringent.

The following sessions by Andrew Nimmo (Lahznimmo) and Tim Horton (NSW Architects Registration Board) also contributed to the theme of collaboration and helped to inform the discussions later in the day including the member forum. We all enjoyed the smorgasbord lunch by the lagoon as the weather remained perfect. On Thursday afternoon AWS & Arcpanel co-sponsored a round of Ambrose Golf at the resort. Both beginners and seasoned golfers had a ball hitting little white balls all over the place. The Arcpanel team won the event but on such a stunning and warm day in October we were all winners weren’t we?

One of our favourite parts of the annual conference is the Awards Dinner where architects and sponsors/partners dress in their very best and enjoy celebrating each other’s company and the exceptional projects that received commendations and awards for the year. We recognize the great effort that architects go to in achieving excellence and appreciate the work involved in submitting their projects to the awards process. We were quite thrilled with the winners and commendations and humbled that AWS windows and doors featured in so many of the featured projects and that we receive such enthusiastic and dedicated support from so many architects across the state.

Friday’s conference continued to be excellent with sessions by Amy Child (Arup), Dan McKenna (Nightingale Housing) and James Gardiner (Laing O’Rourke). Such was the quality of the conference that the room was abuzz with conversations about next year’s event. 

AWS commends the NSW Country Division to architects and we encourage you to come next year for what is certain to be another very successful conference.

 

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AWS Supports OzHarvest to Help Nourish Our Country

After a demanding year for many across our communities, AWS is proud to share that we have made a festive season donation to OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, which will provide thousands of meals to Australians in need.

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A growing need in our communities

Food insecurity in Australia is rising at an alarming rate. Last year, an estimated 3.5 million households struggled to put food on the table, with the cost of living now the number one driver of hardship. The charities OzHarvest supports say they could distribute double the amount of food to meet demand. Every day, new people are turning up for help, often feeling ashamed or embarrassed to ask.

James from St Albans Community Youth Club in Victoria, which receives OzHarvest food weekly, put it simply: “For the first time in 10 years, we’re struggling to feed everyone.”

Why the festive season matters

The festive period can be especially difficult for families who do not know where their next meal is coming from. Demand typically spikes at this time of year, even as household budgets are stretched further. OzHarvest is working hard to ensure nourishing food reaches those who need it most, not just during the holidays but all year round.

About OzHarvest

OzHarvest was founded in 2004 by Ronni Kahn AO, after she noticed how much quality food was going to waste through her events business. What began as a simple, practical solution rescuing surplus food and delivering it to charities quickly grew from one van in Sydney into a nationwide movement. As OzHarvest expanded, Ronni and a team of pro bono lawyers successfully lobbied state governments to change legislation so food donors could give surplus food to charities without fear of liability. NSW led the way with the Civil Liabilities Amendment Act in 2005, and other states followed.

Today, OzHarvest rescues food at scale with a clear purpose to Nourish Our Country. Their mission is to stop food waste, feed people in need, and protect our planet by championing the value of food and driving change at every level of society. Their work strongly aligns with five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

How you can help (if you would like to)

OzHarvest welcomes every contribution. The impact is immediate and tangible.

  • $1 = 2 meals
  • Your donation helps keep OzHarvest’s wheels turning
  • It supports food relief for over 1,500 charities helping vulnerable Aussies every day

For more information or to make a donation visit: https://www.ozharvest.org/

Image credit: OzHarvest

 

 

AWS Sponsors Building Tours at Glenn Murcutt Foundation Australia Symposium

Architectural Window Systems (AWS) is proud to sponsor the Murcutt Building Tours, a centrepiece of the inaugural Glenn Murcutt Architecture Foundation Symposium, to be held in Sydney from 11 – 13 September 2025.

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The Symposium, presented by the Murcutt Foundation, celebrates more than five decades of architectural practice by Glenn Murcutt AO, Australia’s most celebrated living architect. The program offers three days of tours, talks and events for architects, students and design professionals, culminating in a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of Murcutt’s most acclaimed works.

As part of its ongoing support for architectural excellence and sustainable, place-based design, AWS is sponsoring the Murcutt Building Tours on Thursday, 11 September, providing a rare, guided experience led by Murcutt himself through two iconic residential projects:

  • Nicholas House
  • Simpson Lee House

“I am so pleased that so many have taken the chance to see these two projects that were designed in such close collaboration with the clients at the time, and which have been so well loved and cared for over the many decades since. It is such a joy to share this work,” Glenn Murcutt AO.

“Glenn Murcutt’s works embody a profound sensitivity to landscape, climate and material — and they are best understood by being experienced firsthand,” said Angela Bevitt-Parr, National Marketing Manager at AWS. “AWS is proud to support this extraordinary opportunity for architects to deepen their understanding of Murcutt’s work and philosophy through direct engagement with these exceptional places.”

Beyond the tours, the Symposium will feature keynote addresses from Glenn Murcutt AO and Francis Kéré (fellow Pritzker Prize Laureate), the inaugural awarding of the Murcutt Pin, and a full day of talks exploring the themes that have informed Murcutt’s unique model of practice.

“Francis Kéré is one of the great humans, and a gifted architect who really shows architecture can make a difference in people’s lives. I have a huge amount of respect and time and a wonderful friendship with this man because of his integrity. I am so pleased that Sydney will get to meet him this year,” Glenn Murcutt AO.

For full event details and to register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/murcutt-symposium

About the Glenn Murcutt Architecture Foundation: The Glenn Murcutt Architecture Foundation promotes the work and legacy of Glenn Murcutt AO through education, advocacy and public programs that advance environmentally responsible architecture and foster dialogue around design excellence and connection to place. For more information visit https://www.murcuttfoundation.org/

Image credit:

Simpson Lee house: Anthony Browell.

 

Designing Value – AWS celebrates 30 years

In late 1994, two dedicated fenestration professionals, Gavan Pead and David McCleary, took a pivotal tour of Architectural Profiles Ltd (APL) in Cambridge, New Zealand. Inspired by APL’s customer-focused business model, they envisioned bringing a similar approach to challenge the Australian market’s basic, outdated aluminium windows and doors that dominated at that time.

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This vision led to the founding of Architectural Window Systems (AWS) in January 1995, with Pead as the first General Manager and McCleary as Head of Design. AWS launched with the release of the 502 sliding window and 541 sliding door – affordable, single-glazed products that immediately stirred the market. “In those days, profiles were hand-drawn, and every detail required precise verification,” McCleary recalls. Their commitment to quality was matched by strong supplier support, relationships that remain solid today.

To bring this customer-centric model to life, AWS built a robust network of independent fabricators across Australia, now exceeding 200, with unparalleled reach and service capabilities. Steve Butcher of Great Lakes Glass, an early adopter, recalls that “their passion was infectious, and if they were starting something new, I wanted to be part of it.”

AWS quickly became a trusted name in high-performance aluminium windows, with products designed to meet the needs of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. With the launch of ThermalHEART™ in 2007, followed by ThermalHEART™ commercial in 2012, AWS introduced its first thermally broken products, raising the bar for energy efficiency. In 2003, David’s son, Mark McCleary, joined AWS, continuing the family’s involvement in the company. In 2021, Mark took over the leadership of research and design, guiding the development of innovative window and door solutions. That same year, AWS introduced ComfortEDGE™, a significant step forward in thermal efficiency. With additional ComfortEDGE™ products set for release in 2025, AWS continues to strengthen its commitment to energy-efficient solutions for the Australian market.

Reflecting on the success of the last 30 years, AWS General Manager Greg Taylor notes that “it’s our model that differentiates us. A supplier that is not only an extrusion supplier, but a reliable, supportive, engaged business partner that understands the need for continuous improvement”.

In 2025, AWS will continue to focus on improvement, introducing a class-leading digital environment for specifiers, fabricators, and staff, along with an automated workflow connectivity solution exclusively for AWS fabricators.

For more information, contact marketing@awsaustralia.com.au

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