Christon Smith Email & Phone Number

Over 25 years of practice in Australia and the United Kingdom, and as Director of DesignInc, I lead our projects holistically, contributing my deep understanding of architectural processes while balancing client and stakeholders’ needs with design outcomes. Having delivered many award-winning education, biotechnical and health projects, I take care of the detail not just the ideas. My focus as architect and project leader is establishing effective working relationships, clear communication and quality stakeholder engagement. At project initiation I distil the brief requirements and later get hands-on, from concept development onwards. My skill is refining the concept after defining the concept with the team. Leading large multidisciplinary teams for many complex projects, such as Melbourne’s VCCC and Bio21 Institute Nancy Millis Building, has taught me to emphasize the importance of communicating the vision, value and detail. I encourage innovation in practice, buildability and technology and advocate for sustainable design. Maintaining long-term client relationships is important and I feel privileged to be regularly invited to return to organisations such as the VCCC and Bio21 at Melbourne University.Education projects at every level are opportunities to create environments that encourage lifelong learning and establish quality foundations for our future. I translate skills first garnered in tertiary education projects to secondary and primary settings. Educators are often open to innovation and experimentation; we respond with ideas for adapting to the dynamic changes occurring in learning and pedagogy with environments that are fluid, adaptable and inspiring.

Listed skills include Architectural Design, Sustainable Design, Design Research, Mixed Use, and 11 others.