1939 – 1975
The new firm A. H. Conrad & T. B. F. Gargett was barely constituted when war was declared in September 1939. The partnership retained the Brisbane and South Coast Hospitals Board and the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board as important clients during the conflict. Noticeably staff numbers reduced as younger members volunteered for war service.
St John’s Cathedral 1953
St John’s Cathedral, which began construction in 1905 was still incomplete when the practice was commissioned to complete the nave with the construction of three additional bays.
Women’s College UQ 1958
Keith Frost was the lead in the design that inevitably won a competition for the Women’s College at the University of Queensland.
Bishopbourne Chapel 1963
“Is it landing or taking off?” was Bren Gargett’s question to Graeme Thiedeke. Initially it was Bren Gargett who was in charge of the design of the new chapel for the archbishop, however Thiedeke’s proposal was built after the archbishop requested an alternative design
In 2016 the Good Shepherd Chapel, Bishopbourne, received the Robin Gibson Enduring Architecture Award.
SGIO Theatre 1969
Completed in 1969, before the SGIO Tower was finished, the SGIO Theatre was the main venue for the Queensland Theatre Company for 25 years until the Cultural Centre on Southbank became its home. Sadly the SGIO Theatre was demolished in 2007.
SGIO Tower 1971
A landmark project for both the firm and Brisbane the SGIO Tower was built for the State Government Insurance Office. The twenty-five storey tower was the tallest building in the city at the time of construction.