Conrad Gargett’s Tasmanian Architecture Tour Heightens Creativity, Comradeship and Company Culture
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Conrad Gargett, a multi-disciplinary design practice with five Australian studios, recently brought their company together to experience an architecture tour to Tasmania.
Motivated by the Directors’ desire to enrich their company’s creativity, comradeship and culture, team members from the Brisbane, Townsville, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne studios converged in Hobart and were guided as tourists to places of architectural significance – Peppermint Bay Hotel, Salamanca Market, The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Brooke Street Pier, MONA, GASP, Mount Wellington, Cascade Female Factory, Cascade Brewery, Dorney House and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Some spare time was allocated to be free independent travellers as well.
Lawrence Toaldo, Conrad Gargett’s Managing Director, revealed, “For some time, the Directors have discussed creating the opportunity to take the practice out of the studio environment to spend concentrated time together bonding as team over good food, good wine and good architecture.”
Conrad Gargett was hospitably received by esteemed industry professionals who delivered architectural insights on Tasmania. The University of Tasmania’s Adjunct Professor Robert Morris-Nunn AM (one of Tasmania’s most adventurous and respected Architects), Architect Scott Balmforth (Director of Tasmanian architectural practice, TERROIR) and Dr Helen Norrie (Lecturer in Architecture and Design at the University of Tasmania) were gracious with their Hobart hospitality and delivered comprehensive knowledge and stories of the places that were visited on the tour, as well as Tasmania in general.
Toaldo explained,
“Architects often understand the work of other Architects through various publications. Visiting the building is the next level. But having the Architects explain their work delivers a great insight into their thinking. We got a much deeper appreciation of the places that we visited and what is happening in Hobart particularly from the generosity of Robert Morris-Nunn, Scott Balmforth and Helen Norrie.”
The tour commenced with teams presenting their concepts for a new conference and cultural centre, as part of a company design competition. “This was an ideal start to the program and provided a great topic for debate over dinner that evening,” Toaldo said.
Leanne Conley, Conrad Gargett’s CFO and Director of Human Resources, highlighted, “Our Tasmanian architecture tour was a wonderful exercise that enabled us to treat our team and further foster inclusion by bringing the diverse parts of our business together.” “This was the first time we have delivered this concept on this scale.” “It has most definitely strengthened our comradeship and company culture at Conrad Gargett.”
