About CO-STUDIO

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COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, COOPERATE, COORDINATE An Inspired ApproachCO-STUDIO is our architecture practice with a shifted emphasis to solving built environment problems with people.

This people-centric approach is inspired by the words of a Pritzker Prize winning architect Glenn Murcutt, describing the best approach to architecture: “We don’t design buildings. We discover them”. This inspired our motto:

Design Through Discovery
Spending the time to listen to you and understand what is important to you, is at our heart. We firmly believe that successful, truly sustainable, and enduring architecture is discovered through a process that fully engages with those who have a long-term relationship with their buildings. Everyone has a key part to play, and our skill is in understanding your needs and those of your stakeholders including tenants, visitors, customers, builders, councils, design teams and maintenance people.

Guardians of the Earth
Protecting the environment is not only important to us, but integral to our operations and services. We recognise the role that architects play to reduce our carbon emissions and commit to working toward net zero carbon for CO-STUDIO projects by 2030. As part of this role, we approach every project with a sustainability lens. We seek to identify the barriers to embrace sustainable solutions, and then work to dismantle them.

If some of our projects and faces seem familiar, that's because we are part of the wider Stephenson & Turner Group. If you've worked with us before, expect the same passion and quality. If you're meeting us for the first time, we'd love to hear from you. We love a good chat (and coffee!)

Mantra

We are:

Co-workers:
In our studio we work together with a people-based focus, championing our values of - lifelong learning, integrity humility & trust, diversity and family.

Co-llaborators:
You are important in the design process. We make sure you and your stakeholders can influence the design. Besides being experts in design we also have the key role of bringing people together in a collaborative environment.

Co-designers:
We value those who we work with. Using our special role to lead design so we make the most of the great skills of other experts.

Co-creators:
Knowing the real creators of what we design are the builders, tradespeople, suppliers and craftspeople who are able to make our humble designs real.

CO-STUDIO:
Architects.

Expertise

Accessibility
Ensuring architectural solutions are not only legally compliant but also meet social obligations of accessibility for all.

As-Builts & Facilities Management Drawings
Also known as record drawings and red-line drawings, we can assist you with documentation of the building as it was built. This will provide a detailed blueprint of the building as it was completed. These documents often prove invaluable post-construction, to assist further development and in facilities maintenance.

Building Information Modelling & Management
Our state-of-the-art technology and advanced skills is available to solve your complex problems and create workflow efficiency using BIM on every project. These services help mitigate design coordination risks and ensure all disciplines work under a shared set of protocols. It also makes our drawings ‘smart’ so they can be used by other software for a multitude of related purposes.

Design & Build Construction
We love co-creating and have developed strong working collaborations with contractors, to design and build, smart, durable, easy-to-build and economic solutions. This partnership brings their specialist building skills together with our design team and mitigates adversaries commonly found in the industry, promoting a ‘best for project’ mindset for all project stakeholders.

Design Coordination & Management
Integrating design elements prepared by the wider design team, to create a single, unified set of information used for pricing, construction, and facilities management. Our approach to managing a design team is one where we understand everyone’s respective skills and abilities so that every member of a wider design team works to their best. This means understanding how everyone needs to interact and how the design process must develop with timeframes and other constraints in mind. The process integrates design elements, prepared by the wider design team, to create a single, unified set of information used for pricing, construction, and facilities management.

Due Diligence & Feasibility Studies
If you’re looking at buying a new building or site and need help to make an educated assessment before you commit financially, we can offer you some expert help. Our assessments can help you understand planning, operational, legal, compliance and maintenance issues. They can also help you understand the development potential for the project you have in mind, identifying any risks before you proceed.

Expert Witness
Complex legal, insurance and planning issues can need specialist, independent advice to resolve and guide the best outcomes. Utilising our specialized knowledge of architectural design and project leadership, we can provide an objective opinion allowing a court, commission or mediator to effectively resolve an issue or assign responsibility.

Heritage Conservation
We bring an award-winning skillset experience in working with buildings of historical and cultural importance to ensure that the present and future generations can experience the expression of the past. We work closely with Heritage specialists to preserve and celebrate historical craft while enabling modern use so your building can be its true self and perform a useful purpose.

Lead Design Consultancy
Centralising and leading the wider consultancy team; managing scope, programme, fees and delivery.

Post Occupancy Review
To allow for a process of continual improvement of the built environment, we are able to offer the important and objective feedback loop of how a building performs and functions. These studies look at a wide range of issues from functionality and fit-for-purpose through to health & safety and security issues.

Project Planning & Brief Development
If you have an idea, or perhaps a complex problem to solve we are here to help you form that into something a design team can work with. We will develop your thoughts and needs, help you prioritise and link them together, understand your ‘must haves’ and your aspirational goals and importantly, how you need your building to work at its best for you. Being organised is a key part of any successful project. We can also help you build your project plan that helps organise time, project design time, consenting, approval processes, money, risks etc.

Sustainability Design
We will support and educate you about creating a healthy and sustainable built environment. We are passionate about making the world a better place and making a light touch on it. We will incorporate smart and efficient solutions into our design that have the truly long-term in mind, minimising harm to the environment, and supporting the health of our communities.

Visualisations, Virtual & Augmented Reality
We have a unique range of skills and can offer a range of ways of communicating projects to your teams. From beautifully hand-drawn concepts to engaging powerful software we can bring our discovery to 3D life.

Weathertightness & Remediation
Your assets need regular maintenance. We bring decades of constructional experience working on some of the country’s most complex repair and remediation programmes. Addressing building damage and decay, or leaky envelope issues; we work closely with builders, building surveyors, structural and façade engineers to develop sound, warm, dry and beautiful solutions to repair, update or remediate.

Our People

DESIGNED FOR HUMANS, BY HUMANS.

A bunch of creative, curious, and friendly humans! We’re committed to evolving the practice of architecture, and we constantly seek to improve, upskill and innovate. You’ll find us working on projects across New Zealand, from our Christchurch-based studio.

Team

Dennis Chippindale - Principal Director - Registered Architect.

Ian Maclean - Associate Principal - Registered Architect - Executive.

Nikki Thebault - Associate Principal - Executive.

Max Clark - Head of Operations - Executive.

Erika Wilson - Associate.

Renmark Ragasajo - Associate.

Pippa Herrod - Associate - Registered Architect (UK).

Jeni Dickson - Studio Coordinator.

Cameron Dul - BIM Consultant.

Values

Lifelong Learning
We love continuous learning and embrace change and new ideas with enthusiasm.

Friendly Professionals
We pursue excellence in our work and set high standards for ourselves, while always remaining approachable, friendly, and kind.

Family
We value, support, and protect our people.

Integrity, Humility, and Trust
We aim to be the best versions of ourselves. We keep our promises and hold ourselves accountable to our people, clients, and projects.

Diversity
We actively enable and empower our people to grow to their greatest potential. We recognise the value of diverse perspectives in creating better outcomes.