Design practice Buchan has continued its trajectory with the appointment of Jake Martin and Jeames Hanley to its global team to support its sports sector and technical capability.
Martin joins as a senior associate, whilst Hanley takes up the role of Digital Technology Lead.
Martin is an accomplished architect with 15 years of experience in Australia, Asia and the US across sport, transport and urban planning. He is a specialist in the design and delivery of sports stadiums, arenas, pools and high-performance training facilities and as a high-performance sportsman, is passionate about the social and health benefits of sport.
“I’m excited to join Buchan at a time of growth and opportunity. I want to shape the way we integrate sport and entertainment into our daily lives, which aligns with Buchan’s focus on designing better cities,” says Martin. “The Olympics will boost Australia’s investment in sporting infrastructure on every level and I’d love to contribute to that legacy.”
Martin’s portfolio ranges from community-level training facilities and sporting pavilions to award-winning sports stadia complexes. Projects include the Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta; Kuala Lumpur Sports City Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur; Northern Aquatic Community Hub, Geelong; and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia. He also worked on the Brisbane City Council’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Hanley is a digital strategist and design technology specialist with more than 15 years of global experience in applying technology across the built environment. He will lead the digital transformation strategy at Buchan, with a focus on implementing workflows centred around automation, algorithmic design, machine learning, AI, and digital twin technologies, which present significant opportunities for the architecture industry in project design and delivery, and business operations.
An author and keynote speaker, Hanley holds several lecturing positions and speaks at educational institutions and conferences around the world.
“Working at the intersection of technology and architecture to realise a new future is incredibly exciting,” Hanley says. “Artificial intelligence and its growing impact on our industry is top of mind. As we face the change this technology brings, I look forward to ensuring that Buchan is leading from the front.”
Buchan Chief Strategy Officer, Laraine Sperling, says the appointments come at a pivotal time for the practice.
“As members of the Brisbane Design Alliance and through our collaboration with HKS, Buchan is building its sports sector capability with a focus on sports-integrated precinct design. Jake will add significant value with his expertise across all scales, from pools and high-performance training facilities to complex stadia and event overlay. His participation across our Sports projects is timely.”
She says Hanley’s appointment will ensure the practice continues to leverage digital technology in a fast-evolving landscape. “Jeames is a recognised industry leader and will be central to identifying and implementing opportunities to innovate across all aspects of our business. We are very excited about the contribution he will make.”