Cameron Chisholm Nicol (CCN) is an Australian multi-disciplinary architecture practice. Established in Perth in 1884 by

James William Wright James William Wright (9 October 1854 – 3 October 1917) was an Australian architect, civil engineer, and politician. He established the first private architectural practice in Western Australia in 1884, which now operates as Cameron Chisholm Ni ...

, the firm has operated continuously in Western Australia since that time. The Brisbane office was opened in 1986. The two offices are no longer linked, and operate as separate entities.

History

In 1884,

opened a private architectural practice in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Western Australia, which was the only one in the colony at the time. He had arrived in the colony three years earlier, from

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, and had completed government contracts for engineering projects in both colonies. The first commission for the new firm, known as J. W. Wright & Co., was

Woodbridge House Woodbridge may refer to: Places Australia *Woodbridge, Western Australia formerly called ''West Midland'' *Woodbridge, Tasmania Canada *Woodbridge, Ontario England *Woodbridge, Suffolk, the location of **Woodbridge (UK Parliament constituency) ...

, which Charles Harper had built on the Swan River near

Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, around southwest of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The name "Guildf ...

. It designed a wide range of buildings over the following decades, including office buildings, hotels, banks, grandstands, and the

York Town Hall York Town Hall is a heritage listed town hall in York, Western Australia, located in Avon Terrace. At the time of its construction, it was claimed to be the largest public hall in Western Australia, with an interior floor space measuring . Con ...

. In 1906, Wright accepted two of his former apprentices as partners, and the firm became known as Wright, Powell & Cameron."100 years of history"
, Cameron Chisholm & Nicol, September 1984. Wright's name was dropped after his death in 1917, and the company was known as just Powell & Cameron until 1930, when Oswald Chisholm became a partner and the firm's name was changed to Powell, Cameron & Chisholm. In the 1950s, Oswald Chisholm's son Ross began work in the practice, working with Gil Nicol. Ross Chisholm became a partner in the practice in 1958. In 1986, managing director Henry Peel established an office in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

operating under the name CCN Group (QLD) Pty Ltd. Designs for which it has been commissioned include The Australian Chancery and Ambassadors residence in Brasilia. The company's architects acted as key consultants to the Urban Development Authority in Malaysia. CCN Group has designed projects internationally in China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Iran, Jakarta, Japan, Malaysia and Yemen. In 2018, the directors of the Perth office are Dominic Snellgrove (managing director), Gavin Broom (practice manager), Keat Tan (design director) and Peter Keleman.

Notable projects

The firm's first commission building was

in Guildford in 1885. Since that time the firm has designed many structures. Some of the better known projects are: The

Reid Library The University of Western Australia (UWA) Library consists of five library sites both on and within walking distance of the campus. The library is an integral part of the UWA student experience and provides a wide range of services, facilities ...

, at the

University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...

, was awarded a RIBA Gold Medal in 1964. Gil Nicol was the leading architect on the project, as he was for many Perth buildings, including the Alexander Library, Wesfarmers Building and the Metropolitan Water Centre. In 1970 the firm designed the award-winning

National Carillon The National Carillon is a large carillon situated on Queen Elizabeth II Island in Lake Burley Griffin, central Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The carillon is managed and maintained by the National Capital Authority o ...

tower in Canberra, which was a gift to Australia from Britain and was constructed on

Queen Elizabeth II Island __NOTOC__ Queen Elizabeth II Island, formerly Aspen Island, is an artificial island located within Lake Burley Griffin, in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. It lies within the Parliamentary Triangle. The island is located on ...

Lake Burley Griffin Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake in the centre of Canberra, the capital of Australia. It was completed in 1963 after the Molonglo River, which ran between the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle, was dammed. It is named after Walte ...

. Allendale Square in Perth was designed by Cameron Chisholm Nicol in 1970 and was completed in 1976. The building has been celebrated with awards including the RAIA (WA Chapter) Architecture Design Award and Bronze Medal Award as well as the ACI Energy Conservation Award and Alcoa of Australia Award for Architecture. In 2018 Allendale Square received the WA Architecture Awards Richard Roach Jewel Award for Enduring Architecture. I

Perth Arena

In 2012, Cameron Chisholm Nicol in joint venture with ARM Architecture completed the Perth Arena. The Arena received Australia's most prestigious architecture award, the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, at the AIA National Architecture Awards in 2013, along with the Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture. In the 2013 WA Architecture Awards, the building was awarded The George Temple Poole Award for best building overall, and The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture. It won the Best in State Award from the Western Australia Design Institute of Australia in 2013. The building also won Best Public Building at the 2015 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards."8 Chifley dominates 2015 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards"
''Architecture and Design''. Nathan Johnson

Awards and nominations

Awards

*2018 / WA Architecture Awards Richard Roach Jewel Award for Enduring Architecture / Allendale Square *2017 / WA Architecture Awards Harold Krantz Award for Multiple Housing / The Pocket, Claremont *2017 / WA Architecture Awards Commendation for Multiple Housing / Heirloom by Match, Fremantle *2016 / WA Architecture Awards Architecture Award for Multiple Housing / Mika, South Beach *2015 / WA Architecture Awards Commendation for Multiple Housing / Helm, Port Coogee *2013 / AIA National Architecture Awards Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 / AIA National Architecture Award Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 / WA Architecture Awards George Temple Poole Award for Best Building (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 / WA Architecture Awards Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 Shortlist – World Architecture Festival Award for Sports Architecture (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 / WA DIA Design Awards Best in State (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2013 / WA DIA Design Awards Award of Merit Interior Spaces-public (in conjunction with ARM) / Perth Arena *2014 / UDIA Award for Medium Density Housing in WA / Kingston, Cockburn Central *2012 / UDIA Award for Medium Density Housing in WA / Luxe, Cockburn Central *2010 / WA Architecture Awards Sustainable Architecture Award / Cameron Chisholm Nicol Offices *2010 / WA Architecture Awards Commendation for Multiple Housing (in conjunction with Architectus) / Islands, North Coogee

Nominations

*2013 The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) WA's Cystal Vision Awards Night Beata Szulc *2012 UDIA Awards for Excellence, Top Consultant for Somersault by Match in the High Density Development category

References

External links

* * {{Official website, http://www.ccnq.com.au//, Cameron Chisholm Nicol Queensland official website Design companies established in 1884 1884 establishments in Australia