The Construction Source Australia

A recent example of an awardwinning project is the firm’s work on the Penleigh Essendon Grammar School (PEGS) Music House. At the 2021 Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Awards, that project twice won the ‘Award for Educational Architecture’ – first in Victoria, and later nationally. “That means a lot to us, to be honest,” says Debbie Ryan, cofounder and owner of the firm. “It’s not the main reason we put a lot into our projects, but the fact is we do put our heart and soul into our projects, and those awards are part of the reward we get for it.” “The client appreciating it, and the public appreciating it – that’s also really rewarding,” she adds, “but to get peer recognition on top of that is just a huge bonus. There’s nothing much better than that.” The award-winning Music House was one of the latest in a series of projects undertaken by MCR on various PEGS campuses. One of their earliest collaborations was the Junior Boys’ Year 5&6 building – which was completed in 2009, and was also award-winning. This new music building sits right alongside that original junior boys building. “We’ve been working with the Penleigh Essendon Grammar School for a long time,” Debbie says. “They’ve been a fabulous THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRAL IA “It’s not the main reason we put a lot into our projects, but the fact is we do put our heart and soul into our projects, and those awards are part of the reward we get for it.”

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=