While working with those other firms, Jake started doing more and more private work on the side. As demand for his private work grew, he made the decision to strike out on his own seven years ago and form SBD Studio (previously Shire Building Design). Since then, the practice has expanded carefully rather than rapidly, growing into a team of seven full-time staff while maintaining a collaborative, hands-on structure. “We are very deliberate about our size,” Jake explains. “Keeping the studio manageable means every project benefits from shared input rather than being siloed.” That collaborative mindset shapes how SBD Studio operates day to day. Projects move through multiple internal review stages, with team members contributing ideas and technical insight before concepts are presented to clients. “Different perspectives always strengthen the outcome,” Jake notes. “It allows us to resolve issues early and present clients with designs that are already well considered.” SBD Studio currently works on renovation projects around the $1 million mark and upwards, with new builds ranging up to approximately $5 million in construction value. According to Jake, the studio is already seeing this range shift upward, with future projects increasingly falling within the $2 million to $8 million bracket. Even so, the team remains selective, choosing projects carefully and relying primarily on referrals from past clients, builders, and developers rather than high-volume marketing. “Referrals tell us we are doing something right,” he says. “They come from trust built over time.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
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