With a deep understanding of the local context and an eye on the future, our team is dedicated to shaping Brisbane’s architectural landscape and leaving a lasting legacy of thoughtful, impactful design.
We recently sat down with the newly appointed Lead Partner of our Brisbane studio, Maria Correia, to delve into her career in design, how Brisbane’s unique environmental demands influence design outcomes, and the impact of the upcoming 2032 Olympics on the cityscape.
“My career in design began over 30 years ago, and never did I imagine that this profession would take me across the globe.
“This is now the third continent I’ve worked in. I studied and started working in South Africa, then moved to London where I spent nearly 20 years working internationally,” said Maria of her career so far.
Maria’s tenure at Gray Puksand began eight years ago when she relocated from London to Brisbane. Upon arriving in the city, she was quick to notice the distinctive characteristics of the city’s design landscape.
“Designing in Brisbane presents unique challenges compared to other cities. We face harsh environmental pressures such as heat, flooding and tropical rain.
“Interestingly, we’ve found that Queensland is leading the charge on sustainability, partly out of necessity. With limited resources, we’re driven to find innovative, smarter, efficient solutions to future-proof designs and create built environments that endure.”
Completed in 2024, our design for Cromwell Property Group’s Global Head Office embraces the concept of ‘The Cromwell Lifestyle’; delivering an innovative curated workplace experience that connects people, spaces, and technology, promoting community, wellbeing, and learning. Guided by the objective of capturing the essence of the city, native plants, a warm colour palette and extensive natural light were utilised to reflect Brisbane’s relaxed lifestyle. Sustainable practices are embedded throughout the workspace, with the team prioritising repurposed materials, second-hand furniture and eco-conscious suppliers.
The project was shortlisted for both the 2024 Sustainability Awards and IDEA 2024 Awards, which Maria names as some of the studio’s proudest recent achievements.
As Lead Partner, Maria heads a passionate design and architectural team of 15. They are driven by a shared commitment for design excellence and a profound understanding of the meaningful impact their work creates.
“We’ve built a positive and collaborative culture at the Brisbane studio. Having worked across a vast range of sectors, I’m passionate about supporting our team in achieving their personal and professional goals and testing industry boundaries.”
“As a smaller team, we are supported by our national network of studios in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. This interconnected approach allows us to share our collective intelligence and resources to deliver unique design solutions.
As Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympics, the city is undergoing a period of immense growth and transformation. Gray Puksand’s Brisbane team is actively working on several key projects to ensure the city is ready to accommodate an influx of tourists, businesses, and workplaces seeking both short-term and long-term opportunities.
“We’ve been working closely with Brisbane Airport on a number of projects, including the new Lotte Duty Free. This will deliver a luxurious retail environment for international visitors that captures the welcoming and unique essence of Brisbane. We’re also collaborating with South Bank Corporation on their precinct master plan, focusing on amenities to prepare the precinct for increased patronage before, during and after the games.
“The wider impact of the Olympics is already becoming evident in Brisbane’s infrastructure and built form. Having personally experienced the transformation in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics, I’m eager to see how the city will evolve over the course of the next seven years,” concluded Maria.
Gray Puksand is also designing a new five-story commercial building in Toowoomba, reflecting an expanding presence in Australia’s fast-growing regional centres. The studio also has a growing portfolio of projects in the education and health and science sectors, addressing the state’s increasing essential service needs.
2025 will see the completion of projects across all sectors, including the Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing facility for TAFE QLD Eagle Farm, the first of its kind Youth Hub at Dakabin State High School and the repositioning of 100 Melbourne Street + 108 Wickham Street.
