HDR has appointed two new principals to steer its health and major project capabilities. New Health Principal Conor Larkins (formerly BVN) and Major Projects Principal Zig Peshos (formerly BVN and Woods Bagot) will empower HDR’s high-performing teams to design major health projects that transform models of care and deliver complex, city-shaping social infrastructure programmes in a climate of innovation.

With 18 years’ experience working across health, science, education, and research projects at BVN, Larkins will head up HDR’s health sector and work closely with directors Alan Boswell, Jacqui Straesser, Joe Mihaljevic, Karen Curtis, and Vanessa Zakrzewski to elevate the practice’s design rigour and deliver human-centred facilities that transform the patient and provider experience.

“With HDR as the No. 1 healthcare design practice in the U.S., I’m looking forward to leveraging the company’s global impact to expand our local footprint and deliver community-driven healthcare infrastructure across Australia’s eastern seaboard and beyond,” Larkins said.

With a background in precinct master planning, complex acute services buildings, and medical research facilities, Larkins will oversee the delivery of complex hospital projects, steer the stakeholder engagement process, and champion design and technical leadership.

“We know that good design has a pivotal role to play in improving community well-being,” Larkins said. “By co-designing equitable and regenerative hospitals with deeper connections to both place and the local community, we can elevate healthcare outcomes for future generations.”

Larkins has worked across many of Australia’s most significant health precincts, including the Randwick Campus Redevelopment Stage 1 Prince of Wales Acute Services Building, the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building for Western Sydney University, Nepean Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2, Royal North Shore Hospital, and Northside Hospital in Canberra.

Peshos’ 30 years of transdisciplinary experience across a range of building typologies will similarly inform the trajectory of large-scale, complex projects across HDR’s health, science, education, civic, transport, and defence portfolios. With experience leading major projects such as Atlassian Headquarters, Central Station Metro, the new Sydney Fish Market, Greenland Tower, Wynyard Walk, Two Melbourne Quarter, and Brisbane Square, Peshos will exercise his know-how in project team management, change management, design development, documentation, and delivery to embed innovative structures and systems that enable design teams to thrive.

“Today, we have an opportunity to deliver major projects with varying procurement methods that embody unique sustainability agendas and solve complex problems in even more innovative and integrated ways,” said Peshos, HDR major projects principal. “By empowering our project teams and ensuring our solutions are underpinned by creative and technical excellence, we can deliver on big projects and programmes that meet our clients’ diverse needs.”

Larkins and Peshos join HDR’s bourgeoning senior leadership team, comprising Regional Managing Principal Cate Cowlishaw, Associate Managing Principal Rob Wright, Design Principal Simon Fleet, Education and Science Principal Graeme Spencer, Defence Principal Tim Napper, Civic Principal Mark Gazy, and Melbourne Studio Leader Karen Curtis.

“We welcome the addition of Conor and Zig to HDR’s senior leadership team,” Cowlishaw said. “With their collective experience, we can further innovate across disciplines and design solutions that positively impact the communities we serve.”

Ranked No. 2 in the World Architecture Survey of the Top 100 Global Architecture Practices, HDR has been delivering healthcare projects in Australia for over 20 years. Key projects include Westmead Health Precinct Redevelopment, Dubbo Base Hospital Redevelopment, Western Cancer Centre Dubbo, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Other active projects include Sydney Biomedical Accelerator, Rouse Hill Hospital, Victoria Community Hospitals Program, Te Temora Hospital Redevelopment, and Finley Health Service Redevelopment.

Justin Lance Marcel Lavadia

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Justin Lavadia is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum with a diverse writing background spanning various niches and formats. With a wealth of experience, he brings clarity and concise communication to digital content. His expertise lies in crafting engaging content and delivering impactful narratives that resonate with readers.

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