Company Background

Collard Clarke Jackson, Canberra has evolved from the office established by Max Collard in Sydney in 1947.  The Canberra office, began servicing the local community in 1965. and still maintains a professional affiliation with the Sydney office.

CCJ is a limited liability company providing architectural services to numerous government departments, statutory authorities, public and private companies, developers and charities over a wide range of building types in:

• Master planning;
• Site planning;
• Urban and civic design studies;
• Building design;
• Interior design;
• Furniture selection;
• Feasibility and building assessment;
• Recycling, renovation studies;
• Computer aided drafting and presentation;
• Value management;
• Life cycle costing;
• Contract documentation;
• Contract administration;
• Post occupancy evaluation.

Particular expertise has been developed in:

• Building refurbishment;
• Office & Retail development;
• Education and Research (primary, secondary, tertiary and institutional);
• Industry (manufacturing, production and development);
• Commerce (corporate, commercial and development);
• Health Care;
• Recreation and Leisure;
• Residential (single and multi-unit development).

OldParliamentHouseCanberra

Collard Clarke Jackson Canberra are committed to producing for their clients projects which combine the technical and functional disciplines required by building process and use, with the aesthetic and emotional qualities of art.  Due regard is given not only to the specific requirements of the client but also to the Firm’s broader responsibility, the users, the community and the environment.

Our aim is to produce not only work to highest standards of our profession - with attention to detail, value and quality in every aspect - but to ensure that the interpersonal relationships necessary during these processes foster a positive atmosphere of co-operation and responsibility.  This is developed and reinforced with a policy of continuous professional development, a responsible attitude to work loads and good open communication with all parties.  It is our belief that we can work in a collaborative effort with our clients to produce quality work with confidence, responsibility and mutual respect.

Although the staff at CCJ has changed over the last 40 years of practice in the ACT, our reputation for providing high quality work, has not varied.  Long standing clients include; The Australian National University – 43 years; ACT Department of Education – 35 years; Canberra Girls’ Grammar School – 20 years,  Burgmann Anglican School – 10 years, as well as Commonwealth of Australia; and ACT Projects (previously Totalcare projects & ACT Public Works).

Collard Clarke Jackson has a continuing relationship with the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Protective Services and the Australian Crime Commission for work Australia wide. A number of staff members have security clearances for work with these, and associated organizations. Bruce Fisher, a Director of the company, has also had security clearance for work with ASIO.

Drama Centre – Canberra Girls Grammar School

Ecologically Sustainable Design

CCJ has a moral responsibility to the greater community to produce work, which embodies the principles of Ecologically Sustainable development.  These principles are assessed and applied on a project to project basis and become the main design tool in shaping the form of each building.

Elements usually range from the simple selection of re-growth and plantation timber to fully integrated environmental systems, which encompass whole processes.

Collard Clarke Jackson actively seeks to design buildings that embody ESD principles and high quality design and is a leader in commercial environmental architecture in Canberra and Nationally. 

Below are some examples:

The Ainslie Village redevelopment is an example of an Ecologically Sustainable Development.  This project includes: the selection of plantation timbers; passive solar heating and cooling principles; natural ventilation; reverse brick veneer construction; high insulation values; and was the first development in the ACT to use overland stormwater drainage & retention.

This project was recognised in 1994 with the Canberra Medallion for excellence in architecture.

In 2000 CCJ received an environment award for the Croom Indoor Stadium at Shellharbour for its use of natural ventilation, stormwater retention for fire and irrigation, on site waste treatment and solar hot water.

CCJ has also completed the Ian Ross Building at the Australian National University, which includes a fully integrated hybrid ventilation system and hydronic slab heating.  This building has won the 2001 Sustainable Architecture Award and the National MBA Energy Efficiency Award and provides its users with electrical cost savings in the order of $15,000 per year.

Ian Ross Building – Australian National University

Philosophy

Collard Clarke Jackson Canberra adheres to the philosophy symbolised by the following three words:

Climate   Context   Complexity  

Climate represents the environmental conditions of the area and the systems employed to cope with these conditions.

Context is the site and surrounds peculiar to the project’s location. Complexity is the functions, users, the inspiration and the integration of the above into a whole.

These are simple concepts but what this means architecturally is that the buildings we produce are deeply rooted to their sites and cannot be relocated.  Each is an individual like a living thing. 

Living Buildings