Woods Bagot, a global architectural and consulting practice present for over a century that specialises in design and planning of buildings ranging in vast categories comprising typologies in lifestyle, sport, education, science, health, and transport. The firm originated by Edward John Woods began in 1869 with a project to renovate the design of St.Peter Cathedral in Adelaide; Walter Bagot joined in 1905.
Over the initial years, noted architects like Louis Lybourne Smith, James Campbell, and Lord Mayor of Adelaide became part of the core when Woods retired. The firm formed to be known as Woods Bagot Architects in 1975.
In the 20th century, the firm expanded studios in five regions across the world – Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The firm gained recognition to be the seventh-largest architecture firm across the globe by employee count in Building Design Magazine – World Architecture 100 list. Their styles adapt to the current trends and focus on designing buildings based on modern and progressive themes with local flair in design elements.
The recent works are based on inspirations drawn from the natural world seen in the design outcomes of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) project where the exterior form takes conceptual lines from a pine cone. They also focus on philosophical, geological, and environmental themes as the built-environment develops into translations from conceptual roots and sustainable measures.
The Nan Tien Institute in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia resonates with Buddhist principles that deflect any hierarchy in built form and establish a neutral tone environment in its material circulation. A 25 floors retail tower designed on the ideas of cubism that showcases geometric lighting panels that ditto the shapes and forms of ice cubes on the facade in Hong Kong, China.
About Maureen Mitchell Boyer
Maureen Boyer, an AIA architect with experience exceeding more than 25 years in a professional career, graduated with Bachelors of Arts in Architecture from the University of California Berkeley. Her experience in the industry gains recognition for her leadership role in the architecture realm. Up until 2013, she led the practice at Gensler San Francisco where her expertise focused on mixed-use and retail spheres with projects ranging from restoration and adaptive use of historic buildings and new buildings.
The client profile ranges from Apple, Forever 21, Westfield, Cypress Equities to Hudson Pacific and Wilson Meany. Maureen relocated to Brazil at the Gensler Sao Paulo studio to co-direct the emergence of the firm in the country to expand business into Latin American market followed by a position of Director of Architecture at AECOM, an engineering firm. She led the San Francisco Buildings + Places Team; she moved ahead to bring the wealth of information, knowledge and experience in the role of senior executive director at Woods Bagot San Francisco office.
The San Francisco Business Times named Maureen Boyer the Northern California Real Estate Women of Influence in 2013, who exudes a powerful energy in creating meaningful spaces that bring out multifunctional and mix-use development in the current ever-changing contemporary lifestyle.
Woods Bagot’s growing investments in diverse talent showcase an extraordinary leadership in each of the United States of America Studios – Vivian Lee, FAIA, leads in New York; Christiana Kyrillou, AIA, directs in Los Angeles and Maureen Boyer in San Francisco. Boyer won three retail industry design awards for the first Forever 21 flagship store in San Francisco along with a gold medal from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for the design of Westfield Galleria, Roseville.
Maureen co-chairs the Urban Land Institute (UCLI) Commercial and Retail Development Platinum Council and an active member of San Francisco Architectural Heritage and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) along with being a public speaker and juror for design awards and organisations in the architectural community including AIA National Convention, Outdoor Industry Association, the International Retail Design Conference and ICSC Centerbuild Conference.
About the San Francisco Studio
The studio of Woods Bagot San Francisco is situated in the heart of the financial district which is connected to Union Square, Chinatown, and North Beach by a walkable distance. The firm establishes its presence on the 19th floor, 88 Kearny Street that opens its views to absorb and get inspiration from the city to accelerate creativity throughout the day. A rich diversity of talent from around the globe pools into the creative studio space to formulate concepts and ideas that define the portfolio with a narrative and analysis for design.
Maureen Boyer said that the firm emerges in the Bay Area as a design force to be reckoned with and feels proud to be part of a community that shares values like diversity, empathy and addresses the most urgent issues faced by clients, markets and the world with creative solutions.
