NBRS ARCHITECTURE

What NBRS ARCHITECTURE does

NBRS Architecture is a privately-held Australian architectural practice founded in 1968, headquartered in Sydney with additional studios in Melbourne and Brisbane. The firm operates as an integrated design practice offering four core disciplines — Architecture, Heritage, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture — applied across four sector specializations: Education, Wellness, Community, and Secure Spaces. Its Education team is described as one of Australia's largest, and its Heritage practice carries more than 50 years of conservation experience with accredited professionals providing conservation management plans, heritage assessments, and expert witness services.

The practice generates revenue through project-based professional services fees on large-scale public and private commissions, with pricing determined per-project via tender processes (for government clients such as Schools Infrastructure NSW and Health Infrastructure NSW) or direct commissions (for private schools, councils, and nonprofit clients). Visible project scale ranges from $25m to $280m for individual campuses, with multi-year programs such as the $700m Concord Forensic Mental Health Unit anchoring long-cycle revenue. Delivery relies on BIM and digital design processes, proprietary research programs (CARE, eMerge, The Learning Continuum, Envision), and a team of Green Star Accredited Professionals supporting sustainability commitments. The firm holds no external investment, operates with a management/founder-controlled ownership structure, and is led by Managing Director James Ward and Chair Samantha Polkinghorne (appointed October 2023).

Name

NBRS ARCHITECTURE

Legal name

NBRS Architecture

Website

https://nbrs.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NBRS Architecture is a 56-year-old Australian integrated design practice with studios in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, delivering Architecture, Heritage, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture across Education, Wellness, Community, and Secure Spaces sectors for government and private clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Heritage conservation consulting
• Education facility design
• Healthcare facility architecture
• Landscape architecture services

Headquarters

HQ city

Potts Point

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Project-based fees for comprehensive architectural design services including masterplanning, design, documentation, and contract administration across Architecture, Heritage, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture disciplines. Revenue generated through government commissions, private sector projects, and repeat client engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NBRS Architecture is an integrated design practice delivering architectural, heritage, interior design, and landscape architecture services across four core sectors: Education, Wellness, Community, and Secure Spaces. The firm provides the full project lifecycle from masterplanning, design, and documentation through to contract administration, secured through government tenders, direct commissions, and repeat client relationships. Notable projects include the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning ($30m), Armidale Secondary College ($110m), Melonba Educational Campus ($280m), and the Concord Forensic Mental Health Unit ($700m program).

Product overview

NBRS Architecture is an integrated design practice offering four core services: Architecture, Heritage, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture. These services are organized across four key sectors: Education, Community, Wellness, and Secure Spaces. The firm operates from studios in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, delivering projects from masterplanning through to construction. Notable projects include the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning ($30m), Armidale Secondary College ($110m), and Bay Pavilions Arts + Aquatics. The practice also conducts research through its Envision Student Partnership Program and maintains sustainability commitments including Green Star accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering residential, commercial, institutional, and public projects with a focus on social architecture and community impact. Delivered across the firm's four sectors (Education, Wellness, Community, Secure Spaces).
• Heritage Services
• Interior Design Services
• Landscape Architecture Services
• Education Sector Design Services
• Community Sector Design Services
• Wellness Sector Design Services
• Secure Spaces Sector Design Services
• Envision Student Partnership Program Student internship program partnering with architecture and design graduates to investigate emerging industry topics through research and design experimentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Taronga Institute won 3 major awards in 2019 including Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Award
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• StylecraftminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2025Furniture partner for NBRS Melbourne Partner Event on Heritage and Sustainability, demonstrating supplier relationships in fit-out and furnishings.
• SlatteryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2025National Carbon Planning Director Tom Dean from Slattery spoke at NBRS Melbourne Partner Event on heritage and sustainability, discussing embodied carbon in the Victorian context.
• Donovan Payne ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on Bay Pavilions Arts + Aquatics project and Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre. Donovan Payne Architects and NBRS worked together on these aquatic and leisure centre projects, with NBRS providing architectural services for community and landscape aspects.
• Taylor ConstructionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Knox Grammar Junior School Academy and Performing Arts Centre ($50m project). Collaborated on this major educational infrastructure project.
• Richard Crookes ConstructionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Armidale Secondary College ($110m) and Melonba Educational Campus. Major construction collaborator on large-scale government education projects.
• GHDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and consulting consultancy collaboration on Armidale Secondary College project.
• Marline Newcastle Pty LtdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist consultant on Armidale Secondary College and Central Coast Grammar Junior School projects for marine/landscape elements.
• John Holland GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Dillwynia Correctional Centre Expansion project. Major tier-one contractor collaboration on secure spaces project.
• Wilde & WoollardminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist consultant on Dillwynia Correctional Centre Expansion for landscape and environmental engineering.
• MBMplminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management consultancy on Knox Grammar and Melonba Educational Campus projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hassell: Australian-headquartered multi-disciplinary design firm with studios across Australia and internationally. Directly comparable to NBRS in scale, multi-discipline model (architecture, interior, landscape, urban design), and focus on education, health, and public-sector commissions.
• Bates Smart: Australian architecture firm with 170+ year history, multi-discipline practice. Comparable to NBRS in heritage expertise, sector focus (education, health, civic), and integrated design model with national presence.
• BVN (Bligh Voller Nield): Australian architecture and design firm with national presence. Closely comparable to NBRS in scale, multi-disciplinary offering, education sector focus, and strong institutional/government client base.
• Architectus: Australian architecture and urban design firm with offices across Australia and New Zealand. Comparable to NBRS in public infrastructure focus (education, transport, civic buildings) and integrated multi-discipline model.
• Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB): Australian architecture firm with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. Comparable to NBRS in scale, residential/institutional/civic sector mix, and award-winning design approach.
• Cox Architecture: Major Australian architecture firm with studios across Australia and Asia. Comparable to NBRS in sector mix (education, civic, cultural) and public-sector project focus, with similar multi-disciplinary delivery and award-winning portfolio.
• Conrad Gargett: Australian architecture and heritage firm with offices across eastern Australia. Comparable to NBRS in heritage conservation expertise, education and public-sector focus, and integrated multi-discipline delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Grimshaw Architects: Global architecture firm with strong presence in Australian transportation, education, and public sector projects. Comparable to NBRS in sector mix but operates at much larger international scale with broader portfolio.
• Woods Bagot: Australian-founded global architecture and design firm with studios worldwide. Larger and broader in geographic and sector reach than NBRS, but comparable multi-discipline model and overlapping work in education and commercial sectors.

Emerging players

• Populous: Global architecture firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and community venues. Comparable to NBRS's Community sector work (aquatic centres, arts venues, stadiums), but focused on a narrower niche and operating at much larger international scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NBRS ARCHITECTURE