Williams Ross Architects, Melbourne: Passionate, People-focused, Professional.

For Williams Ross Architects, training of all members of staff is key to its practice culture. Its Founder Bill Williams began his career as a bricklayer, before progressing to architectural drafting, learning the practice of architecture on the job. It is something which has then followed through in the founding of the office, which is based in the Fitzroy area of Melbourne.

Staff tend to stay at the practice for a long time, seeing it as a place they can grow and progress through the firm. They are encouraged to follow their passions into more specialised areas of architecture and it sees this as a route for the practice’s evolution. Its open plan office environment means staff can share ideas and engage in different conversations.

“The incidental learning that takes place in these conversations is very important to staff mentoring, but also to enable the best minds to come together to resolve an issue,” comments Associate Director Tammy Beck. 

The small office of just 12 people has a family focus with regular social trips, a weekly whole-office lunch, a Christmas picnic and trips to both on-site and completed projects. 

“We understand that the demands of work need to be balanced with people’s personal lives. There are two office dogs, and frequently our kids come and go through school holidays, or when child care falls through,” says Beck. “We trust our colleagues’ commitment to the practice and their projects, and through open communication we manage the occasions where they cannot always be present at the office.”