Located in the heritage listed ‘Palace Hotel’ building in Perth’s CBD, Woods Bagot Perth studio exudes charm and character, set in a city steeped in history. It’s no surprise that their newest graduates are tackling dynamic and exhilarating projects.

One of these graduates is Brydie Walker, who initially pursued Architecture at the University of Western Australia but then shifted her focus to Interior Architecture at Curtin University to pursue her passion. She’s deeply intrigued by workplace interiors, recognizing the significance of well-designed spaces in our daily lives where we spend the majority of our time. For her, good design is essential.

Another standout graduate is Matthew McGivern, who recently joined the Perth grad program after completing his Masters of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle, WA. He thrives on the challenges of problem-solving across diverse sectors, embracing various complexities.

Together, these graduates bring fresh perspectives and talent to the studio. If you are considering the program and aspiring to join a global studio, we invite you to hear from our graduates!

How has it been working with your project leader and team?

Brydie: Working with the Workplace Interiors team and my project leaders has been extremely rewarding. Learning from people with years of experience in the field will be something I will always value. They are consistently and openly supportive throughout the program which makes the transition between university and workplace a lot smoother.

Matthew: I’ve had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, each presenting unique challenges across several sectors such as rail and transport to mixed use. Moving from one project to another has meant that I’ve had to adapt quickly. Multitasking has become second nature, and collaborating with different team members has been rewarding. Overall, all the team members have been very supportive and patient with me as a new grad.

What do you enjoy most about the Graduate program at Woods Bagot so far?

Brydie: I’ve enjoyed the ability to learn and develop new skills surrounded by people and an environment that cultivates and understands this process. Making a leap from university to workplace is challenging yet exciting and working here has felt like a new chapter! It has been amazing having a community of other graduates to go to as well, both in the studio and around Australia and NZ. It is a unique and valuable opportunity to experience.

Matthew: The Perth studio and my personal mentor have been incredibly supportive throughout the process and my learning. 

(Left) Diverse and highly energetic, the W-B Perth studio is located on the traditional country of the Whadjuk Noongar people. Working along the same timezone across Southeast and mainland Asia, Perth is positioned at the gateway to the Indian ocean rim – interlocking Asia with the Australian regions through clientele and project collaboration. Situated in an emerging contemporary city that blends urban and suburban lifestyle, the Perth studio also contributes to the landscape of its home city – commercially and socially.

What has working on your project taught you?

Brydie: Working across a few different projects now I am definitely learning to become more adaptive and learning to work in a fast paced environment, learning different project stages which all have their own unique systematic approaches to them. I am enjoying building up my knowledge each day on different design, technical or general skills – even just down to building relationships with external businesses and suppliers has been a valuable thing to experience!

Matthew: I’ve had the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of projects and tasks, spanning multiple stages of each project, and this exposure has significantly sped up my learning. Consequently, I now consider myself an efficient team member, even though I’ve been here for a relatively short time. I’ve also upskilled in programs like Revit which I hadn’t been exposed to prior to starting with Woods Bagot.