Sydney’s second largest CBD is set to undergo a major rejuvenation, with McGregor Coxall’s Parramatta River urban design Strategy publically exhibited in late 2011.

McGregor Coxall was commissioned by Parramatta Council to prepare an urban regeneration plan for a 31ha site located on Parramatta River Foreshore. The refined strategy re-orientates the city back to the river and establishes four new vibrant mixed use River Quarters that bring activity back to the banks of Parramatta River. Part of the strategy proposes to demolish the council’s riverside car park and excavate the land where it sits to carve out “Parramatta Quay”, creating a ferry arrival point connecting the CBD to Circular Quay.

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McGregor Coxall had a successful December evening at the 2011 Australia Institute Landscape Architecture [AILA} New South Wales Awards, taking out four awards in the following categories; Planning Excellence - Callan Park Master Plan; Urban Design - Parramatta River Urban Design Strategy; Design – Australian Garden and New Entry National Gallery of Australia; Planning – Itaoui Woodland Park.

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in 2011 Lacoste+Stevenson supported by McGregor Coxall were selected as the winning proposal for the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Podium Building Design Competition. The proposal was selected as part of a two-stage design excellence competition process, run by the university and judged by representatives from UTS, the city of Sydney and the NSW Department of Planning.

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A milestone in the history of Callan Park has been reached, with the Master Plan formally presented to the Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard MP on 11th November 2011 before an enthusiastic gallery of about 40 residents.

After more than twelve years of community activism and two previously failed master plans, McGregor Coxall’s masterplan for a modern health facility to assist those with mental illness was approved by Leichhardt Council earlier in the year. Leichardt Council and local community members met on 19th July 2011 to decide on final aspects of the masterplan, which prioritises mental health care and support, protects open space and heritage and provides open space for the larger community. 

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McGregor Coxall is currently developing an integrated transport strategy that will deliver Bayside City Council’s goals and guide transport planning within the municipality over the next fifteen years. In partnership with UrbanTrans and JH Planning, the firm will integrate transport modes, emphasising opportunities for sustainable transport options and promoting better integration between transport and land uses.

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McGregor Coxall’s design of Ballast Point Park, Sydney has won the prize for Best Landscape Architecture at the first international AZ awards held in Toronto in June 2011. The AZ Awards were created by Azure Magazine, a bi-monthly publication that profiles the work of international designers. The international jury included architect Craig Dykers of Snøhetta (Oslo/New York), product designer Eero Koivisto of Claesson Koivisto Rune (Stockholm) and interior designer Glenn Pushelberg of Yabu Pushelberg (Toronto/New York).

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McGregor Coxall were invited to speak to the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Horticultural Society of New York. Melbourne Studio Director Mark Haycox, Sydney Associate Georg Petzold and student Landscape Architect Stephanie Bailey presented 'An Antipodean Conversation', which explored McGregor Coxall’s response to the question of ‘What makes an Australian landscape architecture studio?’

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The commencement of construction of a new residential community at Little Bay Cove Sydney has been marked by a soil turning event onsite. Key consultant McGregor Coxall joined developers Charter Hall and TA Global together with other project consultants to celebrate the occasion. The site is historic; UNSW produced the first Australian solar panel onsite and the new owners are continuing this tradition by encouraging the design team to deliver benchmark sustainable design solutions from project conception through to completion. 

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McGregor Coxall has won four awards at the Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) Public Domain Awards.

Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) Public Domain Awards provide significant and national recognition for designers, contractors, developers and asset owners who set new benchmarks in the use of concrete to enhance our public domain. Judged by an eminent panel of independent landscape and design Architects, the awards have grown in prestige and notable peer recognition over the years attracting entries of a world-class standard.

Ballast Point Park has won awards in the following categories:

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Ballast Point Park, Sydney has won an annual “International Architecture Award” which was announced in Warsaw, Poland in July 2011 under the auspices of the Association of Polish Architects. The International Architectural Awards are the highest and most prestigious distinguished building awards program to honour new architecture, landscape architecture, interiors and urban planning. The winning entries will form part of the international exhibition starting at the 13th International Architecture Biennale in Buenos Aires and then travel inside Europe.

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Sydney Magazine ranks Ballast Point as one of Sydney’s most outstanding public places. The panel noted that the “park boldly models its exceptional natural and man-made topography. A Sydney acropolis of the spirit: respectful, delightful and assuredly contemporary in all aspects of its design. It is very popular and a must-see for everyone who loves our city”.

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Michael Cowdy, a UK Senior Urban Designer with international experience has joined McGregor Coxall. Previously working for EDAW in London and Manchester, Michael brings to the team strong skills in project leadership, strategic master planning and detailed master planning. Michael will lead the Sydney urban design unit offering a wide range of knowledge in city-centre regeneration schemes, residential master plans, aged care master plans and strategic frameworks.

Adrian McGregor delivered a lecture at Monash University to the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities short course run by Professor Tony Wong. Adrian also delivered a lecture at the International Cities Town Centres & Communities Society in Hobart on YourPlan - Callan Park Master Plan's Interactive Web Consultation Tool.

Philip Coxall delivered a lecture to University of New South Wales (UNSW) second year architects on the profession of Landscape Architecture.

Ann Deng joined McGregor Coxall’s team in May after graduating from UNSW with a bachelor degree [hons]. Ann was nominated for the Hassel Travelling Scholarship 2010. Being fluent in Mandarin she will support the team with her graphical and visualisation skills in our Chinese and Australian projects.

Kristina Frizen arrived back at McGregor Coxall after giving birth to a beautiful boy ‘Lukas’ in March and spending time with her family in Germany.

Stephanie Bailey arrived back at McGregor Coxall after spending 5 months studying at Penn State University in Pennsylvania, U.S.A and four weeks at South Eastern University in Nanjing, China. During her time in the U.S.A her studio work focused on implementing ecologically sustainable design solutions for the Lower Don Lands in the Toronto Waterfront area. Whilst in China she collaborated with Chinese and Australian students in a design studio.