Studio GL has been strengthening urban and regional town centres through good planning and design since 2013. We have identified that successful centres are the result of a complex amalgamation of character and context, structure and uses and many factors are needed to create centres with the right mix of services, amenities and convenience. Building on this knowledge we have found while every centre shares key drivers and attributes, each is different and unique, and the challenges of regional and suburban locations can be as significant as those of a central city location.

One of Studio GL’s first projects undertaken in 2013, was the award winning Five Dock Town Centre Urban Design Study. Since then, we have deepened this understanding of town centres in both regional and urban locations through numerous projects, research and conference papers, and various professional roles. We have applied our extensive knowledge to four Town Centre Masterplans in the Upper Hunter area of NSW (2015), the Kiama Town Centre Urban Design Report (2017), work with Wollongong Council on the historic Port Kembla Town Centre (2017), the St Ives Town Centre Built Form Study (2018), the Victoria Rd Drummoyne Urban Design Review (2018) and the Bowral Town Centre Study (2023). Through our involvement in all these projects we have found that the elements of a successful centre remain constant. These lively, attractive places are integrated and connected, vibrant well into the evening, diverse, comfortable to use, accessible for all, economically viable as well as memorable and unique.

Projects: Five Dock Town Centre Masterplan, Nowra CBD Development Controls, Cessnock Central Parklands, Panania Town Centre, Nowra Riverfront Precinct, Port Kembla Revitalisation