Abbie Galvin
About
CityLab is a professional consultancy with a singular focus on making better cities through design expertise, strategic thinking and effective delivery.
CityLab is committed to fair and equitable procurement processes, ensuring the best ideas rise to the top. We work with both public and private clients to ensure each project is built on a strong foundation, with a rich brief, a rigorous procurement process and a collaborative network of advisors and jury members.
CityLab is Australia’s number one design procurement consultancy, with experience working at all scales, from large to small, and in every state across the country. We pride ourselves on delivering systems and processes that both clients and design professionals trust. We are laser-focussed on delivering the highest design standards while meeting all technical and legislative project requirements.
The Team
CityLab is a small team of design professionals with deep roots in Australia’s built environment. We have extensive experience in assembling the best teams of people to deliver the best project solutions.
Design expertise
CityLab has longstanding connections with numerous design experts who are vital in the procurement process of high-quality architecture and design. Some of our recent design experts include:
Corbett Lyon
● Founding Director, Lyons
Francine Houben
● Founding Director, Mecanoo
Geoffrey London
● Emeritus Professor of Architecture, University of Western Australia
Jeremy McLeod
● Founding Director, Breathe Architecture and Founder, Nightingale Housing
Jill Garner
● Victorian Government Architect and Principal, Garner Davis Architects
Jocelyn Chiew
● Director of City Design, City of Melbourne
John Choi
● Director, CHROFI
Kirsteen Mackay
● South Australian Government Architect
Sadie Morgan
● Director, dRMM and Commissioner of the National Infrastructure Commission UK
Sarah Lynn Rees
● Associate and Lead Indigenous Advisor, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Xu Tiantian
● Founding Principal, DnA Design and Architecture
COLLABORATORS
CityLab also works with a range of consultants whose expertise is tailored to each project every step of the way. The suite of consultants that we can either directly engage, or engage through the client, includes buildability consultants, sustainability experts, planners, First Nations design consultants, writers and proof editors, graphic designers, legal and probity advisors, quantity surveyors, and other technical specialists.
In the media
“Deeply connected with Country and Indigenous knowledges, the Indigenous Centre of Excellence will be a transformational space where communities can connect with the university while learning from and celebrating our incredible culture.” - Michelle Trudgett, Western Sydney University deputy vice-chancellor Indigenous leadership
Indigenous Centre of Excellence
ArchitectureAU, 07 Mar 2024 ↗
“An outstanding, Country centred design that promotes First Peoples’ leadership, knowledge sharing, creative skills and living cultural practices. As well as being an iconic destination that the Western Sydney University and the communities it serves can be proud of, the facility will be a welcoming place for everyone who visits, ensuring its enduring legacy.”
Dillon Kombumerri, Chair of the Design Competition Selection Committee
Indigenous Centre of Excellence
ArchitectureAU, 16 Jan 2024 ↗
‘This magnificent public artwork will, quite literally, breathe life and creativity into the NGV Garden and will delight and inspire people of all ages. The Allan Labor Government is proud to support this work alongside the incredible NGV Triennial, which is set to attract thousands of visitors to the gallery and Melbourne over the summer. This exhibition will be packed with awe-inspiring art and design and will be free for everyone to enjoy.’
The Hon. Colin Brooks, Minister for Creative Industries
NGV Architecture Commission 2023
NGV, 22 Nov 2023 ↗
“This is going to be an absolute gamechanger for our state. It’s going to put us on the world map as being a destination for great creative and cultural events”
Danny Pearson, Victorian Creative Industries Minister
NGV Contemporary
The Guardian Australia, 15 Mar 2022 ↗
“The Civic Precinct will bring the community into the heart of what we do as a council, with welcoming public space, the celebration of Wadawurrung culture and heritage, and a strong focus on providing excellent customer service to our community now and into the future.”
Stephanie Asher, Mayor of Geelong
Geelong Civic Precinct
Surf Coast Times, 25 Jun 2020 ↗
“The Victorian Pride Centre is a structure that represents the best of our community values – resilience, solidarity, and community connection – during these unprecedented times when our communities need it most.”
Martin Foley, Minister for Equality
Victorian Pride Centre
The Star Observer, 30 Apr 2020 ↗
"This is the biggest design competition to be held at Sydney Olympic Park since it was initially developed for the Olympic Games and we are seeking submissions from around the world."
Rob Stokes, Planning and Public Spaces Minister
Sydney Olympic Park Stadia Precinct
Sydney Morning Herald, 16 Sep 2019 ↗
Awards
CityLab would like to congratulate all competition winners whose designs have won many state and national architecture awards over the years.
Award for Interior Architecture, 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building
National Award for Public Architecture, 2019 National Architecture Awards
Gold Coast Cultural Precinct
The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards
Victorian Pride Centre
Finalist, 2020 Victoria Premier's Design Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2019
Award for Educational Architecture, 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building
Shortlist, The Social Space, 2020 INDE Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2019
Finalist, 2020 Victorian Premier's Design Awards
Arts Centre Melbourne Cafe
Award for Architecture, Public and Institutional, 2021 Melbourne Design Awards
Victorian Pride Centre
Commendation for Urban Design, 2016 South Australian Architecture Awards
Henley Square
Honourable Mention, Cultural and Urban Landscape, 2021 International Federation of Landscape Architects Asia-Pacific Awards
Henley Square
Commendation for Sustainable Architecture, 2022 City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards
Victorian Pride Centre
Award for Public and Institutional Architecture, 2022 City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards
Victorian Pride Centre
Architeam Medal, 2021 Architeam Awards
Victorian Pride Centre
Award for Health and Education Landscape, 2021 AILA Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards
Monash University Central Precinct Revitalisation
Kevin Borland Award for Small Project Architecture, 2020 Victorian Architecture Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2019
Small Building of the Year, 2019 Dezeen Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2019
Commendation, Small Project Architecture, 2020 National Architecture Awards
Arts Centre Melbourne Cafe
National Award for Small Project Architecture, 2019 National Architecture Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2018
Bruce Mackenzie Landscape Award, 2019 Think Brick Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2018
Award for Great Plan Category, 2017 Greater Sydney Planning Awards
K2K Urban Design
Kevin Borland Award for Small Project Architecture, 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2018
Award of Excellence, Small Projects, 2019 AILA Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards
NGV Architecture Commission 2018
Architectural Design Award, Educational Buildings, 2018 Architecture MasterPrize (AMP)
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building
Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism, 2018 National Landscape Architecture Awards
Gold Coast Cultural Precinct
National Award for Interior Architecture, 2018 National Architecture Awards
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building
National Award for Educational and Architecture, 2018 National Architecture Awards
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building
Award for Tourism, 2018 International Festival of Landscape Architecture
Gold Coast Cultural Precinct
Award of Excellence, Parks and Open Space, 2016 South Australian Landscape Architecture Awards
Henley Square