Canberra architect Noel Potter has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours for exceptional services to architecture.
Potter demonstrated his commitment to professional practice education in both his work as a senior counsellor for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), in the development of education tools for graduates seeking architectural registration and his work with the Institute’s practice committee.
Having graduated with Honours from the University of Sydney in 1953, Potter’s first job was with Sydney firm Bunning and Madden. He moved to Canberra to work on a number of commissions for the newly established NCDC, became a partner in the firm in 1960 and finally opened Bunning and Madden’s permanent office in Civic in 1963 to carry out the National Library of Australia project.
AIA CEO David Parken congratulated Potter for his contributions to Australian architecture. “The Institute appoints highly skilled and experienced practitioners as senior counsellors such as Noel, who served in a voluntary role,” he said.
“Noel created a strong sense of support within the architectural community and nurtured many a new architect and graduate.” Potter’s “unselfish support” for practitioners in ACT has led him to be known as “Mr Fixit”, Parken said.
Potter brought together his involvement in the practice of architecture and his role as a mentor in the development of the Practice of Architecture Lecture Series (PALS). This is now an instrumental part of the process for graduates of architecture throughout Australia who are seeking registration as an architect.
