Architectus has announced the appointment of four new Principals to strengthen their Melbourne and Perth studios with a renewed focus on the health sector.

Bruce Crook (second from right) and Mark Saunders (second from left) have joined the practices as Principals (Health) in Melbourne, along with Angela Dapper (far right) who also moves to the Melbourne office to work with the Living team. Stephen Moorcroft (far left) has joined as a Principal of Interior Architecture in Perth.

Crook has moved across from fellow health experts HDR, with a portfolio that includes Monash Children’s Hospital, Werribee Mercy Hospital (stage 2 redevelopment master plan), and the Bendigo Hospital masterplan, the largest regional hospital project ever undertaken in Victoria.

Mark Saunders’ 26 years in delivering health facilities on a variety of scales ensures the practice’s output is in good hands. Also working at HDR and Silver Thomas Hanley, Saunders was recently involved in the VHBA Community Hospitals Program, which covered ten sites across Victoria.

Architectus CEO Ray Brown says the health appointments come at a time when the practice is undergoing immense change.

“On the back of our merger with Conrad Gargett, a practice known for its deep expertise in the Health sector, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Bruce and Mark to the team,” he says. 

“Their expertise combined with that of Conrad Gargett makes us well-placed to add significant value to major health projects across the country.”

Angela Dapper accounts for two decades of international expertise for Architectus’ Living team. She has been involved in the design process for Oxford University’s Botanic Gardens glasshouse and the restoration and extension of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s historic Hyde Park property, working at the likes of Denton Corker Marshall and Grimshaw.

Heading west, workplace interior specialist Stephen Moorcroft now leads the practice’s Perth studio’s interior architecture output. Moorcroft has contributed to some 400,000 sqm of workplace design for clients across multiple sectors including aviation, defence, health, education, legal and finance.

“It’s been an incredible month at Architectus,” Brown continues. 

“With this calibre of talent joining our practice on top of the merger with Conrad Gargett, we’ve never been better placed in terms of cross-sector expertise, diversity of thinking, and talent. The momentum in the business is palpable and we’re excited to translate this into best-in-class design for our clients.”