People
Glen Ollerton
Director
NSW ARB Registered Architect 7621
Glen, as the managing director of MDP Architecture for over a decade, has amassed a wealth of experience in the field. His impressive track record spans numerous successful projects, many of which have received recognition and awards, particularly in the Retirement Living and Aged Care sectors. Glen's expertise lies in navigating the unique challenges inherent in each project, a skill recognized by his long-standing relationships with clients, peers, and consultants.<o:p></o:p>
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At the core of Glen's approach is a commitment to design excellence and innovation. He leverages his extensive knowledge of construction, coupled with advancements in technology, to push the boundaries of what's possible in each project. Glen's proficiency in Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) practices ensures that his projects not only meet high standards of quality but also contribute positively to the environment. His incorporation of value engineering principles ensures efficient resource utilization without sacrificing quality.<o:p></o:p>
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Glen's deep involvement in health and aged care projects underscores his understanding of the specific requirements, legislative frameworks, and regulatory controls within these industries. His track record in developing standards and design guides for Aged Care Projects showcases his dedication to ensuring the highest levels of quality and compliance. Additionally, Glen's strategic and master planning capabilities enhance the built environment's quality while ensuring projects remain environmentally conscious and economically viable.<o:p></o:p>
A registered Design and Building Practitioner, Glen’s expertise spans the entire architectural services spectrum and his combination of experience, expertise, and commitment to excellence makes him a highly respected figure in the field of architecture.<o:p></o:p>
Director
Markam's tenure
as Joint Managing Director at MDP which spans over 14 years, during which he
has held pivotal roles and contributed significantly to the firm's success. As
a strategic thinker and thought leader, Markam spearheads initiatives that
drive innovative change, both within the organization and in the broader market
landscape.
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His extensive experience encompasses all facets of project delivery across a diverse range of project types. Markam has led and successfully delivered numerous projects, from their conceptualisation to completion, with many earning prestigious awards for their excellence. His expertise extends across various sectors, making him a versatile leader capable of navigating the complexities of different project types. Markam had been a longstanding member of the Judging Panel for the Illuminating Engineering Society's Annual Awards, demonstrating his commitment to industry recognition and best practices in illumination engineering.<o:p></o:p>
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Key sectors in which Markam has made significant contributions include extensive work in the areas of Health and Aged Care. Markam's involvement in health projects, both in the public and private sectors, showcases his commitment to delivering facilities that promote wellness and healing while meeting stringent regulatory requirements. His extensive experience in aged care projects underscores his dedication to creating environments that cater to the unique needs of elderly residents, balancing comfort, safety, and accessibility.<o:p></o:p>
Markam's
multifaceted skill set and dedication to excellence make him a valuable asset
in the realm of architecture and project management, driving innovation and
delivering exceptional results across diverse project portfolios.
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Rachel Story
General Manager | Operations
NSW ARB Registered Architect 8551
In her Capacity as MDP Architecture General Manager, Rachel brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her roles, primarily focusing on project architect leadership and project management/contract administration. Her extensive background includes notable projects such as Westmead Hospital Rehab, Penshurst Aged Care, Bupa Willoughby, Anglicare Cecil Guesthouse, and Drayton House, among others.
In her capacity as project architect and client-side project manager/contract administrator, Rachel has played pivotal roles in various aspects of project delivery. This includes managing construction documentation, coordinating council submissions, overseeing tendering processes, and administering contracts. Her involvement extends beyond the construction phase, encompassing ongoing project architectural roles to ensure successful project outcomes.
Rachel has also demonstrated proficiency in managing novation processes, as evidenced by her work on projects where MDP Architecture was novated to contractors. She managed pre-novation construction documentation and continued to oversee post-novation documentation, including consultant coordination and additional interiors documentation as needed.
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Furthermore, Rachel serves as a point of contact for clients, providing initial feasibility studies and producing Development Application (DA) submissions for minor works. Her responsibilities in this capacity include conducting town planning research and preparing Statements of Environmental Effects, showcasing her ability to navigate regulatory requirements and contribute to successful project approvals.<o:p></o:p>
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Rachel's contributions extend beyond individual projects, as she was instrumental in the production of the Uniting Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) Design Guide in 2018. This underscores her dedication to advancing best practices and standards within the industry.<o:p></o:p>
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Overall, Rachel's diverse skill set, leadership capabilities, and dedication to excellence make her a valuable asset in the field of architecture and project management. Her track record of success in delivering complex projects and her commitment to client satisfaction exemplify her professionalism and expertise.<o:p></o:p>
Michael Medcalf
Associate Director | Design + Technical
NSW ARB Registered Architect 4967
Master Planning Architect
Leads
the project throughout
Undertakes
client / PM liaison
Michael brings over 30 years of experience in a diverse range of
residential, retail, mixed-use, commercial and retirement living project types
for private, corporate and not for profit organisations.
This includes extensive
experience with the Uniting Church and Wesley mission
Michael has extensive experience in all aspects of architectural services
including master planning, feasibility, 3D visualisation, design,
documentation, value engineering, specification writing, specialist reporting, construction administration and project management.<o:p></o:p>
Richard de Vries
Associate Director | Interior Design
BA Design (Interior)
Richard has been working internationally on interior design and project management assignments since 1984. With an impressive track record, Richard brings extensive experience and skill in strategic planning, design and project management in projects ranging from workplace, health-care, retail to residential construction.
Richard’s work is aimed at meeting a client’s brief and improving operations through key drivers such as staff satisfaction and user group consultation. Richard specialises in difficult projects where time and cost are critical. Most recently, Sydney Trains, 5B Australia, AV Jennings, Citrus Group, Momentum Media, ,Integrated Research, Complispace, Swiss Re and Microsoft have all benefited from his services
Amir Safaei
Associate Director | Urban Design + Design Innovation
NSW ARB Registered Architect 8120
A registered architect and urban designer with over 20 years of extensive and diverse experience in leading roles with design focused practices in Sydney and Newcastle as well as Principle Design Advisor for Government Architect NSW.
Amir has successfully delivered high quality outcomes on a diverse range of urban design and public realm, commercial, mixed use, residential projects working with or managing multi-disciplinary teams since 1999.
With a proficient understanding of local and state development related legislation and controls, and work across many local government areas, Amir brings detailed understanding of urban planning and design, high level architectural design and documentation skills, technical knowledge in construction as well as design report and development of design policies.
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Rowan Huppert
Associate Director | Project Management
Tarsa has recently started with MDP.
More details coming soon.
Duran Bezuidenhout
Project Lead
M. Arch (South Africa)
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Duran has been brought up with one foot in the African bush, instilling a strong sense of ‘Nature Connectedness’.
Through my love for the natural environment, and my passion for architecture, over the last decade, I have found a balance between the built environment and its interface with the natural world around us.
Having completed my undergraduate degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, I embarked on a year’s practical work experience in London, UK, gaining experience in the residential and health care sectors.
Returning to South Africa, I completed both my post-graduate Honour’s and Master’s degrees, and embarked on practicing as a professional architect registered in South Africa, exploring commercial and industrial sector projects with MWCP Architects.
However, it was my time as an active associate architect with Nicholas Plewman Architects + Associates that allowed me to bring my two passions together. This collaboration further informed the way I approach the design and construction of my buildings.
Now based in Sydney, Australia, practicing as a Building Designer, the landscape and wilderness may differ to that of the 'Dark Continent' but the approach to designing remains the same.
It's this new found landscape that possesses fresh and exciting prospects.
So what drives my design process? Functional spaces kept uncomplicated, celebrating the honesty in materials, drawing strongly from location and above all else being ecologically sensitive and responsible.
Duran is an experienced architectural practitioner having worked both internationally and also in Australia, where he is also about to become a registered architect.
His main areas of experience are in RACF, Health, Hospitality, Residential and Resort design, all with a strong environmentally responsible and sensitive focus, combined with the appropriate use of materials to reflect a true sense of place, time and purpose.
Enzo Macolino
Project Lead
B.Sc. (Arch), B. Arch
Enzo has a wide range of experience and has worked in many practices on projects that vary in scale from designing small intimate spaces to large multi-story building developments. Over the years he has developed a strong love for design in construction and detailing and plays a key role in the co-ordination and documentation of many projects in the office. He enjoys seeing projects through till the end and is particularly involved in the construction phase and contract administration.
His background in education is reflected in his work, starting out with Architectural Drafting facilitating his love for drawing and then Construction Management where his interest lies with Construction and Management. He then completed his studies with an honours degree in Architecture where he was then able to bring it all together and apply it to all his projects.
He particularly enjoys hand sketching working through ideas and construction detailing and then transforming it to his other acquired skills such as CAD and Revit.
His personal life resonates with his career in Design and Construction as he enjoys renovating his home and has also renovated many houses with his family since a young age.
He is particularly fond of gardening and landscaping. His other interests are peloton cycling and fishing, he has recently acquired a family boat and enjoys taking his family out on day trips and his two boys out tubing and kneeboarding.
Enzo is highly experienced in the production of documentation for varying sized projects by means of:
Manual drafting
Hand sketches
Auto Cad
Sketch-up
Revit
General documentation:
Construction Phase co-ordination
Attending design and construction meetings
Contract Administration
He possesses strong spatial planning, aesthetic and presentation skills and has acquired specific expertise in the design of Residential Aged Care Developments.
- Childcare centres
- Domestic Residential
- Education - primary,
- Secondary and Tertiary
- Industrial
- Hospitals and Health
- Facilities
- Commercial
- Aged Care Facilities
After studying architectural technology in Wellington Tristan spent two years in a multi discipline office in New Zealand preforming drafting services covering Architectural, structural, civil, and geo-technical services.
He relocated to Sydney in 2004 and joined MDP Architecture for the first time in 2005.
He then returning again in 2018 after an eight year absence.
He has spent much of his career in Australia covering the healthcare industry; including aged care, general practice doctors, radiology, physiotherapy, dental practices, with residential work also featuring in his portfolio.
In addition to spending time with his family he is also an avid Star Wars fan always looking to expanding his toy collection.
Autodesk Certification
Via A2k Technologies Sydney / Global etraining
Revit Architecture the complete guide
December 2015
Autodesk Certification
Via A2k Technologies Sydney
Revit Architecture Fundamentals plus
December 2014
Wellington Polytechnic (Massey University)
Diploma / Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology
Incomplete
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Unit Standards Achieved:
10164 Architectural Technology: Prepare working drawings for small buildings.
9667 Construction Technology: Apply principles from published data to the provision of services for small buildings.
9668 Construction Technology: Apply principles from published data to the provision of s ervices for medium and large buildings.
9672 construction Technology: Describe construction methods for medium buildings.
Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
Certificate in Landscape Construction
Annika Lefinger
Daniel Traficante
Architect
NSW ARB Reg No 12639
NSW Registered Architect
University of Canberra
Masters of Architecture 2014 - 2015 <o:p></o:p>
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture 2009 - 2011
Daniel has worked at MDP Architecture for several years on wide range of projects including Residential, aged care, commercial and master planning.
Love hand sketching ideas but also want to push technology in architecture to its limits in not only efficient automated drafting <o:p></o:p>
but creating high quality renders/BIM objects and the use of VR and 3D printing.
I like collecting and building Lego (mainly star wars and architecture themes),<o:p></o:p>
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learning guitar, playing drums and games in my free time.<o:p></o:p>
Exceptional Revit and ARCHICAD Skills
In depth knowledge of 2D AutoCAD, SketchUp and Photoshop.
Clear understanding and construction of digital and physical models to present work.
Exceptional drawing/sketching skills.
Been commended on being able to translate into hand drawn presentations.
Atousa Shomali
Senior Graduate
M. Arch
Gesen Liu
Senior Graduate
M. Arch
Lilyanne Launay
Graduate
B. Interior Des
Sophia Cerezo
Graduate
B. Des (Arch)
Eva Vickers
Graduate
B. Des (Arch)
Andressa Vieira
Graduate
B. Arch
Sagarika Sanjay
Graduate
M. Arch
Graduate
M. Arch