Adaptive Reuse & Sustainability

Working Heritage, in partnership with the Heritage Council of Victoria are hosting an event in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Victorian Heritage Register. The event includes site tours of Jack's Magazine –a former explosives storage facility and a panel discussion on adaptive reuse and the sustainability of heritage buildings. 

The discussion will focus on the Victorian Heritage Register’s 50 years of heritage protection, acknowledging places included in the Register which have been adaptively reused. It will explore how this approach fosters positive social impacts, boosts economic outcomes, and promotes sustainability. Additionally, the event will feature multiple walking tours of Jack’s Magazine, showcasing its significance and potential for adaptive reuse ahead of the main presentation. The first tour of the Magazine will take place from 2:30 to 3:00 PM, and the second tour will run from 3:00 to 3:30 PM. Attendees can choose to sign up for either tour group. The panel discussion will begin at 3:30 PM for all participants. The doors will open at 2 PM.

We are proud to have Ruth Redden, Tina Tam, Joan Ko and Peter Elliott on our panel.

Ruth Redden is a registered architect and heritage consultant, principal at NBRS and an alternate member of the Heritage Council Victoria. She has over 15years experience assisting clients with heritage planning and building conservation advice. During her time at the Heritage Council Ruth has assisted with heritage and climate change related projects, including heritage and climate change case studies, and the recently published Climate Action Plan. Ruth has completed 2 International Specialised Skills Institute fellowships with a focus on heritage and sustainability. She recently published a fellowship report on “Passive House as applied to heritage buildings.

Architect and certified Passive House designer Tina Tam works on the adaptive reuse, refurbishment and extension of buildings, particularly heritage buildings. Many of her projects are award-winning and significant, such as Melbourne's Regent Theatre and the Old Quad redevelopment (University of Melbourne). As a designer, she is interested in the translation of design ideas into buildable solutions, co-ordinating all elements of the construction process for the best outcomes. Much of her work involves investigating existing structures. She looks for design responses that balance the modifications needed for new uses with respect for a building's heritage significance, whatever the size of project.

Joan Ko has served on the Working Heritage governance committee since 2018. She also sits on the Victorian Government's Sustainability Fund Committee and is Arup's Climate and Sustainability Leader in Australasia. Examples of Joan’s work include advising policymakers on the role of infrastructure in resilient communities, helping organisations transition towards a circular economy, and identifying barriers and drivers for net-zero emissions precincts.

Peter Elliott is a Melbourne architect and recipient of the 2017 Gold Medal from the Australian Institute of Architects. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Practice at the Faculty of Art Design & Architecture at Monash University. In 2015 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Architecture by the University of Melbourne. He has a special interest in the design of the public realm and has lectured and written extensively on contemporary architecture and urban design. He has authored two books “Episodic Urbanism” in 2015 and An Unfinished Masterpiece” in 2022. The work of the practice has won more than 85 National and State architectural and industry awards. This includes an Order of Australia in 1987 for services to architecture (public housing); RAIA Victorian Architecture Medals for the Carlton Baths & Community Centre 1991, and the Parliament of Victoria Member’s Annexe 2019.

We encourage First Nations people to email us at Info@workingheritage.com.au to get a free entry ticket for this event.