Place Design Group

This morning, Place Design Group proudly sponsored and participated in The Committee for Brisbane’s Dawn Economy Breakfast, an event that left the room thinking differently about the city’s potential.

Our CEO, Beth Toon, joined Anna Edwards, Julia Scodellaro, Liam Short, Max Goonan and Karen Vella to explore how Brisbane’s identity as an early-rising, sunshine-filled, wellness-oriented city is no longer something to apologise for; it’s a competitive advantage.

The ‘Dawn Economy’ concept reframes morning activity as an economic and cultural force in its own right: from coffee culture to experiential retail, precinct activation to public space design. Brisbane is already living it. The opportunity now is to own it, shape it, and lead the global conversation, especially with 2032 on the horizon.

The future might not belong to the city that never sleeps, but rather, the city that wakes up first.

Place Design Group is officially in Singapore!

Our new studio marks a significant step in our international growth, bringing our approach to place-led planning and design to one of the world’s most dynamic cities and closer to the communities and clients we’re working with across South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

At the helm are International Design Principals Lee Lian Lim and Christopher Tan, two leaders whose work across luxury hospitality, master planning, and large-scale public realm projects has left its mark globally.

This is more than a new address; it’s the next chapter in Place’s global story and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.

Because the best classrooms don’t always have four walls…
 
Our team is proud to have delivered the new Junior School play space at in Coomera, a landscape encouraging exploration, wonder and creativity.
 
Designed to celebrate the local ecology, the space embraces play as a fun and versatile learning tool. From quiet corners for curious minds to open spaces for active play, every element has been considered to support diverse abilities, learning styles and interests.
 
A beautiful new chapter for Assisi’s youngest learners.
 
Photography by

We are excited to announce the appointment of Brad Williams to our team as Planning Principal.

Brad brings more than 30 years of industry experience across South East Queensland, deep roots in the Sunshine Coast community and an impressive record of leadership, including almost a decade on the Board of the Sunshine Coast Business Council and nine years on the Sunshine Coast Committee of the Property Council of Australia.

He joins Design Director James Birrell and Planning Directors Shaun Munday, Amanda Taylor and Angus Green, strengthening our multidisciplinary team at a pivotal moment for the region.

SEQ is in a period of genuine disruption, with significant growth at a pace and scale like no other. Brad’s appointment deepens our ability to respond thoughtfully, drawing on Place’s 20+ year history on the Sunshine Coast and our work on projects like the Mooloolaba Foreshore, Maroochydore City Centre, Aura, and Sunshine Coast University Hospital. 

We’re excited to build on that legacy with Brad on board. Welcome to the team!

WLAM 2026 | Action Through Learning
 
There’s no single path into landscape architecture, just curiosity, creativity and a willingness to learn by doing.
 
From first discovery to professional practice, every journey is shaped by the people, experiences and environments we engage with along the way.
 
To wrap up WLAM, we’re sharing reflections from our team, highlighting the moments, advice and insights that continue to shape how they create great places.
 
       

Hands in the dirt, roots in the community.
 
Our Sydney team recently headed up to the rooftop garden at for a working bee. Weeding, tidying and getting things ready for a planting session in the coming weeks.
 
Place Design Group has had a long-running relationship with Weave, lending our hands to help maintain their garden. It’s a small act, but one we think matters: tending to the spaces that sustain community.
 

WLAM 2026 | Professional Landscape Architects Day
 
Behind every landscape is a team of people asking the right questions, testing ideas and shaping how a place will perform over time.
 
Our landscape architects bring curiosity, creativity and a deep understanding of how environments are used, experienced and sustained.
 
From early ideas through to built outcomes, it’s their thinking, care and problem-solving that bring landscapes to life, creating places that support communities now and into the future.
 
creatinggreatplaces

Nine of our team recently attended the Property Industry Foundation QLD Wrap Night, an evening the brought the industry together to give back in a meaningful way.

Alongside peers, 150 care packs were assembled to support young people experiencing homelessness, offering essential items, comfort and connection when it’s needed most.

A simple but powerful initiative supporting the work of Brisbane Youth Service, BABI Youth and Family Service and the impact they make across our communities.

Last week, we hosted our Future Leaders Networking Event at our Sydney studio, bringing together industry peers to explore the theme “From Dusk to Dawn: Designing Liveable Precincts.”
 
Moderated by Ivan Power, whose recent reflections on the morning economy sparked broader industry discussion, we were joined by an incredible panel:
 
- Georgina Blix, Director
- Andrew Coward, Co-Founder & Managing Director
- Hans Oerlemans, Senior Associate – Place Design Group
 
The panel unpacked what truly defines a liveable 24-hour precinct, from under-designed times of day and design-led safety strategies to generational and behavioural shifts, and the economic value of investing in social connection and inclusive public space.
 
A big thank you to our panellists and everyone who joined us. It was a thoughtful and forward-focused conversation on shaping precincts that are resilient, inclusive and active across the full daily cycle.
 
24hourcity morningeconomy nighttimeeconomy