Notable Projects
Brisbane City Council Architect
In 1956 as Brisbane City Council Architect Birrell designed the Chermsdale and Annerley Libraries as well as numerous public amenities. In 1957 his design proposal for the redevelopment of Toowong pool is successful, construction finishes in 1960. Re-opened as Centenary Pool, Architecture and Arts magazine named the building as one of the top ten buildings within Australia.
Birrell also designed the Toowong Library, completed in 1961, it sits opposite Centenary Pool on Coronation Drive. The building is heritage listed although is now used for commercial purposes.
University of Queensland Staff Architect
From 1961-66 James Birrell practiced as The University of Queensland Staff Architect. In this position he designed and documented Union College, which was constructed in five stages from 1964 and 1972. Union College was highly commended after its construction. It was visually pleasing while also being innovative in terms of the structure and its response to pre-existing site conditions. Union College received a High Commendation award from Arts and Architecture journal as one of the best ten new buildings in Australia at the time.
During his tenure as staff architect James Birrell was also responsible for the JD Story Administration Building (1965) the Agriculture and Entomology Building, now known as the Hartley Teakle Building (1966). Birrell was also responsible for the design of the campus plan at James Cook University in Townsville, and several of its early buildings 1964-1970. In 1965 Birrell became President of the Australian Planning Institute.
Private Practice
In 1966 he moved into private practice. Much of Birrell’s work in this period came from overseas. He worked for the University of Papua New Guinea, where he designed the Halls of Residence, Arts/Law and Arts II Buildings and Indonesia as a government planning consultant.
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