In Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, the new DCA office is led by architect, Chris Buch. Buch’s career spans over 25 years, during which he has led design teams and coordinated a variety of construction types and sectors, including commercial, education, government, and mixed-use developments in both Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.

The studio’s southern presence is based in Whakatū Nelson, with Nathan Edmondston taking up the Team Leader position in DCA’s new Nelson office. Edmondston is an experienced architect dedicated to sustainable outcomes. He has credentials as a Homestar Designer and Assessor, Certified Passivhaus Design, and is a Green Star Accredited Professional, having also recently completed his own certified Passive House in Nelson — the first home to achieve a 10 Homestar V5 rating.

Managing director, Darryl Church is thrilled to be further expanding into Aotearoa’s regions:

“Founding the practice in the central North Island has allowed us to work alongside organisations and clients with a closer consciousness of their communities. These communities and mana whenua, have grounded our work in a cultural context and an acute environmental awareness, demonstrating our responsibilies as kaitiaki guardians of Aotearoa. This ethos has been incorporated into our design methodology as the starting point for projects, guided by the belief that all regions of Aotearoa have a unique narrative that can be woven into our designs. We are excited to be expanding this design philosophy into new regions of Aotearoa.”

The practice has garnered attention for its innovative and responsive architecture, which it believes will be further enhanced by the appointments of these experienced new team leaders who bring their individual strengths and expertise to its two new studios.

DCA attributes its success to “its diverse high-performing team, new impactful business strategy and its commitment to creating meaningful people-focused designs”. The studio saying its expansion across these regions reflects DCA’s dedication to its ongoing efforts to “achieve outstanding outcomes for the regions” — guided by the pursuit of its mission, “Empowering the regions to thrive.”