Rohan, Author at Blackburne Jackson

Pathways for overcoming adversity

Pathways for overcoming adversity
by Erle Levey, Sunshine Coast Daily, Gatton Lockyer and Brisbane Valley Star
23rd Jul 2018 1:36 PM

IT was a night of inspiration and emotion as the Sunshine Coast community came together at Lake Kawana Community Centre in support of the first centre in Australia for those suffering eating disorders.

More than $35,000 was raised on the night for EndED (End Eating Disorders) but the real success was the level of awareness about eating disorders and the Sunshine Coast project that is being created for the community.

Triumph Through Adversity was the theme of the night and speakers included Curtis McGrath OAM, a soldier who had both his legs blown off while serving in Afghanistan when he was 24 but went on to become a gold-medal winning paralympian.

He was joined by Millie Thomas, who went through 15 years in anorexia hell before becoming the face of EndED on the Sunshine Coast.

For Millie Thomas, she has fought and overcome her battle with the little-understood disease, which claims the lives of more of its victims than any other mental illness.

Millie isn’t one of them. Her story is one of survival and hope, and that’s what she now represents to the 30-plus Sunshine Coast women and girls aged 10 to 40 who she mentors through EndED

That hope that wasn’t offered to her but will be to hundreds of patients battling illnesses just like hers.

A million-dollar specialist facility based at Mooloolah Valley will be constructed by 2020, said to bring life-changing treatment to the Coast.

The centre, endED Butterfly House, is an Australian-first residential facility.

Instigators of the facility, Mark and Gayle Forbes understand the eating disorder world only too well. Between them they have two direct family members who suffer from bulimia.

They deal with parents on a daily basis who have had to mortgage their homes to cover the treatment costs of such illnesses.

It is estimated that well over one million Australians currently experience eating disorders with only 10% of those receiving appropriate treatment and care.

What is astonishing is that there are no dedicated residential facilities in Australia that specifically treat eating disorders. Until now.

Mark Forbes and Millie Thomas are working together to make a difference for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and have plans approved to build the country’s first eating disorder residential.

They have found 10ha in the Sunshine Coast hinterland where they will build Australia’s first live-in residential eating disorder facility.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has referred to this project as the National Trial Centre.

It already has the backing of 36 Sunshine Coast businesses that are donating their time and money.

Businesses such as Blackburne Jackson who have created the designs for the facility pro bono, and $1m donated by local philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson for the purchase of the land.

Other businesses are donating time and resources for construction of the project.

“I’m so incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together in such a short space of time,” Millie Thomas said after Friday night’s event.

She said that standing the next day at the site of endED Butterfly House it started to finally sink in.

“Our dream is coming true. We are making history with Australia’s first residential Eating Disorder treatment facility.

“We are without a doubt paving the way for real systemic change.

“I’m so incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together in such a short space of time.”

“Thank you to everyone that has supported, contributed and believed in the endED journey. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

The night was an outstanding success due to the level of support. Yet when a sufferer spoke bravely for the first time about her battle with anorexia not a person in the room was untouched by her words as she shared her story. It gave everyone a real insight into what a living hell fighting this monster they call “ED” must be.

For Curtis McGrath, 30 minutes after being stretchered from the bomb site in 2012, he was already thinking about pursuing a career as an amputee athlete.

Fully aware of his grim situation and partly to maintain consciousness as a survival mechanism, in true Australian style he joked with those helping him about becoming a paralympian.

To understand what he has been through and still been able to come out the other side is an inspiration to all.

He didn’t know what sport he was going to do, but his positive outlook and determination to rebound and get on with achieving his driving ambitions is what has made this man get to where he is today.

He tried his hand at a few sports but settled on canoeing, an activity he’d dabbled in at school.

In October 2013, Curtis with his father Paul, participated 1000 km paddle from Sydney to Queensland to raise funds for the Mates4Mates program, to support wounded, injured or ill Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families.

Curtis won two gold medals at the 2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships then went on to win a gold medal in the KL2 Paracanoe Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He has consistently won gold and silver medals in the Paracanoe World Championships and is looking forward to defending his title at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Supporters of the endED Butterfly House include Blackburne Jackson, Mosaic Property Group, Port City Airconditioning, McGraths, Colliers, Go Transit, Ron Grabbe and they were joined by so many other people and businesses to support the first event.

All auction items were donated which meant 100% of what was raised will go towards the construction and fit out of this facility.

For further information on the Sunshine Coast project, go to the endED website (endED.org.au).

Sustainability at the Core

BLACKBURNE JACKSON DESIGN ALWAYS CONSIDERS THE ENVIRONMENT IN ITS PROJECTS AND EXEMPLIFIES GOOD ARCHITECTURE AND CLEVER DESIGN

Article published in Life&Style Weekend, Saturday April 14, 2018

They are among the Coast’s most influential people, and they have been working behind the scenes for decades.
Meet Stephen Cope, Rohan Jackson and David Shields.

The humble trio are the directors of Blackburne Jackson Design, a multi-disciplinary firm specialising in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and project management.

Originally based in Brisbane since 1932, the firm’s HQ madea sea change in the late ’60s and has been an instrumental influence on the Coast’s urban landscape the past 40 years… but Stephen, Rohan and David don’t stop there.

Avid supporters of local charities, Stephen says they are passionate about giving back to the community through fundraising as well as offering their services pro bono for the design of buildings, interiors and landscapes.

They have donated an equivalent value of $60,000 to design and document the Reed Charity House (next to the Nambour hospital), the disabled compliant connection bridge from Reed Charity House to the Nambour Hospital, Wishlist Garden Nambour Hospital, Brothers Rugby Union Club, Stockland Park Kawana and design of the pediatric emergency ward at the Nambour Hospital.

Most recently they have been involved in the pro bono design and documentation of the innovative and hopefully life-changing eating disorder clinic, EndEd, on the Sunshine Coast.

Then there are the numerous sponsorships, donations and fundraisers for charities including the Wishlist Waterlife Row for Cancer, Cancer Relay for Life, Buderim Foundation, Rotary Club Noosa, Sunshine Coast Police Citizens, Kokoda Challenge, not to mention supporting student work experience programs for numerous local schools plus many of the region’s architectural university students commuting to Brisbane for study.

Blackburne Jackson Design aren’t just a part of our buildings, schools, halls, hospitals or parks, they’re a part of the community… and they want a bright Sunshine Coast for future generations through the creation of beautiful, inspiring buildings that improve people’s interaction with the built environment.

“Sustainability isa part of our methodology and philosophy and is at the core of everything we design,” David said.

Stephen has been with Blackburne Jackson Design for 30 years and he agrees.

“Good architecture and clever design has always been sustainable. We have always held that belief and we design accordingly,” Stephen said.

When the sustainability codes came in, Stephen said Blackburne Jackson Design didn’t have to change much as they always considered the environment in their projects.

Rohan’s father, Ian Jackson, was a previous director of Blackburne Jackson Design along with Jim Blackburne.

As a second-generation architect, Rohan says their outlook has remained the same – design with purpose.

“Our philosophy has always been to design functional buildings that consider the urban landscape. We create the best possible outcome and provide design solutions that are practical, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing,” Rohan said.

Rohan first started working in the office during his school holidays in 1990. After school he went on to study architecture and in 1997 after his fourth year of university, he returned to Blackburne Jackson Design working four days a week. Rohan graduated in 2000 and continued working full-time until he managed to convince his father and Jim to let him take leave and work overseas in England.

Nine months later, he left London and returned to work on Maroochydore’s Platinum apartment project at Duporth Ave. The building blocks were in place and in 2005 he became a director of the firm.

“The greatest influence Ian had on me was my work ethic,” Rohan said of his father.

“In general terms his influence was morearound being respectful, punctual, reliable, honest and trustworthy– characteristics that are important for every aspect of your life and they have carried across from my personal life to the business.”

It’s these ethics– personal and professional – which have been passed down the generations at Blackburne Jackson
Design, creating a one-of-a-kind culture. Their clientele proves this.

“We are very fortunate to have some truly amazing clients who we have done numerous projects for over the years,” Stephen said.

“We have constantly worked with builders, developers and had regular work designing institutional projects like health and educational facilities. We have a really loyal client base who we have built solid relationships with over the years.”

While they are based on the Sunshine

David said, in the late 1980s, the Coast was at risk of going down the path of the Gold Coast, but thankfully local architects evolved.
“Over the years we have created a style that is a response to the environment that is
a collective of the design philosophies of the architects, town planners and council while meeting client expectations,” David said.
“I hope there will always bea distinctive Sunshine Coast style here that evolves as we move forward.
“I would hate the Sunshine Coast to simply
follow or copy others in terms of delivering on-design outcomes.”
While keeping the Coast identity, David,
Stephen and Rohan hope the next batch of

Hancock St, Mooloolaba, which was my first real project in the office,” Rohan said.
“Another project would be the Balgownie Vineyard and Resort in the Yarra Valley.I learnt a lot working on this multi-staged development and utilised construction materials not used on the Coast before.
“And finally,a projectI called Back House,
which was my own home that I completed with my wife, Jessica. It gave us the opportunity to explore our own concepts for sub-tropical living.”
David’s proudest project was one of the firm’s multi-residential projects, Inn on the Park in Brisbane.
“It was a great site but there were issues raised by the neighbours regarding the development, particularly over their potential

Coast, Blackburne Jackson Design offer their services across Australia and internationally.
David said a challenge they’ve had to overcome is the perception that a local firm
was too small and inexperienced to undertake sizable jobs.
“This simply isn’t the case and there are a

I H OPE WE CO NT INU E TO S EE ARCH IT EC TURE EVOLVE BU T I N WAYS THAT M INIM ISE TH E I MPAC T I T W ILL HAVE ON THE LA NDSCA PE .
— STEP HEN COPE

.. … … …… …. …. .

to lose views.
“The project ended up in the Planning and Environment Court but was subsequently approved as we were able to come up with a design that maximised the site outcome for the developer while also answering a lot of the criteria raised as issues by the

number of firms who have the benefit of very
knowledgeable people with many years of experience working on large and complex projects,” David added.
David brings extensive experience in the design of large and complex buildings, both here and abroad, having worked on shopping
centres like Australia Fair, five-star hotels, convention centres, hospitals, education facilities, Queensland Parliament House and even prisons with a previous firm, Peddle Thorpe and Harvey.
David’s innate ability to understand the
bigger picture, among the complexities and challenges of large projects, was recognised by Peddle Thorpe and Harvey and, as a result, he was made the firm’s youngest-ever associate at the time.
Meanwhile Stephen started with
Blackburne Jackson Design in 1988 as a junior draftsperson and gradually worked his way through to more senior roles.

comfortably say there is no better place to
call home than the Sunshine Coast,” Stephen said. “Every morning I drive over the hill at Alexandra Headland and the sweeping views to Noosa just take your breath away. Architects and designers do not have to live where a building is being constructed, we can work from anywhere.”
Rohan couldn’t agree more.
“I was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. Later in life, I was fortunate enough to travel which gave me a great appreciation of what a special part of the world the Coast is. My time spent living abroad reinforced that I didn’t want to live anywhere else. We are very lucky to be able to call the Sunshine Coast home,” Rohan said.
With their hearts entrenched on the Coast, Stephen, Rohan and David hope the region’s urban landscape maintains its own identity
and unique style of architecture while respecting the natural environment.

architects also respect the sub-tropical
environment and resources.
“I would like to see the firm and those who follow in our footsteps continue to help shape the future of the Sunshine Coast, always being mindful of the impact their designs have on both the urban fabric and natural environment,” Rohan said.

“I hope we continue to see architecture evolve but in ways that minimise the impact it will have on the landscape.

“We have a beautiful and unique region and we must design with that in mind,” Stephen said. Looking back at their outstanding careers at Blackburne Jackson Design, Rohan said picking a favourite project was like asking, “Which is your favourite child?”.
“I would have to say that I don’t have favourites, however, some are more memorable than others (for a variety of reasons) and these include the Sajen office in

neighbouring residents – all while delivering
a beautiful, unique building,” David said. And looking back at Stephen’s 30 years
with Blackburne Jackson Design, the Mooloolaba International Hotel (Mantra, Mooloolaba) gets the nod due to its size and complexity.

But it’s not the end for the influential yet modest trio.

Stephen said Blackburne Jackson Design have “too many to list” projects coming up. Always striving to create beautiful, inspiring buildings that improve people’s interaction with the built environment, current projects vary from bespoke homes to Parkridge in Noosa and the updated masterplan and works for Buderim Private Hospital.

The team at Blackburne Jackson Design continue to work behind the scenes to do their bit for the Coast’s identity, environment and people.

Changing Plans to Meet Demand

The developers behind a luxury residential project will reconfigure one entire block to meet the demand for large penthouse-style apartments in Noosa.

Peregian Beach-based Altum Property Group and Thakral Capital are constructing Parkridge Noosa, and have fast-tracked stages due to strong sales.

“We knew this project would be popular, everything from the location, views, design and value for money has really resonated with buyers,” development director Alex Rigby said. “The true test is always when it hits the market and it’s pleasing that we’ve had such a good mix of stock sold to a wide range of buyers.”

The majority of more affordable stock around the parklands and cafe have now sold, Mr Rigby said. Apartments with Lake Weyba views are also selling well.

“Due to the demand for large, four- bedroom, penthouse-style apartments, we have decided to reconfigure one of the buildings within the Luxury Parkridge Terraces to ensure we have enough of this stock to meet the growing number of buyers wanting a spacious residence with plenty of room to entertain guests,” Mr Rigby said.

Parkridge Noosa is the result of a collaboration between the developer and local designers and architects, who took their inspiration from the environment.

Blackburne Jackson director Rohan Jackson said the design brief was based around creating a luxurious modern living destination which reflected the Noosa lifestyle and the natural context in which it was located.

“We pay homage to Noosa’s light, bright, balmy days and its relaxed energy,” he said.

Sales consultant Jeremy Gilmore from 360 Property Group said Parkridge Noosa was proving particularly popular with local buyers.

He said the site’s location, which is surrounded by Girraween Nature Reserve, Noosa National Park and has 180 degree views of Lake Weyba, ensured privacy.

“Within Parkridge there is a range of quality communal facilities including a large gymnasium, 25m lap pool, restaurant and cafe, a local providore and over 2500sq m of lush parkland to relax, exercise or socialise,” he said.

“It’s also just minutes away from Noosa’s stunning beaches, world class restaurants, cafes and boutiques as well as local entertainment, sporting and cultural centres.”

Paint Right store owner Phil Fortington has secured a terrace apartment.

He said he had seen many new developments but Parkridge Noosa was “one of the best ones that I have come across”.

“My partner Jos and I have been looking at some properties to live in around Noosa, including Noosaville and Sunrise Beach, but nothing matched what we could find at Parkridge Noosa” he said.

The design of the apartments is great, the 180 degree water views of Lake Weyba are stunning and best of all it is privately tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Noosa and yet it’s just a few minutes from Noosa Junction and Hastings Street.

“Jos loves to swim and there’s a great pool within the community, I am a keen golfer and with the Noosa Springs Golf Course right next door it’s absolutely ideal.

“We also love the fact that we’ll have our own cafe, convenience store and gym within the development so it’s very similar to the facilities that we enjoyed at the Hyatt when it was at its prime when we lived in Coolum.”

T H E B A S I C S

PARKRIDGE NOOSA
Developer: Altum Property Group and Thakral Capital
Price: Apartments from $705,000
Location: Noosa

The Parkridge Social Club offers exclusive access to private event spaces, as well as barbecue areas and a swimming pool. A cafe will offer indoor and outdoor dining experiences.

Green office design and how it can be achieved cost effectively

Green design is often a term that is thrown around, however, “thinking green” can reduce costs in your fit out and increase profit in your business.

Lighting

The basic aim of office space design is to create an environment where productivity is maximized and communication can occur. Lighting is crucial in creating an effective work environment, as the majority of communication in a workplace occurs visually.

Both natural light and artificial light can illuminate a space effectively, however, they do not impact on a person’s mood, health and behaviour equally. Studies have been conducted that conclude that there is a fundamental link between well-being and the mood of employees and natural lighting.

Natural lighting should be maximized, not only for its health benefits but also for decreasing the operational expense of the building. Additional artificial lighting should also be considered, as natural light is variable depending on weather and season. Artificial lighting also allows employees a degree of control over their work environment and need for task lighting.

Environmental

Utilising green building products such as low or no – VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) products such as paint, carpet, glue etc. for new construction and renovation can significantly reduce the emission of smog-forming compounds. The elevated levels of high rated VOC products are linked to eye and respiratory irritation, headaches, fatigue and other symptoms associated with “sick building” syndrome.

Using low VOC products will create cleaner indoor air quality within your business decreasing the effect of “sick building” syndrome on your staff, minimizing sick days and increasing staff productivity.

Plants not only increase oxygen and improve air quality; they also create a connection to the exterior environment – both of which have been verified to improve the health and well-being of your staff.

Recycling

Thinking outside the norm for your new fit out can save you money. Finding recycled products in salvage yards and re-fashioning or changing their intended use through design can give your space an individual touch. Look at what you already have; restoring and reusing your existing furniture is not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective.

Why the 12m height limit zoned sites are not being developed

With the expected population numbers being forecast to rise significantly, it is timely to review height restrictions in selected suburbs, so we can start to create efficiencies in terms of construction, accommodation and the services that support higher density accommodation. There are two key points to note when considering this issue:

Economics of scale and construction comparisons with relation to height limits and the possibility of providing lower cost housing.

The greater emphasis on infill development and density increase in established urban areas to allow affordable, attractive and diverse living opportunities located with convenient access to integrated transport, employment, community, education, health, sport, recreation and other services.

Economics of Scale and Construction

Blackburne Jackson has been involved in a wide variety of affordable housing and infill developments in Queensland for many years. We have found the following to hold true in the vast majority of projects:

The most efficient to build, and hence affordable, residential product is the two-storey townhouse at $1100 – $1350 p/m2. The townhouse efficiencies are available through lightweight construction, shared boundary walls and driveways. Once the project moves to a three-storey building, typically the product changes to units (class 2 construction) masonry construction and to meet DDA requirements a lift is needed. This all adds to the cost of construction with increases to $1800 -$2400 p/m2.

To combat the increased costs p/m2, of the three-storey and above project, a larger density is needed to permit more units compared to land content and to share the price of the lift, to achieve similar economies and affordability to the two-storey townhouse project.

Construction cost is also reduced in other areas like structure, hydraulics and foundations with the advancing building height. Costs continue to reduce until the multi-story building reaches the effective height of 25m, as defined under the BCA, where addition stairs and fire services are required.

So, to achieve infill development and a more affordable product a higher height limit and density would be of great benefit to achieve a more economically feasible development project.

Infill and Density

Our firm supports the principal of infill development and density increase as a positive development model for many urban areas into the future. We see many suburbs that have a 12m height not achieving their density or development potential. These suburbs could be suitable for higher density and structures as they already have well-established services and amenities.

Building infill and density to suitable areas allows for:

A more affordable product, supporting diversity of resident
Access to better public transport options
Less reliance on personal vehicles
Less need for land clearing and suburb expansion
Better access to amenities (sport, medical, etc)
Councils to efficiently provide more amenities

With transport and future congestion already an issue, allowing for greater heights, in designated areas, will assist with the increased demand for accommodation and allow for greater efficiencies in the delivery of regular public transport services and this is something that needs careful consideration now.

Australians continue to build the worlds biggest suburban homes. We would encourage councils to support alternative options where possible while considering the feasibility of the final product. Three-storey height limits do not provide feasible residential, affordable housing.

Why build a new motel?

Generally speaking, there are three reasons you would build a new motel. They are:

To maximise your occupancy
To maximise your tariffs
To Maximise the value of your motel

If you own an existing motel that is tired and not worth refurbishing, or if you can see a demand for motel facilities, you may want to build a new motel.

Building a new motel will allow you to maximise the number of guest rooms, take advantage of efficiencies in modern motel design, including advancements in technology and security systems, and provide the best return possible on your site.

What to build?

The design must meet your guest’s needs so determining what they are is critical. A person travelling on business will have very different requirements to a family, so it is essential to know who your guests are, what type of traveling they do, how long they generally stay and what facilities they use during their stay. Understanding your client’s needs will affect the size, shape and design of your rooms.

Your new motel must also comply with the town planning requirements, building codes and Australian standards so it’s important to understand what they are and ensure you engage a design firm with experience in this field.

How do we build a new motel?

As with every new building you need an appropriate site. This could be an existing motel site or a location that suits the needs of a new motel, such as on a main road or a site that is positioned close to a facility like a sports complex or entertainment precinct. It is important to note that not all locations will be acceptable to your local council and the motel will require town planning approval.

Once you are clear on what your guest’s needs are, a design can be created, taking into consideration their requirements and incorporating the facilities you wish to provide such as a bar or gym.

It is very important to understand the costs that will be associated with the creation of your new motel. Building, design and authority approval prices must be included in your costs to ensure your investment provides the correct returns on your investment. In addition, the quality of the build requires close inspection to ensure it is detailed in the design and to the expected quality standards. If the cost of the building works is acceptable, approvals are obtained and a suitable builder can be selected.

Achieving a great outcome by designing and building a contemporary new motel can be achieved if you have done your research, understand your guest’s needs, have a suitable location, and understand the return you can expect on your investment.

Where to Now?

Employing experienced design consultants that specialise in motels ensures assistance with all your building requirements. They can provide advice on the current building code requirements, meet on site and discuss your needs and provide a realistic budget before they start.

ABOUT BLACKBURNE JACKSON

Blackburne Jackson provides a complete design service with our Architects, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects on staff to answer the easiest questions from what colour carpet to an entire building refurbishment. Blackburne Jackson has provided superior design services for over 80 years and been responsible for many quality Motels from Mackay in Queensland to the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Let us assist you with your motel improvements.

Green Light for Australia’s First Live In Eating Disorder Residential Facility

The Sunshine Coast has many leading national and international businesses. We are good at many things and have world-class talent. We also have some of the most beautiful, humble people who are determined to make a difference in this world – some of them simply leave me in awe of what they are trying to achieve.

Mark and Gayle Forbes and Millie Thomas are three of those amazing people.

Millie is an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach and knows firsthand what her clients are going through having previously suffered Anorexia for 15 years before conquering the disease two years ago.

If there were more hours in the day she would have more clients, such is the demand for her services.

Mark Forbes understands this only too well. He has two direct family members who suffer bulimia. One is managing the condition and the other fights this insidious disease daily. He says he has “spent hundreds of thousands of dollars seeking help and treatment over the years”.

What is astonishing is that there is no dedicated live-in facility in Australia that specifically treats eating disorders. Families are often forced to seek help overseas and according to the New York Times, “A residential program costs $30,000 (AU $38,632) a month on average. And many patients require three or more months of treatment, often at a facility far from home”.

Mark and Millie are working together to make a difference for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and have plans approved to build the country’s first eating disorder clinic. They have found 25 acres in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland where they will build Australia’s first live-in residential eating disorder facility.

However, they cannot do this alone. With many local businesses (17 to date) already donating their time, such as Blackburne Jackson Design who have created the designs for the facility pro bono, they now need all of Australia to get behind them and help raise $1.3m to secure the land purchase. A further $2m will be required from July 2018 to Feb 2019 to undertake the construction of the project.

Donations of cash are being accepted but they also have a list of all the construction components and would love to hear from anyone who may be able to provide cabinetry, hardware, doors, windows etc. as well as people able to provide the internal fit out of beds and lounges.

Equine Therapy will be an important part of the healing process and new equine related equipment such as leads, saddles, bridles and rugs (as well as sound school masters) will be very well received.

The team are doing everything they can to raise the much-needed funds and are organising a ‘Main Event’ fundraiser to be held on 20 July this year. If you would like to join them or are able to sponsor or donate an auction prize, they would love to hear from you.

With one in 10 people suffering from an eating disorder (25 per cent are male), and suicide 32 times higher for people suffering anorexia-nervosa than the general population, it is time we band together and do something about changing these horrific statistics.

Please get involved today and help us create Australia’s first Live In Residential ED Facility become a reality. For more details go to https://www.ended.org.au/

Upsizing your Motel

Why Upsize?

How do you increase your occupancy if you’re at capacity on a regular basis? The simple answer to this is to increase the number of rooms you have at your motel – in other words – upsize. Increasing the number of rooms available at your motel will increase its value and maximise your yield on the site. Upsizing may also allow you to gain staffing efficiencies or increase the turnover at your restaurant. The additional rooms could be designed to meet specific family room requirements you don’t presently have or allow you to accommodate bus groups. If you are at capacity, then upsizing is an option worth exploring as it is often possible to increase the number of rooms on your motel site.

New motel rooms can be designed to latest standards, technologies and include features that will allow you to increase your tariffs. The new rooms may also allow you to increase your star rating and provide your guests the first impression you have always wanted to deliver on.

How to Upsize

When considering how you might approach the decision to upsize, you should consider the following:

Do you have space which is currently underutilised?
Have you got the most efficient car parking arrangements?
Most town plans permit two storey motels so if you have any space on your site you may be able to convert it into additional rooms.
Conference rooms that are not needed or a restaurant that is too large and rarely used could be converted into additional motel rooms.
If you have efficiently used all the space available on your site have you considered purchasing the site next door for additional rooms?

What to Upsize

First and foremost, your motel design must meet your guest’s needs so understanding what they want is essential. A family will be looking for more space, and a kitchenette may be required. A business client will be seeking comfort in their room with free standing furniture and an easy chair. This will shape the size, area and design of the new rooms. Your old motel rooms should also be updated at the same time to comply with the town planning requirements, building codes and Australian Standards.

Where to Now?

Employing experienced design consultants, that specialise in motels, will ensure you receive assistance with all of your building requirements. They can provide advice on the current building code requirements, meet you on site and discuss your needs, provide a realistic budget before they start and find the best way to keep your rooms online during the process.

ABOUT BLACKBURNE JACKSON

Blackburne Jackson provides a complete design service with our Architects, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects on staff who can answer all your questions. Blackburne Jackson has provided superior design services for over 80 years and been responsible for many quality Motels from Mackay in Queensland to the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Let us assist you with your motel improvements.

Motel Refurbishment

If your star rating is dropping, if you have not refurbished in the last 10 years or if you spend less than 5% of your gross revenue each year on capital refurbishments, it may be time to consider refurbishing your motel.

What should you refurbish?

Like anything in business, refurbishments cost money and it is important that for any money you invest in your business, you see a return on this investment.

Give your guests what they want

Deciding what you will refurbish requires considerable thought as there is no easy answer to this question. However, understanding what your guests want and what their requirements are is the first step in ensuring you are meeting their needs. For example, are your guests mostly business people who only stay for one night? If they are they will usually want more space and comfort in the room with free standing furniture and an easy chair. If your customers are groups who will stay longer than one night they will usually look for a more economical price and want a quality bathroom. Meeting your guest’s needs is important.

What do you want?

The second way to answer the question can be found by addressing your own needs as a business. You may want to increase your occupancy by improving the street appeal of the building. Are all your guests driving past because their first impressions are not as positive as you would like?

Alternatively, you get your guests into their room and it’s not up to the high standards set by their first impressions. Should you focus on the areas that may allow you to increase your tariffs?

You may also want to increase your star rating. Will updating your furnishings be enough to increase your star rating? Do you have to go further and replace your floor coverings?

Other changes to consider

There may also be changes you will be forced to make to ensure your motel is up to standard with current building and access codes. Technology changes quickly and this may also require updating. Other factors to consider include the security of the motel – is it adequate? Are there WH&S or insurances requisites to consider? Should you take advantage of the new energy efficient materials and equipment to save on running costs? Each of these factors needs to be considered as part of your plan when deciding where to invest your refurbishment funds.

How do you start the refurbishment process?

Once you have decided you need to invest in your business by undergoing a refurbishment, the first step is to seek help from consultants who have experience in looking for the most economical way to meet your needs. Discuss with your consultant what your needs are on site and understand all your options as this will help you to decide where you should spend your money. Have a clear understanding of what you will be able to achieve within in your budget and obtain a price for the work before you reach for the hammer.

The next steps

ABOUT BLACKBURNE JACKSON
Blackburne Jackson provides a complete design service with our Architects, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects on staff who can answer all your questions. Blackburne Jackson has provided superior design services for over 80 years and been responsible for many quality Motels from Mackay in Queensland to the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Let us assist you with your motel improvements.

Motel Value Improvements

Maximising return on your investment

Would you like to increase your profits, obtain more income and add value to your motel? If your Motel is looking tired and needs a facelift, if you have an unused area on your Motel site allowing for a room number increase or if a rebuild of your Motel site provides the facility you always wanted, then Refurbish, Upsize or Build.

Refurbish

Refurbishing your motel will increase your occupancy, tariffs and add value, but what do you refurbish to get “bang for your buck”? The first answer to that question is about knowing your guests and having a good understanding of their needs as meeting them is important. You also have to look at your needs. Increasing your occupancy may require an improved street appeal, and lifting your star rating may require better ensuites and facilities. There are also improvements required by building codes, to keep up with technology, legal, WHS and insurance requisites. If reduced expenses and green building environments are important, then improving your energy efficiencies can also be investigated.

Upsize

If your occupancy rates are high, there may be an opportunity to increase the number of rooms at your Motel and maximize your yield. Do you have an area on the site that is not being used efficiently? Is your car parking layout inefficient? Most local town plans allow two-storey buildings, so there may be an opportunity to go up. There are usually opportunities to upsize the number of rooms on site to add value to your motel while keeping your existing rooms online during the process.

Rebuild

If your Motel is not worth refurbishing, too old to update or there is no opportunity to upsize then the best result will be to build again. Your Motel site has value and it should be used to provide the best return possible with an efficient and modern designed Motel. The new Motel will take advantage of all energy efficiencies to reduce running costs, easily allow new technology integration and can incorporate better security systems. A rebuild will provide the exact product to meet your guest’s needs while maximizing your return on the site.

Where to now

Employing experienced design consultants that specialize in motels ensures assistance with all your building requirements. They can provide advice on the current building code requirements, meet on site and discuss your needs, provide a realistic budget before they start and find the best way to keep your rooms online during the process.

ABOUT BLACKBURNE JACKSON
Blackburne Jackson provides a complete design service with our Architects, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects on staff to answer the easiest questions from what colour carpet to select, to an entire building refurbishment. Blackburne Jackson has provided superior design services for over 80 years and been responsible for many quality Motels from Mackay in Queensland to the Yarra Valley in Victoria and we can assist you with your motel improvements.