Renowned global design practice John McAslan + Partners (JMP) has appointed architect Ruth Butler as an associate in its Sydney studio to work closely on Waterloo Station. 

JMP is responsible for master planning the Waterloo precinct and delivering the wider Waterloo station currently under construction as part of the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line.

Butler comes to the team as a highly experienced and acclaimed architect with over 20 years of experience overseeing projects of a large and complex nature. 

Working in the United Kingdom saw Butler involved in award winning projects such as Burntwood School – which earned the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2015 – and the $165 million mixed-use Plimsoll Building at London’s King’s Cross.

She boasts a refined design sensibility, alongside high-order skills in client collaboration, and project and construction site management.

In 2013, Butler and her engineer husband began construction on their family home, Hampshire Passviehause, on a tricky urban site in Hampshire, England. 

They embraced the obstacles of the site’s layout, and their design unexpectedly fulfilled the guidelines required to receive a passive house certification. The house also won a Wood Award, the United Kingdom’s renowned awards program that recognises excellence in architecture and product design in wood.

Butler’s commitment to incorporating sustainable principles into design, coupled with a passion for heritage architecture and adaptive re-use, places her in good stead to shine as  a JMP associate.

“I’m pleased to be joining a practice with great depth in the areas of adaptive re-use and working with heritage-listed and pre-existing buildings, and to have the opportunity to work on city-changing projects,” says Butler.

JMP director Troy Uleman says Butler is joining the Sydney team at a time of ascendency and joy, as the studio just celebrated its fifth birthday. 

He confirms that following Butler’s work on Waterloo, her invaluable contributions to the Sydney team’s knowledge base will greatly assist the studio in responding to the challenges facing Australian cities. 

“Her focus on turning the old into the new and commitment to designing for decarbonisation makes her an excellent fit for our practice – her portfolio of education, residential and commercial projects will benefit our plans to expand in these sectors locally,” says Uleman. 

Photography by Brett Boardman.  

Read about the sustainability focus taking the Australian design world by storm in an interview with the host of Restoration Australia, Anthony Burke.