AJC Architects

John Allen began the firm in 1952, and in 1956 formed a partnership with university friend Russell Jack, calling their firm John Allen and Russell C. Jack.

In July 1956 John Allen and Russell Jack formed an equal partnership. For the first few years their clientele was relatively small, limited to Allen focusing on some factory designs and Jack designing a few houses. Allen's pre-fabricated steel design for Wolfe Electric Tools Factory 1957, at Homebush was the basis for future industrial structures, notably Qantas, and Keith Cottier's Domaine Chandon California. In 1964 the firm was renamed Allen Jack+Cottier.

In 2001, Cottier was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects' highest honour, the Gold Medal.

John Allen's father encouraged him to become a solicitor and he was accepted into University of Sydney’s Law School in 1945. A year later Allen's interest in art and design prompted him to instead enrol in Architecture at Sydney Technical College. To gain practical experience during his six-year course Allen worked for Fowell & Mansfield until late 1948 and then for Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder. An economic downturn in 1951-1952 saw Allen redundant and lead to him to become a sole practitioner by July 1952.

Initially Allen limited his work to small-scale additions and alterations for friends and family. His first significant entirely new project was a house completed in Vancouver Street, Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Russell Callum Jack was a contemporary of Allen's at Sydney Technical College and with him at Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder whilst completing his studies. Jack aspired to be an architect from a young age and during his years in the Royal Australian Air Force he studied building construction and freehand drawing by correspondence.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Jack won many prizes after graduation, including the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship. In May 1952 Jack set off with fellow architects to London, where he worked for Tripe & Wakeham Architecture Firm for a few months. His work there included a harem for the Sheik of Kuwait. He also travelled in Europe. This experience developed and broadened Jack's understanding of townscapes and urban spaces. Upon his return to Australia he gained more professional experience at Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder for two years.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Jack's first major award was in 1958 with the RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal for his own house in Wahroonga, Sydney.

Keith Cottier was born in 1938.{{cite web |url=https://www.daao.org.au/bio/keith-cottier/biography/ |date=2015 |title=Biography: Keith Cottier |work=Design and Art Australia online |accessdate=23 August 2016 |author=Jackson, Davina }} He joined the firm in 1957, after Allen and Jack had recognised his architectural talent in his designs for Clubbe Hall. In 1964 the firm was renamed Allen Jack+Cottier.

In 2001 Cottier was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.{{cite journal |url=http://architectureau.com/articles/raia-gold-medallist-3/ |date=1 March 2001 |title=RAIA Gold Medallist 2001 |journal=Architecture Australia|accessdate=23 August 2016 |volume= 90 |number=2 }}

Cottier was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to architecture as a member of a range of planning, heritage protection and property management organisations, and as a practising architect.{{cite web |url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/government/its-honour/search-australian-honours |date=26 January 2004 |title=COTTIER, Keith Eric: Member of the Order of Australia |work=It's an Honour |accessdate=23 August 2016 |archive-date=6 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506130853/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/government/its-honour/search-australian-honours |url-status=dead }}

He is{{when|date=February 2025}} a trustee of Historic Houses Trust and a member of Sydney Opera House Eminent Architects Panel.{{cite web |url=http://architectureau.com/contributors/Cottier-Keith/ |title=Contributor profile: Keith Cottier |work=Architecture Australia |accessdate=23 August 2016 }}

{{as of|January 2025}}, Michael Heenan is CEO and director of AJC Architects. The studio is located in Chippendale.{{cite web | title=People • AJC Architects | website=AJC Architects | date=21 January 2025 | url=https://architectsajc.com/our-team/ | access-date=1 February 2025}}

Image: Kogarah3.jpg

Allen Jack+Cottier has designed some major architectural projects:

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• Architecture of Australia

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Category:Architecture firms of Australia

Cottier, Keith

Category:1952 establishments in Australia