People Neil Stonell

Managing Partner, Partner

With extensive experience across a variety of building sectors and typologies including rail, aviation, workplace, university buildings, retail and master planning, Neil has been instrumental in the delivery of complex projects throughout the region and globally for Grimshaw, including the practice’s first Australian project, Southern Cross Station →, the recipient of the prestigious Lubetkin Prize.

Recent projects include commercial buildings at 477 Collins Street (Olderfleet) →, 664 Collins Street → and 699 Bourke Street →, the Mernda Rail Extension →, the Melbourne Metro Reference Design →Auckland’s City Rail Link →, Brisbane's Neville Bonner Bridge and Papua New Guinea’s Kutubu Convention Centre →.

Other projects of note include The Doherty Institute for the University of Melbourne →, Seafarers Bridge →, Highpoint Shopping Centre →, a number of suburban stations including Nunawading, Mitcham and Gardiner in Melbourne, expansion projects at Sydney and Melbourne airports, and in the UK, Paddington Station Redevelopment → and the Rolls Royce HQ and Manufacturing Plant →.

Neil held the role of Managing partner of the Grimshaw Melbourne Studio from 2011 to 2023, leading the studio through significant growth and sector diversity with numerous award winning projects being secured and completed. As part of the leadership of Auckland based projects over recent years Neil continues to lead the studio there as Managing partner, focusing on developing our presence in Auckland from several project offices into a fully operational local studio seeking to expand its reach across New Zealand. Neil continues to operate across the Australasian region from Melbourne.

Neil's project leadership encompasses the design and delivery of award-winning architecture and the effective management of large design teams and stakeholder groups. He strives to design and deliver places that are vibrant and cohesive; architecture that is responsible and timeless while supporting the ambitions of our clients, the end-user and the practice.

A member of the Champions for Change (Architecture) group, Neil is committed to proactively advocate for gender parity in Australian architecture practices.