Jasmax

Jasmax
Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, Auckland Museum
Practice information
LocationAuckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Sydney and Melbourne
Website
https://jasmax.com/

Jasmax (formerly known as JASMaD) is a multidisciplinary architecture and design firm with offices across New Zealand and Australia. Their projects range from architecture, interior design and landscape architecture to building conservation, urban design and sustainable architecture.

Formation

Jasmax has been in operation since 1963, providing services in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and urban design. Originally 'JASMaD', it was founded by five directors, Stephen A. Jelicich, John Austin, Graham Smith, Ivan Mercep and Rodney Davies. In 1989, JASMaD merged with two smaller architectural practices, Bossley Cheshire Architects (Pete Bossley and Pip Cheshire) and Gibbs Harris (Richard Harris and David Gibbs), and became Jasmax. From 1989 to 1996, Bossley took on the role of director of Jasmax, and Cheshire from 1989 to 2003.

Practice

Their head office is in Auckland, New Zealand and they have about 260 staff, and they are internationally recognised for their work in cultural design. Jasmax has opened two studios in Australia, in Sydney in 2022, and then in Melbourne in 2025. In 2019, Sjoerd Post was the CEO and Matthew Glubb was a principal of the firm. In 2023, Matthew Glubb was appointed as CEO.

Indigenous design

In 2015, Jasmax established the Waka Māia team, made up of Māori and Pasifika designers. The name Waka Māia, refers to a courageous and hopeful journey forward and was gifted by Haare Williams. Elisapeta Heta is noted as a core member of the teams establishment and development.

A new manifesto in 2019 redirected Jasmax's design philosophy, 'to elevate the cultural design conversation in New Zealand'. The practice's approach to Indigenous design works alongside Māori, Pasifika and First Nations communities from project conception to completion.

Sustainability

In 2020, Jasmax launched their Pathway to Net Zero Carbon Design which aims to achieve carbon neutral buildings by 2030. Their sustainability goals are part of a broader design philosophy, to strengthen connections between culture, nature and design. In 2023, the University of Auckland's B201, designed by Jasmax received a 6 Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council, making it the highest- rated Green Star certified building in New Zealand.

Selected projects

Completed Project name Image Location Awards Notes
1979 Samoa House
Auckland New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award Head architect Ivan Mercep visited the district of Falealili in Poutasi, Samoa where he learnt about fale construction.
1993-1997 Auckland Town Hall refurbishment
Auckland Regional Award Project managed by Ian Bowman and won a BOMA Building Award and a NZIA Architectural Award.
1998 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wellington Awarded NZ Building of the Decade, Architecture NZ readers poll, May/ June 2000,

Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects Regional Award 1999 Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects Branch Award 1999

 Pete Bossley was the Jasmax director at the time.
2000 Auckland Civic Theatre conservation
Auckland Designed with Salmond Reed Architects and received the 2000 NZIA-Resene Colour Award and Local Branch Award.
2003 Auckland City Hospital
Auckland Designed with Australian firm, McConnel, Smith and Johnson (now Conrad Gargett).
2004 Southland Hospital
Invercargill Designed with McConnel, Smith and Johnson and McDowell Architects.
2011 Eden Park, South Stand
Auckland Designed with international architecture firm, Populous.
2011 Forsyth Barr Stadium
Dunedin Designed with Populous.
2013 ASB North Wharf
Auckland Designed with BVN.
2014 Waikato Hospital Acute Services Building, Older Persons and Rehabilitation Building, and Meade Clinical Centre Hamilton Designed with CJM Architects (Chow Hill and MSJ).
2014 Te Kura Whare Tūhoe,

Tāneatua

 Designed by Ivan Mercep and was awarded a Living Building Challenge Certification.
2016 Burwood Hospital Redevelopment Christchurch Designed with Klein and Sheppard & Rout.
2017 Auckland University of Technology Mana Hauora Building Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Built Environment)
2018 AUT Ngā Wai Hono (School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences Building) Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Built Environment / Private, Public and Institutional Spaces / Public Development - over $10 million)
2019 Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Redevelopment Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Environmental Graphics)

Ted McCoy Award for Education at the 2020 New Zealand Architecture Awards.
2019 B:Hive, Smales Farm Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Workplace Environments / Over 1000 square metres)
2019 The Ernest Rutherford Building (RRSIC - Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre) Christchurch Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Built Environment / Private, Public and Institutional Spaces / Public Development - over $10 million)
2020 The University of Auckland B405 Faculty of Engineering Te Herenga Mātai Pūkaha) Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Private, Public and Institutional Spaces / Public Development - over $10 million)
2020 Te Ao Mārama South Atrium refurbishment at Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Private, Public and Institutional Spaces / Public Development - over $10 million)

NZIA Public Architecture Award 2021

NZIA Heritage Award 2021

Designed with FJMT and designTRIBE.
2021 Refurbishment of the heritage-listed University of Otago dental school's Walsh Building, Dunedin
2003, 2022 Britomart Transport Centre and Chief Post Office refurbishment
Auckland Designed with Mario Madayag and in collaboration with Auckland Council.
2023 University of Auckland B201 Building Auckland Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Repurposed Spaces / Adaptive Reuse / Over 150 square metres, and Private, Public and Institutional Spaces / Public Development - over $10 million) Highest- rated Green Star certified building in New Zealand.
2023 University of Waikato The Pā Hamilton Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards (in Private, Public and Institutional Space / Public Development - over $10 million, and Toitanga) Designed with Architectus and designTRIBE.
2024 BNZ Place
Wellington Commercial Architecture Award
2024 Tōtara Haumaru at North Shore Hospital Auckland
2024 AUT Tukutuku Auckland Education Award
2024 George Street Retail Quarter Dunedin Planning & Urban Design Award
2026 Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre
Cromwell
Ongoing Waikato Regional Theatre Hamilton Designed with Charcoalblue.
Ongoing City Rail Link Auckland Cultural Identity, World Architecture Festival WAFX (2019)

Infrastructure Award, World Architecture Festival WAFX (shortlisted, 2019)

The first New Zealand project to be recognised by the World Architecture Festival WAFX for Cultural Identity. A collaboration between Jasmax and Grimshaw Architects. Rau Hoskins, of designTRIBE and people Alt Group were also involved, as well as from the start eight Māori groups specific to the region (mana whenua).
Ongoing Scott Base redevelopment Antarctica Designed with Hugh Broughton Architects.

References

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  38. ↑ "Best in education architecture 2020: Western Springs College". Architecture Now. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  39. ↑ "Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Te Ao Mārama and Cenotaph Galleries". New Zealand Institute of Architects. 2021.
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  55. ↑ OurAuckland. "CRL station designs wow international judges". OurAuckland. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
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