The Nielson Design Lecture, presented annually for three years, brings internationally-renowned designers to discuss their work, ideas and methods with local architects, engineers, academics, business people and senior government officials.
The partners aim to profile the importance of design and influence the future direction of South East Queensland’s built environment. They share a commitment to green design and innovation, reflected in the selection of the annual speaker and marketing and media messages.
The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) chose to partner with Nielson Properties because the company has demonstrated a passion for investing in Queensland’s cultural industries. Nielson Properties is at the forefront of design, and is responsible for Australia’s largest 6-star green building. Nielson Properties was seeking a longterm cultural partner to promote a broad dialogue about the future of Queensland’s built environment.
Nielson Properties contributes $75,000 in cash and $45,000 in kind to the partnership per annum. SLQ’s annual cash and inkind contribution is more than $100,000. For Nielson Properties, this partnership reflects the company’s culture of challenging conventions and seeking innovative ways to improve its practices.
Nielson Properties has promoted the annual lecture as an important networking event for clients, and media coverage and direct marketing of the lecture has positioned both partners at the forefront of Queensland design and thought.
The first lecture was held at SLQ in November 2009, featuring prominent international architect, author, critic and academic Professor Michael Sorkin on the topic 'designing the future'. His practice has a special focus on urban and green architecture. More than 260 people attended, including major developers, architects, cultural institutions and Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser.
SLQ is a fitting home for the lectures as it received the honour of being voted Building of the Year by the Australian Institute of Architects in 2007. The library is developing its programs and resources to become a leading centre for design knowledge in the Asia-Pacific, and the Nielson Design Lecture has served as a catalyst for other design-related masterclasses and lecture programs.
In collaboration with the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology’s design faculties, SLQ offers a calendar of events for the Queensland design sector, and opened the Asia Pacific Design Library in October 2010 to encourage local engagement with design-related resources and programs.
State Library of Queensland and Nielson Properties were state winners of the AbaF SME Award at the AbaF Awards 2010 in Queensland.
Image: Ross Nielson, executive director, Nielson Properties. Photo: Leif Ekstron, State Library of Queensland