Boutique architect rides on retail boom

Roxby Architects has built a strong niche in the design sector by specialising in retail interiors, including the design of all McDonald’s restaurants and Betts shoe stores across Australia.

Established in 1994 by architect brothers Adam and Michael Roxby, the Jolimont business of nine staff has grown considerably in recent years by servicing  shopping centre developments and retail refurbishments.

Roxby is now designing about 30 stores a year, for independent retail outlets, small franchise groups and national chains such as Betts, Betts Kids, Perrini, ZU, Chemmart Healthsense, the Medicine Shoppe and McDonald’s.

 “When we started in 1994, we were looking at anyone who came through the door,” Adam Roxby told WA Business News.

“It began with a fitout of Harvey World Travel at the Galleria Morley and within a matter of a few weeks, Betts Group were looking for a new designer…We’ve now worked in every major shopping centre in the country and completed 110 Betts stores.”

Mr Roxby said its work with the Betts Group gave the business credibility and helped it to develop a range of relationships within the retail sector, including Westfield, Hawaiian and Perron Group. 

Its introduction to McDonald’s through an associate has also bought good fortune, resulting in Roxby’s McDonald’s store designs, incorporating a red blade entry feature, being rolled out across new and existing stores in Australia and now Europe.

Mr Roxby said there was no shortage of work back home either, with the expanding Centro Mandurah, Cockburn Gateway and Lakside Joondalup shopping centres all requiring its services shortly.

“It’s a constant stream of work. In most cases, tenants must refit every five years as part of their lease agreements,” he said.

Apart from pure design work, Roxby has moved into the realm of tenancy coordination, which involves securing leases, introducing tenants to a fitout and making sure the fitout is commensurate with the quality of a centre.

The brothers have also recently helped establish the WA Retail Design Association, which they believe will improve communication and cross-pollination of ideas amongst retail designers and design graduates.

On September 21, two of Roxby Architects’ latest projects will be judged at the Design Institute of Australia’s fifth biennial WA Design Awards and exhibited until September 28 in the QV1 foyer.