Dr Denton

Media Release
15 March 2007

Monash awards honorary doctorate for outstanding contribution to architecture

Monash University awarded John Denton an honorary Doctor of Laws for his outstanding and ongoing contribution to architecture at today’s graduation ceremony at Robert Blackwood Hall.

John Denton, who was appointed Victorian State Architect in 2006, received the award for “excellence”, “achievement” and “significant contribution” in the areas of Architecture, Urban Design and Domestic Design.

Since forming Denton Corker Marshall (DCM) in 1972, John Denton, with his co-founders Bill Corker and Barrie Marshall, has shaped the character of the Melbourne CBD, designing landmark buildings such as the Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Exhibition Centre and 101 Collins Street.

John Denton has also done much to raise the profile of Australian architecture internationally, with DCM winning numerous commissions to design buildings of international significance, such as the Stonehenge Visitor Centre and Interpretive Museum and the Manchester Civil Justice Centre in the UK and the Australian Embassies in Beijing and Tokyo.

The Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Art & Design, Professor John Redmond said he was delighted that John Denton was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.

“John Denton is an outstanding, creative and highly innovative architect who had made an immense contribution to the discipline, and has had had a long association with Monash University,” Professor Redmond said.

“His innovative buildings both within Australia and overseas have done much to increase awareness of Australia’s thriving Architecture community and has ultimately paved the way for many other Australian architects to achieve success internationally.”

John Denton, who has received numerous national and international awards during his career, said he felt “deeply honoured” to receive the doctorate.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Monash University. My practice has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the university ever since we undertook a masterplan for its Caulfield campus in the early 1990s and designed a number of buildings on the site, the best known of which being the Art & Design Building. As an adviser for the Faculty of Art & Design on the structure of Monash University’s new architecture degree, I look forward to seeing architecture and architecture students flourish there.”