Jonathan Knapp is the Director of SJB’s Urban studio. Jonathan is an energetic leader whose background in urban design, architecture and planning informs his interest in finding robust solutions to urban problems through a responsive, collaborative design process. With a particular focus on urban renewal and regeneration projects, mixed-use schemes and transit-oriented development, Jonathan is committed to shaping vibrant cities through place-based design outcomes and planning approaches that balance the needs of today with the capacity for future growth.
Jonathan’s professional and academic foundations reflect his broad interests in the built environment, informed by project work throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. Since returning to Sydney Jonathan has consolidated his passion for cities through his various collaborations on SJB’s built projects, and with other design practices on larger scale mixed-use precincts.
His strategic design skills combined with a strong track record in leading highly-integrated consultant teams have seen him successfully deliver a diverse range of projects. These include master planning of the St Leonards/Crows Nest, Showground Castle Hill, Telopea and Carter Street Planned Precincts, masterplans in Newcastle and the Bays Precinct, urban design guidelines for the Sydney Football Stadium and New Museum Parramatta, as well as projects for a large number of metropolitan Sydney councils and private clients.
A champion of new technologies, Jonathan has fostered the use of advanced real-time modeling in the studio as an important tool to collaborate with clients, test ideas and arrive at the best possible outcomes. His commitment to sharing and debating ideas is an approach also reflected through his program of lecturing at UNSW, the University of Sydney, UTS’s Centre for Local Government and various industry bodies.
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Champions of Change Architects
Jonathan Knapp is a Member of the Champions of Change Architects Group established in 2015 in partnership with the Australian Institute of Architects. The Group is committed to working together to proactively address the issue of gender equality, and women’s representation in leadership in Australian architecture practices, and across the profession.