Two of Australia’s leading firms in architecture and design and property research are set work more closely together and to share critical research and project learnings after the groups announced a formal partnership.

In their latest announcement, architecture and design firm Hassell and research and place strategy firm Brickfields consulting say they have formed a strategic alliance.

Under the partnership, Hassell and Brickfields will make a deliberate and conscious effort to work more regularly together on a wider range of projects across a greater number of sectors and regions, a spokesperson for Hassell told Sourceable.

The agreement creates an exclusive partnership between the two firms to bring research insights more consistently and proactively to their design projects, the spokesperson said.

Both firms stress that the agreement is not a merger or acquisition and that both will continue to operate a separate entities.

Rather, it is a strategic partnership which will combine Hassell’s experience in design and global reach with Brookfield’s skills on projects which include quantitative profiling, market research, brand and place strategy, user experience and customer engagement.

HASSELL and Brickfields Consulting have worked with a number of common clients.

These include AMP, Charter Hall, Dexus, Frasers Property, Grocon, Lendlease, and Mirvac.

The two firms have collaborated on projects which aim to deliver long-term return on investment by creating strategies that encourage users to visit, stay longer, and fully engage with places in the cities in which they live and visit.

HASSELL Managing Director, Steve Coster said the partnership is exciting as it complements the firm’s already strong research, strategy and experience design capabilities.

“Formalising our close relationships with Brickfields Consulting recognises the value of our joint offering to clients – access to deep insights to help shape the design of places that unlock value for both clients and communities,” Coster said.

“This partnership strengthens the ecosystem of partners available to our clients and provides access to tested methodologies to help quantify the value of design.”

Brickfields Consulting Research Director, David Grant said this opportunity will allow Brickfields Consulting to take part in the design of some of the world’s most complex and innovative buildings and places.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Brickfields Consulting to extend its reach outside Australia and grow as an international company and, most importantly, help create and shape places to reach their full potential,” he said.