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HISTORY

history


1933
Steensen & Varming
is founded by Niels Steensen & Jogen Varming in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their first commission was the new University Library in Copenhagen followed by research laboratories for Neils Bohr.
1933 1937
Steensen & Varming
contribute to the Aarhus Town Hall competition project with architects Arne Jacobsen and Eric Moller.
1937 1940
Niels Steensen
developed a system of construction using hollow tiles, making floors and roofs lighter and less expensive.
1940
1946 1946
Jorgen Varming
together with the Irish engineer Sean Mulcahy, establish Varming Mulcahy Reilly Associates office in Ireland to work on the Irish transport Corporation's main office and bus terminal in Dublin by RIBA gold medal winner Michael Scott.
1957 1957
Via the Irish office, Steensen Varming Mulcahy is established in London to work on projects such as Coventry Cathedral with Sir Basil Spence and St Catherine's College, Oxford, with Arne Jacobsen.
1958 Steensen Varming is established in Australia by the Danish practice following success in winning the commission to design the Sydney Opera House with Jørn Utzon.
1959
Niels Steensen
establishes an office in Edinburgh, coinciding with a rapid expansion in the Scottish building sector, undertaking many commissions with Sir Robert Matthews, Johnson-Marshall and Sir Basil Spence.
1959 1967 The Edinburgh University Library is opened, the first fully air conditioned university library in the UK.
Steensen Varming Mulcahy worked in close consultation with Sir Basil Spence to achieve a design solution which integrated building services with the architecture a new concept for the time.
1967 1969
Steensen Varming Mulcahy
begins work on the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester, the first covered and air conditioned shopping centre in the United Kingdom.
1969
1970 1970
Steensen Varming
The UK begins work on the Nottingham Playhouse, the first new theatre to be built in England in 200 years.
1973 1973
The Sydney Opera House is opened including an innovative chilled ceiling system.
Steensen Varming establishes a permanent office in Australia after having been awarded a number of local projects and having to leave their Opera House site shed.
1975 1975
Steensen Varming
begins work on all engineering services for the New British Library, the largest building in England with anartificial environment - primarily for the protection of precious books and documents. This commision lasts over 17 years to completion.
1983
Steensen & Varming
is selected as consulting engineers for design of all engineering services for La Grande Arche.
1983 1987
The Clore Gallery for the Turner Collection at London's Tate Gallery by James Stirling is opened, incorporating innovative daylighting systems and is designed by the UK office.
1987 1991
Steensen Varming
complete work on the Government Buildings, Dublin. This refurbishment of a period building was awarded the ACEA Award for Excellence and the RAIA Conservation Award.
1991
grey square 1999
The Irish office complete the Chester Beatty Library project and the remarkable Chester Beatty Collections are moved to the new museum at Dublin Castle.
2002 The museum was a refurbishment of an existing period building with a modern extension and was awarded the European Museum of the Year in 2002. 2003 2003
Steensen varming
Australia celebrate their 30th anniversary in Australia and 70th internationally combined with the international meeting of the Varming Alliance Partners.
2004
Steensen Varming
reprint and distribute freely as a not for profit initiative - now used to assist in the teaching of University students - the seminal publication "Architecture of the Well Tempered Environment" By Reyner Banham.
2004 2005
The Dublin office wins the ACRI Design Excellence Award and Design Innovation Award in 2005, a feat never before achieved by any company The Australian office is awarded a10 year contract for strategic advice for the Sydney Opera House.
2005 2006
Steensen Varming scoop national IES award of excellence for lighting the mint.
The Edinburgh and London offices complete design of the Playfair Project RSA & NGS on a world heritage site
2006
2007 2007
The Australian office forms a unique consultancy team that will address the strategic requirements of the built environment and how it will address issues such as climate change and carbon/energy constraints.
2008 2008
The Dublin office wins the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland Award of Excellence for Park Place.
The Sydney office Steensen Varming becomes the first and only firm in Australia to win the prestigious IALD Award of Excellence for the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre.
2009 2009
Varming re-establish a Copenhagen office.
The Australian Practice complete work on the National Portrait Gallery, which opened in 2009 winning many awards.
Varming global brand established to strengthen collaboration and offer clients greater access to international expertise.