James believes in creating people focused designs that are inspiring and memorable. His design ethos is all about the lasting impact his designs will have and how they work seamlessly within the context of a site and community.
The Ireland-born Director brings a wealth of experience from various large-scale projects, having led the design and delivery of a wide range of project types including master planned communities, medium to high-density apartments, social and affordable housing, and increasingly, mixed-use developments.
James is one of the main drivers of sustainability at Turner, using his passion, tenacity and patience to promote forward-thinking initiatives within the practice.
He brings a collaborative leadership style, encouraging his team members to approach projects with 100% engagement and ownership. Outside of the practice, he has been a regular guest critic at the UNSW Master of Architecture, and a member of the UDIA NSW Awards Judging Panel.
Awards
Highline - Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - The Urban Developer Awards
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Landing - Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards
Result: Winner
Year: 2021
Landing - UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence
Result: Finalist
Year: 2021
Landing - PCA Innovation & Excellence Awards (NSW)
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
View some projects James McCarthy has worked on
The design will feature an outdoor plaza, public marketplace and village green that will create a vibrant community and play a key role in revitalising the Parramatta Road corridor.
The Hills Showground Precinct East is a transport-orientated and community-focused development, that achieves a 5-star Greenstar rating.
Union Balmain is a contemporary, mixed-use development that provides high amenity, sustainable and vibrant, activated spaces for the residents and community alike.
A short distance from Epping train station, Beecroft Road is a mixed-use precinct that will be a catalyst for urban renewal in the area.
Part of a wider masterplan for this strategic site, Lot 4 is a build to rent project, providing approximately 360 apartments with high-level amenities and services.
Positioned at the threshold to the parklands to the south and west, Willow delivers 323 apartments, as well as a podium lagoon pool, and flexible community spaces.
Phase One of the UWS Westmead Precinct, Highline provides a high-amenity residential development on the doorstep of Sydney's largest health, medical, education and transport hubs.
A multi-phase redevelopment of existing Housing New South Wales and Council lands to deliver a new park-side masterplan. Featuring private and social housing units, a network of new streets, a 'village square' and a library.
A large masterplanned community that has taken an under-utilised waterfront site with a poor urban identity, and created a highly successful mixed-use precinct.
The masterplan represents the next stage of the Wentworth Point urban renewal program, providing a vibrant mixed use precinct on the riverside site.
A vertical mixed use development on a prominent corner in Liverpool, delivering build to rent essential worker housing alongside retail and commercial spaces.
An activated mixed use precinct in Castle Hill featuring residential, retail, commercial and open communal spaces for current and future communities.
A unique residential precinct that blends private and build to rent affordable housing options to give back to the wider community in the growing Sydney suburb of Miranda.
