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
Category: High-rise Residential Metro
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence
Category: Affordable Housing
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence
Category: Medium Density Development
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Meridian Miranda - The Urban Developer Awards
Category: Medium Density Development
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022
Landing - Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards
Category: Highrise Residential Metro
Result: Winner
Year: 2021
Result: Winner
Year: 2021
Landing - UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence
Category: High-density Residential
Result: Finalist
Year: 2021
Result: Finalist
Year: 2021
Landing - PCA Innovation & Excellence Awards (NSW)
Category: Residential
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
Result: Winner
Year: 2022
View some projects James McCarthy has worked on
Bay Central
April 23, 2025
A coastal mixed-use project in Woolooware Bay, featuring premium residences above a vibrant retail, dining, and hospitality precinct. Bay Central completes the Woolooware Bay Town Centre masterplan.
40 Memorial Avenue
February 03, 2025
A visionary development within the emerging Bella Vista metro precinct with 200+ apartments, seamless parkland connections, and thoughtful urban design.
Kings Bay Village
August 05, 2024
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.
Hills Showground Precinct East
March 28, 2024
The Hills Showground Precinct East is a transport-orientated and community-focused development, that achieves a 5-star Greenstar rating.
Union Balmain
March 20, 2024
Union Balmain is a contemporary, mixed-use development that provides high amenity, sustainable and vibrant, activated spaces for the residents and community alike.
Beecroft Road
September 26, 2023
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.
Westmead Lot 4
September 18, 2023
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.
Willow Sanctuary – Stage 3
September 07, 2023
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.
Highline Westmead
August 28, 2023
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.
Washington Park
March 20, 2023
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.
Woolooware Bay
March 08, 2023
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.
Sanctuary
March 08, 2023
The masterplan represents the next stage of the Wentworth Point urban renewal program, providing a vibrant mixed use precinct on the riverside site.
Illoura Place
March 06, 2023
A vertical mixed use development on a prominent corner in Liverpool, delivering build to rent essential worker housing alongside retail and commercial spaces.
Hills Showground Village
March 06, 2023
An activated mixed use precinct in Castle Hill featuring residential, retail, commercial and open communal spaces for current and future communities.
Meridian
February 15, 2023
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.
Landing Sanctuary – Stage 1
February 10, 2023
