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Shewanna Mendis
Director


Sydney
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If it’s not breaking ground in some way, you can count Shewanna out. By resisting the status quo, asking the right questions and creating strong alliances, she brings a richness to projects that would be otherwise left untapped. Shewanna’s practical nature is perched next to a fluid creativity – constantly exploring new side projects. This artistic curiosity is an intrinsic part of Shewanna and her interpretation of architecture: rather than a theoretical exercise she sees it as a sculpture that revolves around a people-centric process and result.

Everything about Shewanna’s approach is centred on the human experience, from the buildings themselves to her work with contractors, clients and her team. She’s interested in creating collaborative relationships built on trust and empathy, while her tenacity ensures the translation of the initial design intent into the built form. With her sharp eye alongside 30-plus years of experience as an architect, she also knows how to spot a promising young architect and empower them. She sees this as part of her professional legacy – the information might bend and flex with the times, but the core is still there to help create a future-proof industry.

Awards

Highline - Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards

Category: High-rise Residential Metro
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Esplanade - PCA Innovation & Excellence Awards (NSW)

Category: Mixed Use
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022

Esplanade - UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence

"The Esplanade has it all. Adjoining a lake next to a shopping centre it is also a renewal of the old ice rink site. The high quality residential tower is complimented by a lower rise commercial office building over lakeside restaurants. Good architecture displays the two connected buildings appearing separate. The Judges were particularly impressed with the integration of the public waterfront and the buildings entry and forecourt. Almost fully occupied this fine development is a great example of mixed use success. It builds well on the success of Norwest mixed community."
- The UDIA NSW Awards Jury

Category: Mixed Use Development
Result: Winner
Year: 2021

Bigge Street - AIA NSW Architecture Awards

The NSW Premier’s Prize is awarded each year to the project considered to best exemplify commitment to the following criteria; the creation of strong communities, contribution to the public realm, establishing a new benchmark for a local area, innovation in design and designing with Country.

"Bigge St demonstrates a high quality and thoughtful approach to delivering cost effective housing and shows that meeting the needs of our community is not dependent on sacrificing the architectural quality enjoyed by the residents and the community." - Jury comments

Category: Premier's Prize
Result: Winner
Year: 2023

Bigge Street - AIA NSW Architecture Awards

"Bigge Street Liverpool is an exemplar of a new and collaborative method of procuring social housing, delivering design quality and equitable living in an evolving outer Sydney centre." - Jury comments

Category: Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Result: Award
Year: 2023

Col James Student Accomm. UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence

Category: Social & Community Infrastructure
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Col James Student Accomm. UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence

Category: Urban Renewal
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Col James Student Accomm. UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence

Category: President's Award
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Col James Student Accomm. Good Design Awards

“The architecture of the Col James Student Accommodation Building is no short of successful. The design responds to Redfern’s rich, urban conditions both past and present. Turner deserves high praise for their innovative composition of both internal and external living and communal spaces for students. They have expertly overcome many challenges including the considerable constraints of the project's complex, inner-city urban site.”
- The Good Design Awards Jury

Category: Architecture
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Col James Student Accomm. Asia Property Awards

Category: Student Accommodation
Result: Winner
Year: 2022

Col James Student Accomm. Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards

Category: Urban Renewal
Result: Winner
Year: 2021

Col James Student Accomm. The Urban Developer Industry Excellence Awards

Category: Hotels and Accommodation
Result: Finalist
Year: 2021

Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence

Category: Affordable Housing
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022

Meridian Miranda - UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence

Category: Medium Density Development
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022

Meridian Miranda - The Urban Developer Awards

Category: Medium Density Development
Result: Finalist
Year: 2022

View some projects Shewanna Mendis 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.

The Ashford
November 18, 2024

Offering urban amenity at its doorstep, The Ashford is ideally positioned to make the most of Castle Hill’s urban renewal.

Wicks Place
November 14, 2024

A vibrant mixed-use urban village for residents of Marrickville to live, work, create and connect.

420 Forest Road
October 22, 2024

420 Forest Road in Hurstville is a masterplan blending residential, retail, and commercial spaces with community-focused courtyards.

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.

The Kensington
March 19, 2024

A next generation urban housing project that positively contributes to the transformation of Kensington, and the maturing of Anzac Parade.

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.

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.

Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley
August 28, 2023

A luxury resort in the Blue Mountains, surrounded by national parklands and containing 40 villas, a homestead building, gym, spa, stables and tennis courts.

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.

Esplanade
March 06, 2023

A waterfront mixed-use hub creating a place for the growing community of Norwest to live, eat, work and play. Esplanade offers waterfront restaurants, a retail precinct and commercial offices with views and winter gardens.

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.

Bigge Street
March 06, 2023

Adressing an urgent need for social housing in Liverpool - Bigge Street delivers high quality and cost-effective design simultaneously.

Col James Student Accommodation
February 28, 2023

Holding the corner position adjacent to Redfern Station, Col James is part of the Pemulwuy precinct, offering accommodation for local, international, and First Nation students.

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.

Take me to

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Sydney

L7 ONE Oxford Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Australia

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T +61 2 8668 0000
F +61 2 8668 0088

office@turnerstudio.com.au
media@turnerstudio.com.au

London

Sierra Quebec Bravo
77 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SH
United Kingdom

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T +44 (0)20 3950 1575

design@turner.studio

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