Melanie Lochore

With over 25 years of experience in award-winning architectural practices across New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Melanie brings deep expertise and leadership to complex public, educational, and commercial projects. A Registered Architect since 2002, she currently leads the Public Sector team at Architectus, guiding major civic and community developments across Aotearoa.

Melanie’s architectural practice is grounded in strong collaboration, strategic design thinking, and clear communication. Her ability to engage effectively with clients, mana whenua, and diverse stakeholder groups enables her to deliver outcomes that are both contextually sensitive and functionally enduring.

As Public Sector Lead, Melanie is the Project Principal for several significant justice sector projects, including the Ministry of Justice Waitākere and Rotorua Dual Court development, the Papakura District Courthouse, and the New Zealand Police Whanganui Hub. She is also leading the Northcote Community Hub for AUDO (Auckland Urban Development Office) — an integrated architecture and landscape project that will reinvigorate and extend the existing heritage-listed library building, enhancing the surrounding open space and contributing to the renewal of Northcote’s new town centre.

Her portfolio extends to the education sector, where she has held client-facing leadership roles on significant projects for King’s College, Sacred Heart College, St Cuthbert’s College, and Saint Kentigern College.

Beyond project delivery, Melanie contributes to the architectural profession through governance and advisory roles. She is a Director of the New Zealand Architects Co-operative Society, which manages professional indemnity insurance and risk for architects nationwide. From 2015 to 2020, she also served on the Auckland Urban Design Panel, including advisory work for the Auckland Housing Project Design Review Panel.