Colin Madigan commenced formal studies in architecture in 1937 at Sydney Technical College. He served in the Navy from 1939 and after the war combined experience in the office of David King in building design for hospitals and factories with the college tutorage of Harry Foskett, Miles Dunphy and Jack Torzillo. In 1948 he and Jack Torzillo joined Maurice Edwards in partnership and gained much work from the Joint Coal Board. The firm remained small during the 1950s but worked towards a rationalist approach to design. The firm gained work from the Public Works Department and Madigan designed many schools, the NSW Tourist Bureau building and the Round House at the University of New South Wales. By the early sixties Madigan, along with his partners was designing in the modernist style. After an influential trip to Europe in 1963 Madigan’s work demonstrated more attention to the local context. The High Court, National Gallery and their precinct are the culmination of his achievements in public architecture (Taylor 1990).

In 1981 the Royal Australian Institute of Architects awarded Colin Madigan the Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest accolade for lifetime efforts in the field of architecture.

Christopher Kringas was born in Orange in 1936, the second son of Greek migrants. After completing schooling at the local high school he enrolled in Architecture at the University of New South Wales, graduating in 1958. Following a three year period of overseas travel that included working with London County Council and a number of London architectural firms, Chris returned to work for the firm of Edward, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs (EMTB). His reputation as a brilliant designer was evidenced by his designs for the Dee Why Library, Waringah Civic Centre, the Australian National Gallery, Bathurst Teacher’s College, Warren Library, Cockel House New South Wales and Stephen’s House Queensland. He was appointed a Director of EMTB in 1973. Undoubtedly his greatest achievement was as design team leader for the High Court of Australia. Tragically he was stricken with cancer in 1975 and although he continued to work to complete the final design he did not live to see its construction, which commenced one month following his death. He died in March 1975 leaving wife Anne and four children.

Harry Howard completed architecture studies at the University of Sydney and a Diploma in Town and Country Planning. As a student and throughout his career he was a convinced modernist. He worked for the modernist architect Sydney Ancher and for many years with Edwards Madigan Torzillo. He had a love of native plants which he shared with his friends, the landscape architects Bruce Rickard and Bruce Mackenzie. He was part of a group of talented Sydney architects, landscape architects and designers that had studios at 7 Ridge Street, North Sydney.

The expression of Australia design ideals held by the Ridge Street Group is now referred to as the ‘Sydney School’. In 1996 Howard received the Australian Award in Landscape Architecture, the highest accolade of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, for his life’s work (Weirick 2000).