AJC Architects

Allen's pre-fabricated steel design for Wolfe Electric Tools Factory 1957, at Homebush was the basis for future industrial structures, notably Qantas, and Keith Cottier's Domaine Chandon.

A year later Allen's interest in art and design prompted him to instead enrol in Architecture at Sydney Technical College.

His first significant entirely new project was a house completed in Vancouver Street, Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory.

Jack aspired to be an architect from a young age and during his years in the Royal Australian Air Force he studied building construction and freehand drawing by correspondence.

[citation needed] Jack won many prizes after graduation, including the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship.

In May 1952 Jack set off with fellow architects to London, where he worked for Tripe & Wakeham Architecture Firm for a few months.

[citation needed] Jack's first major award was in 1958 with the RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal for his own house in Wahroonga, Sydney.