Complex solutions win Buildcorp five MBA NSW Awards for 2019

Saturday 9 November 2019: A wide range of Buildcorp’s construction capabilities were recognised at the 2019 Master Builders Association NSW ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards.
From an iconic heritage refurbishment, to innovative 6 Star Green Star rated workplaces and Australia’s largest new build student accommodation precinct, the projects reflect the diverse challenges where solutions from Buildcorp’s multidisciplinary teams come to the fore.

Urbanest Darling Square Towers 1 & 2
WINNER: Student Accommodation $100m+
The delivery of Australia’s largest student accommodation project was no small feat for the Contracting team between 2015-2018. The towers reach 20 and 22 floors respectively and offer 1,303 beds collectively, plus communal social spaces, movie theatre and gym, and catering facilities.

Solutions highlights: With a proactive, united front, the team developed solutions around: untested legislative changes, an adjoining light rail corridor, challenging materials handling requirements, multiple stakeholders and an innovative design. The program and design were optimised utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology to deliver a defect-free handover, on time.

Partners: Urbanest Student Accommodation, Johnstaff Projects, Allen Jack + Cottier, Northrop Consulting Engineers, Euroline, Aspect Studios and Arup.
Read more about Tower DS1 and Tower DS2

Campbell’s Stores, The Rocks
WINNER: Restoration/Adaptive Re-use of an Historic Building $25m+
Buildcorp’s heritage refurbishment brought the iconic State Heritage listed building (dated 1839) back to its former glory over 18 months. The project created new tenancies and amenities, improving both accessibility and connection to Circular Quay.

Solutions highlights: A complete redesign and upgrade of the services from rooftop to loading dock, with the challenge of keeping it all within the existing heritage building envelope. Matching the heritage elements required detailed research, prototyping and a custom cataloguing and restoration system; 300 samples and 30 prototypes identified the best products and methods to suit the heritage fabric.

Partners: Tallawoladah Pty Ltd and Property NSW, Euroline, APK, TTW, JPW, Northrop and Warren Smith & Partners.
Read more

Carpe Diem, International Towers, Barangaroo 
WINNER: Interior Fit-outs $15m-$20m
The ‘Carpe Diem Community’ is an innovative and sustainable collection of premium workspaces and executive suites within Barangaroo, providing small-scale tenancy communities access to world-class design, technology, activations and building management services. Our project scope included a vertical village and tenancy fit-outs from levels 30 to 31 and a lobby refurbishment on level 39.

Solutions highlights: Live environment management was key with both high profile tenancy neighbours and the occupants of the 43-level tower to protect. The team also helped the Green Building Council of Australia tenancy fit-out achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating. The show stopping internal ‘Companionway’ staircase required complex structural demolition and façade modifications to create this interconnecting, multi-use shared space in the final stage.

Partners: International Towers, GCBA, Geyer, ST Projects, Collins & Turner, Euroline, JLL, NDY, WS&P and Arup.
Read more

Facebook, International Towers, Barangaroo
WINNER: Interior Fit-outs $20m+
Facebook’s 6 Star Green Star workplace fit-out flows over four levels of Barangaroo’s International Towers. In addition to the regular workplace functions, the fit-out has a 500m2 commercial kitchen, TV studio, large event spaces and interconnecting stairs to all levels.

Solutions highlights: The modular staircase was fabricated and pre-assembled off site to minimise on site welding and meet Green Star compliance. Due to the internal stair, the fire matrix strategy redesigned four floors to be one fire compartment. The large commercial kitchen is served by its own dedicated plant room and the complexity of the kitchen trade waste system required a drainage route redesign to integrate. Our program and procurement plan enabled the high specification IT communications rooms to be delivered in time for an eight week handover period from commencement.

Partners: Facebook, Generate Property Group, Gensler and Medland Engineering.
Read more

Proactive Safety System across Buildcorp sites
Merit Award Winner: Safety Innovation
Buildcorp’s proactive safety system received further recognition from the MBA. This time for “constantly striving for continual improvement” through our Proactive Safety Index which uses safety lead indicators to assess teams on their proactive safety management.

Solutions highlights: Buildcorp’s Proactive Safety System applies proactive safety measurements as a lead indicator to prevent construction safety incidents from happening. The system has already resulted in a 56% decrease in the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) since 2015. Based on a combination of proactive measurement, innovative ideas and cultural connection, the system supports our teams to be truly proactive in implementing, improving and analysing our safety on the job.