Home Property Australia 5 Martin Place crowned Australia’s best development for 2017

5 Martin Place crowned Australia’s best development for 2017

  • September 19, 2017

The spectacular restoration of one of Sydney’s most loved sandstone buildings, 5 Martin Place, has taken out the RLB Australian Development of the Year for 2017.

Dexus and Cbus Property were presented with the development industry’s most coveted prize at the Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards in Sydney on Friday 5 May.

“This significant heritage restoration project has delivered one of the most inspired and innovative commercial workspaces in Australia,” says the Property Council’s Chief Executive Ken Morrison.

Built in 1913 as the headquarters of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 5 Martin Place was among the first in the world to use an advanced structural steel frame in its construction.

Protecting the building’s heritage required clever design solutions, including a cantilever over the existing building which supports the new tower above.

“5 Martin Place’s 5 Star Green Star rating demonstrates how older buildings can be upgraded to meet new sustainability standards. And by breathing new life into the streetscape below, and investing in public art, Dexus and Cbus Property have enhanced one of Australia’s most important gathering places.”

5 Martin Place also took home the SAS International Award for Best Office Development and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Award for Best Sustainable Development – Existing Buildings.

Mr Morrison says the quality of entries for this year’s awards was “astounding” and reflect the industry’s commitment to “pushing the innovation envelope”.

Another heritage project, the $80 million restoration of Western Australia’s State Buildings Perth, won the S4B Studio Award for Best Heritage Development.

With a history spanning more than 140 years, the three interconnected buildings had been vacant for almost 20 years before they were purchased by FJM Property and transformed into vibrant hospitality and retail precinct, and the home of luxury 48-suite hotel COMO: The Treasury.

“This project has restored an important part of Western Australia’s history, returning it to the people of Perth and creating a world-class destination,” Mr Morrison says.

Meanwhile, Little National Hotel in Canberra was presented with the KONE Award for Development Innovation, and Mr Morrison says developer and owner Doma Group “presents a new business model that offers a smart solution to the luxury and affordability equation”.

Another Canberra hotel, the Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport, won the Brain & Poulter Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development for its “combination of modern, innovative design, architectural quality and place-making potential,” says NSW Managing Director of RLB Matt Harris.

Built’s sustainability manager Joe Karten won the du Chateau Chun Award for Future Leader of the Year.

Mr Karten has worked on high-profile projects including fitouts for Apple and ANZ, as well as the refurbishment and construction of 20 Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD.

“A passionate sustainability specialist, Joe has cultivated an excitement for leading green building practices during his four years with Built, and the result is better outcomes for people, businesses and the environment,” Mr Harris says.

Stockland’s Aura development on the Sunshine Coast was presented with the Frasers Property Australia Award for Project Innovation for an engagement excellence program that has changed the way the industry considers community consultation.

“Stockland’s idea leverages in-kind support and external funding to enhance the experience for people at Aura,” Mr Morrison explains.

The Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, owned by the City of Greater Geelong, beat four other contenders to win the Woods Bagot Award for Best Public Building.

The eight-level library – with an extraordinary design which has been described as a golf ball or an igloo – is a highly efficient, environmentally-sensitive building with one of the first Green Star ratings for a public building in Australia.

“The building took years of planning and collaboration, but the result has reimagined the library as a meeting place and learning incubator,” Mr Harris says.

RLB has partnered with the Property Council of Australia to present the Innovation & Excellence Awards program since its inception in 1982.

The 2017 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Award winners were announced on Friday 5 May at a gala dinner at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

A full list of winners is available online: www.propertycouncilawards.com.au

Media contact:  Karen Jamal  |   E  [email protected]

2017 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards
National Awards Winners

Award

Name of Development

State

Owner

Nominator

RLB Australian Development of the Year

5 Martin Place

NSW

Dexus /
Cbus Property

Dexus

LJ Hooker Commercial Award for Best Business or Industrial Park

1 Thomas Holt Drive

NSW

AMP Capital Investors

AMP Capital Investors

SAS International Award for Best Office Development

5 Martin Place

NSW

Dexus /
Cbus Property

Dexus

Solid Construct Australia Award for Best Residential Development

Era Chatswood

NSW

Mirvac Projects

Mirvac

MRI Software Award for Best Mixed Use Development

PACIFIC Bondi Beach

NSW

Rebel Property Group /
Capit.el Group

PTW Architects

Yardi Award for Best Shopping Centre Development

The Ponds Shopping Centre

NSW

ISPT

Frasers Property Australia

Brain & Poulter Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development

Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport

ACT

Capital Property Group

Capital Airport Group

du Chateau Chun Award for Future Leader of the Year

Joe Karten

NSW

Built

Built

S4B Studio Award for Best Heritage Development

State Buildings, Perth

WA

FJM Property

Built

HillPDA Award for Government Leadership

Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings (CUVRB)

VIC

VicTrack

VicTrack

GHD Woodhead Award for Best Retirement Living Development

The Village Coorparoo

QLD

The Village at Coorparoo

The Village Retirement Group

EPM Projects Award for Best Master Planned Community

North Lakes

QLD

Stockland

Stockland

Woods Bagot Award for
Best Public Building

Geelong Library & Heritage Centre

VIC

City of Greater Geelong

Kane Constructions

GOUGH Recruitment Award for Best Affordable Housing Development

 

The Village, Townsville

QLD

Economic Development Queensland

Economic Development Queensland

WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Award for Best Sustainable Development – New Buildings

Floth 69 Robertson Street, Fortitude Valley

QLD

69 Robertson Street Pty Limited

Floth Pty Limited ATF George
Floth Unit Trust

Clean Energy Finance Corporation Award for Best Sustainable Development – Existing Buildings

5 Martin Place

NSW

Dexus /
Cbus Property

Dexus

Eagle Lighting Australia Award for Best Workplace Project

Westpac Barangaroo

NSW

Lendlease

Lendlease

KONE Award for Development Innovation

Little National Hotel

ACT

Doma Group

Doma Group

Frasers Property Australia Award for
Project Innovation

Aura Engagement Excellence Program

QLD

Stockland

Stockland

PwC Award for Diversity < 250 Employees

Capstone Recruitment

n/a

Capstone Recruitment

Capstone Recruitment

Moulis Legal Award for Diversity > 250 Employees

Crown Resorts

n/a

Crown Resorts

Crown Resorts