Queensland leadership applauded at national awards
Two innovative Queensland developments driven by state and local government have been presented with national awards at the 2015 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards.
Economic Development Queensland’s Northshore urban renewal project won the ISPT Award for Government Leadership, while project team Thinc and Brisbane City Council were applauded for the restoration of Brisbane City Hall, taking out the S4B Studio Award for Best Heritage Development.
Once regarded an industrial wasteland, Northshore is now a $5 billion mixed-use redevelopment and Queensland’s largest urban renewal project – more than twice the size of Melbourne’s Docklands.
The site has been important to the growth of Brisbane, with the relocation of port operations creating an opportunity for urban renewal. The result is an exemplar mixed-used community that will eventually be home to 15,000 new residents and a similar number of workers.
“Economic Development Queensland deserves recognition for its visionary and collaborative transformation of this 304-hectare master-planned site, working with private developers, land-owners, local authorities and businesses,” says the Property Council of Australia’s Chief Executive, Ken Morrison.
“EDQ’s development model is underpinned by a best-practice planning framework and a streamlined development assessment process that has supported industry to deliver the best possible outcomes for the people of Queensland.”
Managing Director of RLB QLD, David Stewart, says that “Northshore is a lighthouse example of how partnership between government and industry can drive innovation and excellence in design and liveability.”
The Brisbane City Hall project, nominated by Thinc, was recognised for the thoughtful conservation which applied innovative technologies and materials to restore the iconic building’s inherent energy efficiency features, rectify structural and safety deficits, introduce contemporary services and facilities and create state-of-the-art performance spaces.
Brisbane City Hall was also awarded Queensland State Development of the Year, at a state-based awards function in Brisbane prior to the national awards.
“Brisbane City Council’s leadership demonstrates how heritage buildings can be upgraded to meet new best practice benchmarks without losing their character or charm. Brisbane City Hall has been restored to its former glory and is re-equipped for its role at the centre of Brisbane’s civic, cultural, and community life,” Mr Morrison said.
David Stewart applauded “the seamless integration of new structure, services and fittings within the original spaces”, which he says “is a credit to the ingenuity and creativity of the project team.”
“We have partnered with the Property Council of Australia to present this outstanding awards program since its inception in 1982, and are delighted to recognise and reward the best developments again in 2015,” Mr Stewart said.
Mirvac Group’s 8 Chifley was named the Australian Development of the Year, and also received the SAS International Award for Best Office Development and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Award for Best Sustainable Development – New Buildings.
The 2015 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Award winners were announced at a gala dinner on Friday 1 May. A full list of winners is available online.
Denis Nichol, Economic Development Queensland and Marcus Hanlon, ISPT
Kim Wilson, Thinc and Luka Vulic, S4B Studio