Innovation, iconic projects and visionary investment were in the spotlight on Friday night, as we celebrated the winners in 20 award categories. Who earnt all the accolades and applause?
Sydney’s The Star sparkled with property luminaries on Friday night, as the industry gathered to cheer on its best and brightest at the 37th annual Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards.
Lendlease took home the nation’s most prestigious property prize – the Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year – for International House Sydney.
Australia’s first engineered timber office, hailed by the judges an “industry game changer”, also picked up the SAS International Award for Best Office Development. International House Sydney is profiled in depth in Property Australia’s Project of the Week.
Barangaroo South was also presented with the Hiflow Award for Best Shopping Centre Development for The Streets of Barangaroo, which has become a case study for retail activation around the globe.
The Adelaide Convention Centre Stages 1 and 2 took out the Hickory Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development for creating a new city icon and “business tourism success story,” says the Property Council’s chief executive Ken Morrison.
The $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital and developer Lendlease were presented with the Woods Bagot Award for Best Public Building. The hospital, which opened in 2017 is the largest healthcare building to ever receive 6 Star Green Star ratings for design and construction from the Green Building Council of Australia.
Development Victoria was presented with the S4B Award for Best Heritage Development for a $20 million restoration which RLB’s Victorian managing director Ewen McDonald says has “secured the long-term future of St Kilda’s Palais Theatre as a live performance venue”.
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority in WA won the GOUGH Recruitment Award for Government Leadership for Elizabeth Quay – a vibrant new destination attracting 16 million visitors, $320 million in land sales and $2.2 billion in private development proposals.
Stockland’s Willowdale, located in Sydney’s booming south west corridor, took home the EPM Projects Award for Best Master Planned Community for showcasing energy efficient homes in a quality, inclusive and connected neighbourhood.
Melbourne boutique developer Piccolo stared down stiff competition from 15 other finalists to snag the coveted Crown Group Award for Best Residential Development. RLB’s Victorian Managing Director Ewen McDonald applauds developer Piccolo’s “demonstration of how urban regeneration can deliver a real uplift in residential amenity while maintaining the fabric and character of the existing Ormond Village”.
The Growthbuilt Award for Best Affordable Housing Development was presented to LandCorp & Now Living for Blackmore Park Estate in Perth, which has “opened up new opportunities for home ownership in an established suburb dominated by ageing housing stock and a high proportion of renters,” Morrison adds.
The Liberty Award for Best Mixed Use Development went to Coorparoo Square, a $250 million joint venture between Frasers Property Australia and Honeycombes Property Group which has redefined the rich heritage of the Brisbane suburb.
Mirvac snagged two prizes for sustainable development. The EY Centre at 200 George Street won the WSP Award for Best Sustainable Development – New Buildings for impressive technology and sustainability ‘firsts’.
Meanwhile, Mirvac’s team responsible for 23 Furzer Street in Canberra took home the CEFC Award for Best Sustainable Development – Existing Buildings for “laying down the gauntlet to other building owners” Morrison says.
Frasers Property Australia was presented with the LJ Hooker Commercial Award for Best Business or Industrial Park for the Horsley Drive Business Park in Western Sydney, which “boasts impressive environmental credentials and demonstrates an innovative business structure that will support future regeneration projects in the area”.
Barwon Water took home the Eagle Lighting Australia Award for Best Workplace Project for the upgrade of its office headquarters in Geelong. With the help of GHDWoodhead, Barwon Water HQ has evolved from a tired 1960s brutalist building into a bespoke, open and efficient working environment,” Morrison adds.
The Aurex Group Award for Best Retirement Living Development went to the Bella Vista Gardens Aged Care and Cranbrook Residences Retirement Village in Castle Hill for demonstrating “how the property industry continues to innovate to offer older Australians all the comforts of home in a personalised and caring environment,” Morrison says.
SHAPE Group design manager Althea Papinczak was chosen from a large field for the du Chateau Chun Future Leader of the Year Award. Read Property Australia’s profile of Papinczak to learn more about her vision to empower, inspire, challenge and support women.
3D design studio Binyan Studios took home the PwC Award for Diversity for companies with less than 250 employees. Morrison says Binyan Studios is a “creative powerhouse that harnesses its diversity – notably a gender-balanced workforce – to showcase dynamic projects in Australia’s property industry”.
Meanwhile, the FDC Award for Diversity for companies with more than 250 employees went to NSW Land and Housing Corporation, which owns and manages a public housing portfolio of some 130,000 properties.
Brisbane City Council was presented with the PEXA Award for Project Innovation for Plan your Brisbane, the largest planning engagement exercise conducted by a local government in Australia.
The Kone Award for Development Innovation went to Charter Hall for the Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre, which uses world-class automated technology to deliver enhanced customer, safety, supply chain, economic and sustainability benefits.
RLB has partnered with the Property Council of Australia to present the Innovation & Excellence Awards program since its inception in 1982.
“The property industry is our nation’s largest employer, employing 1.4 million Australians and generating 13 per cent of our GDP,” Morrison adds.
“The Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards are an important platform to applaud the people who are building great cities and communities for all Australians.”