Lendlease’s Barangaroo precinct “brought to life” Paul Andreatta’s approach to work. Find out what motivates MPA’s director of workplace, and what drives him to get the best results.
Paul Andreatta, Director – Workplace, MPA Construction Group
Three words to describe my job… Connecting, facilitating and delivering certainty as a trusted advisor.
When I explain my role to people outside the property industry, I say… It’s morphed into an advisory or consulting role across all stages in the property lifecycle, not just the construction side. My background as an architect with over 20 years in the property industry gives me a unique perspective to offer solutions that aren’t obvious unless you know what to look for.
My three daily work essentials are… 1. An early start and willingness to collaborate; 2. Bringing an intensity to every task, no matter how big or small; 3. My team, ready to deliver results.
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt in my role… You can’t beat persistence and resilience when it comes to achieving good results. Some projects take years to get off the ground, so a long-term view is the only way to exceed the expectations of clients who are now demanding more than just a good experience during the few weeks or months in build phase of a project.
My career motivation is… Overall, long term credibility and being able to play a small part in improving practices in our industry. Being the ‘go-to’ in the market for innovative solutions is important to me and drives my team and me to continually provide the best results for our clients.
My advice to others considering a career in my field… The best advice I can give is to not underestimate the importance of credibility in everything you do, and to continually be persistent in reaching goals. Be resilient when it doesn’t go your way.
The building or project that embodies what I do… The Barangaroo precinct (Towers 1, 2 and 3) really brought to life, and in a way validated the relationship-based approach that is a foundation to what I do. Not only did anchor tenants Gilbert + Tobin (T2) and Baker McKenzie (T1) go on to win multiple awards for their fitouts, but MPA has continued the partnership and completed work nationally for both clients since then. Completing 45,000m2+ of fitout work in Barangaroo has helped MPA, and me personally, to lift the bar. It was a key factor in me becoming a Green Star Accredited Professional (GSAP) and has really defined what’s possible in new premium-grade buildings across Australia.
The inspirational quote I live by… While not so much an inspirational quote, something that’s always in the back of my mind is that success is in the detail… It’s the last two per cent that sets you apart from your competitors.
This year I’ll be… Focusing on developing and inspiring the next wave of leaders at MPA and, hopefully, the wider construction and property industry.
Who nominated Paul? Ben Ritchie, Director, MPA Construction Group
What makes Paul special? I have been working alongside Paul for over 18 years at MPA and commend the outstanding positive impact he has made to the industry over this time. Paul displays a rare combination of traits which make him so valuable to those that work alongside him; namely his passion, expertise and genuine care for his customers and team alike. As a member of the executive team, Paul is an inspirational leader to the whole MPA family; from his technical skills as a qualified architect to his extraordinary client focus and problem-solving capability. It is no coincidence that he has been involved in almost every milestone project MPA has ever completed.
Property Council members, do you work with someone who is deserving of recognition? We’re looking for the property industry’ ‘secret stars’. They might have an unusual job, be running an innovative project, have been a team linchpin for decades or a new addition that is shaking things up. Drop us a line to [email protected]