Probuild's redevelopment at Cloisters on Hay has been named the state’s best construction project for 2015, ahead of 68 other entries at the Master Builders-Bankwest annual awards.
The Cloisters on Hay project, which entailed the redevelopment of Cloisters Square and the construction of nine new levels of office space, was selected as the standout project ahead of three other finalists: Cooper & Oxley’s Kununurra Courthouse; EMCO Building’s Scotch College Middle School; and Lendlease’s redevelopment of Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City.
Awards judge Andrew Peppercorn said Probuild had executed its redevelopment under difficult circumstances, giving it the edge against the other finalists.
“The maintaining of existing tenancies, the façade restrictions, the site constraints and the structural requirements were all carried out with great diligence in a tight timeframe,” Mr Peppercorn said.
Master Builders WA executive director Michael McLean said there was a record number of entries in this year’s awards, which reflected a strong level of work in the metropolitan area as well as regional centres.
The most-awarded builder was Cooper & Oxley, which received accolades for: best retail building under $100 million for its work at Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre; best civil engineering works, for Butler Train Station; and best regional project for the Kununurra courthouse.
Cooper & Oxley general manager Kam Hishmeh said the awards demonstrated the builder’s strong understanding of project requirements and project delivery.
Three other builders won two awards – Goodland Building Company, BGC Construction and PACT Construction.
Another shopping centre job to receive an award was Lendlease’s $320 million expansion of Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City, which comprised the addition of 27,000 square metres of retail space.
That included a new Myer store, a casual dining precinct, and 115 specialty retailers.
Lendlease building WA regional director Andrew Schroth said collaboration had been a key pillar of the project’s success.
“The Lendlease team consulted more than 1,000 local residents and businesses to find out what key attributes were important to include in this new offering,” Mr Schroth said.
“The redevelopment has given us the opportunity to design unique experiences for our customers that can’t be recreated online.”
Match Group subsidiary M Construction was named best new builder, which recognised the quality of the company’s work over the five years since its inception in 2010, according to director Michael Read.
Mr Read said the award showed M Construction’s highly collaborative approach to projects could be successful.
“We do things a little bit different to other builders, in our approach to our clients in regards to design, cost planning and the way we go about our business,” he said.
“Hopefully it shows to the industry that our design and construct approach, which has been a bit of a shift in the industry, does work and will continue on.”
In the heritage category, Pindan was awarded the best historic restoration or renovation worth over $5 million, for its work at Claremont Council Chambers, which were gutted by fire in 2010.
Pindan restored and rebuilt the damaged chambers, while also constructing a three-storey commercial space behind the historic building.
Pindan director of construction, Mark Thompson, said challenges on the job included the design and materials needed for the new building, to create a contrast between it and the older building.
“One of the most critical aspects of this project was that we completed it on time,” he said.
“Construction began in September 2013 and the majority of works were finished by November 2014, allowing Town of Claremont staff and councillors to return to the building to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the fire.”
