Master Builders 2009 Top Four National Winners

Builders from across Australia were presented with prestigious Awards at Master Builders’ 2009 National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on Saturday 7 November 2009.
Master Builders Chief Executive, Mr Wilhelm Harnisch, congratulated the top four winners saying that they “Demonstrated that they are the best of the best by delivering the highest quality of work in their projects, thereby setting a standard for the rest of industry to aspire to.”
Master Builders Australia’s National Awards are sponsored by CBUS Construction & Building Industry Super; ME Bank; Standards Australia; The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Department of Health and Ageing; Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner; Australian Apprenticeships; Queensland Department of Public Works; Boral; Onesteel Reinforcing; Australbricks; Assa Abloy; Australian Made Campaign; Europcar; Qantas; and Crowther Blayne and Associates.
Winners of the four top awards were:
National Commercial Master Builder of the Year - Bovis Lend Lease, Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company, Victoria
This theatre is one of the most unique cultural icons in modern Melbourne. It combines an extensive use of innovative construction techniques and building materials to respond to its individualist architecture. The building’s form demanded the development of many non-typical construction techniques to maintain both aesthetic and performance aspirations. Through intensive collaboration with project partners including specialist subcontractors, many project elements can be considered pioneering, as traditional methodologies were not considered suitable. There is an extensive use of free-formed glass, reinforced concrete panel and acoustic hoop pine paneling. This landmark building is a masterpiece of design, engineering and construction.
National Residential Master Builder of the Year - Knowlman McDonald McMillan, Queensland
This is a spectacular example of what can be achieved in residential building. The magnificent entry features a 3 metre high pivot door. The house has been designed to provide uninterrupted views across the living room, terrace and swimming pool to the river. Full height frameless retractable glazing to the family, dining room and kitchen creates a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor.
National President’s Award - PacificLink Alliance, Tugun Bypass , Queensland
The $543 million Tugun Bypass has provided a new motorway link between Queensland and New South Wales, easing congestion and reducing travel times for tourist, heavy vehicle and local traffic. The project included design and construction of a seven kilometre, four-lane, dual carriageway, a 334 metre tunnel underneath the Gold Coast Airport runway extension, six bridges, 800,000 cubic metres of earthworks, 160,000 cubic metres of concrete and 100,000 tonnes of asphalt. The bypass is an extremely complex road project and a remarkable example of sophisticated, environmentally sensitive Australian infrastructure. It will improve interstate transit, while benefiting the local community.
National Specialist Contractor of the Year - West Australian Mechanical Services, IKEA Superstore, Innaloo, Western Australia
The IKEA Superstore is a 30,000 square metre purpose-built retail complex. West Australian Mechanical Services were responsible for the detailed design drawings, engineering review, equipment procurement, programming, installation and commissioning of air conditioning and ventilation systems to the complex. The outstanding design and functional feature of this project is the 'thermal storage' system which utilises a one million litre chilled water storage tank incorporating a state of the art DDC control system that allows the refrigerating of the chilled water in off peak power periods which can then be drawn on during normal daily operations, hence reducing running costs and impact on the environment.

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