Cranbrook School Hordern Oval Precinct Redevelopment recognised in 2023 NSW Architecture Awards

June 26, 2023

Congratulations to our valued construction partner for being awarded the William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture.

Congratulations to Cranbrook School, Architectus and RCC’s project team for bringing home the William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture at the 2023 NSW Architecture Awards.

A combination of enduring architecture and connected spaces, the redevelopment will help Cranbrook School nurture students and foster learning into the next century.

“This redevelopment project incorporates two exceptional new buildings combined with beautiful outdoor settings. The Vicars Centenary Building houses purpose-designed teaching and learning spaces, a drama theatre, a chapel, and an assembly hall,” cited the Awards jury.

Key features of this project included the new Murray Rose Aquatic and Fitness Centre – situated beneath historic Hordern Oval – encompassing:

  • 50m swimming pool with regulated race timing equipment and water polo layouts
  • 20m Learn to Swim pool
  • Grandstand to accommodate 350 spectators
  • Multi-purpose sports hall catering for indoor soccer, basket and netball, cricket practice nets and a spin room
  • Indoor sprint and hurdles training track
  • State-of-the-art Gymnasium
  • Ancillary functions across approximately 6,036sqm of new accommodation.
  • New 124 space carpark

The new Hordern Oval includes:

  • Full size rugby and soccer fields
  • Cricket pitch and nine practice nets
  • Maintenance accommodation for equipment and ground staff

Architectus led the design of the future-focused environment, with the new buildings demonstrating a strong connection to place through physical qualities inspired by “Sydney’s coastal topography of rock platforms, horizontal terraces, cantilevers and headlands.”

RCC is proud to be leading the push to future-proof education facilities across private, public and tertiary education infrastructure. We are focused on delivering outcomes that create sustainable learning outcomes for current and future generations, and are proud to have the Cranbrook School Hordern Oval Precinct redevelopment recognised in this prestigious category.

UTS x RCC Scholarship Alumni ‘Get Together’

June 19, 2023

UTS x RCC Scholarship Alumni ‘Get Together’

We work hard to provide future generations with opportunities for growth and positive change – as such, supporting young women as they enter the construction industry is something we take seriously.

As part of this commitment, RCC have developed a unique program with UTS to recognise and empower high-achieving young females pursuing careers in STEM – the UTS Richard Crookes Constructions Merit Scholarship for Women. Since 2016, 9 students in either the Faculty of Engineering or the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building have received $15,000 towards their degree over a 2-year period, before going on to undertake a cadetship with the RCC team.

UTS Richard Crookes Constructions Merit Scholarship for Women alumni from the past 3 years joined Richard Crookes, Executive Chairman, Samantha Kuiper, General Manager – Design and Innovation, Tony Grippi, General Manager – Operations and Vanessa Riley, Chief People Officer, for a site tour of the iconic Sirius project. This was a wonderful opportunity for our Leadership Team to connect with industry trailblazers – the young females making their mark within the construction and design space.

Due for completion this year, Samantha explained how the project will revitalise the iconic landmark while protecting its rich heritage – offering high-end, luxury living and an unparalleled Sydney lifestyle opportunity.

We strongly believe in the value of camaraderie and creating a workplace that’s both enjoyable and supportive. Given this, maintaining a genuine connection with our scholarship recipients, and in-turn, supporting the next generation of female leaders in the industry, is of the utmost importance.

Thank you to Richard Crookes, Samantha Kuiper, Tony Grippi, Vanessa Riley, UTS and our incredible alumni for joining us at this event. We look forward to enhancing our scholarship programme in the future, and can’t to watch you progress through what will, no doubt, be amazing careers.

Reconciliation Week 2023

May 29, 2023

Recognising the project team for the iconic City Tattersalls Club redevelopment

At RCC, we are proud to support and celebrate Reconciliation Week by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the lands on which we operate our business.

As a private, family-owned construction company that began on the lands of the Eora nation in 1976, we’re committed to promoting diverse and inclusive practices that support and empower Indigenous communities across Australia.

Recently, the project team for the iconic City Tattersalls Club redevelopment partnered with Aboriginal Artist, Kulka Fahey, a proud Biripi/Worimi Woman, to create three Indigenous artworks that brings together our history, people, clients and communities.

The three stunning artworks titled ‘Yannau Boomi – Walk Yesterday’, ‘Yannau Bungai – Walk Today’, and ‘Yannau Koobauki – Walk Tomorrow’, symbolises the history and progression of the City Tattersalls Club, and RCC’s vision for this redevelopment project to create a long-lasting legacy for our community.

 

Yannau Boomi – Walk Yesterday

This artwork represents the history of the City Tattersalls Club, with the depiction of the men sitting, symbolising the 20 members that started the City Tattersalls Club in 1895. Each meeting place represents 10 years of operation of the business.

The community and landscape is portrayed through the use of footprints, representing the pedestrian foot traffic. This acknowledges how well-known Pitt Street is as a major central business district in NSW.

 

 

Yannau Bungai – Walk Today

This artwork depicts the history of the City Tattersalls Club, with the representation of men, and now women, sitting around the centre. This highlights the progression of the Club.

The joinery around the centre meeting place represents the future evolution of the city and the City Tattersalls Club in the years to come. Not having an ending to this joinery creates the idea of continuation and growth.

 

 

Yannau Koobauki – Walk Tomorrow

The split down the middle of this artwork represents the City Tattersalls Club and RCC coming together with a vision for this project to create a long-lasting legacy for our community.

The meeting places (circles) either side of the artwork represent each companies’ values. Footprints are surrounding the centre to show the people within the businesses and the positive relationships they form.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Kulka Fahey for creating these memorable pieces that connects RCC with the history of the City Tattersalls Club and the communities we serve.

RCC Family Day 2023

May 22, 2023

Bringing our families together for the annual RCC Family Day.

Every year, we celebrate the wider RCC family by spending a fun filled afternoon with our colleagues and their loved ones. This year, RCC families took over Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel in Sydney and Dullboy’s Social Co in Newcastle.

The day is part of our Staff Appreciation Program; an annual program of events and initiatives focused on giving back to our employees and ensuring everyone enjoys the journey at RCC.
We can’t wait for the next one!

$65,800 Raised to Provide Health and Developmental Care for Country Kids

May 11, 2023

RCC cyclists conquered over 400km in support of developmentally vulnerable children living in regional, rural, and remote communities.

A big congratulations to RCC’s incredible cyclists, who took on the Ride for Country Kids earlier this year – raising over $65,800 in support of Royal Far West, Australia’s only national charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of country children. 

Team RCC showed up with passion and perseverance, coming together to tackle the gruelling 400km+ course from Cooma to Lake Hume Village over 3 days. From Mark Bowd’s parents welcoming the team into Tumbarumba, Jonty Young being nicknamed “Quadzilla” and the team jumping into Lake Hume on the final day, it truly was the ride of a lifetime.  

Country communities have had a tough couple of years – the impact of natural disasters coupled with the existing disadvantage of distance and availability of services has seen the number of country kids in need of developmental and mental health services drastically increase. For this reason, fundraising efforts are crucial to connect children in rural and remote communities to the critical assessments, services and support they need to thrive. 

David Sharp, Chief Financial Officer, spoke with the Royal Far West team on the importance of the fundraising initiative:

At RCC, we are committed to giving back to the regional communities in which we work. Our dedicated project teams have recently delivered a number of health precincts in the ACT region, including Cooma Hospital, MPS Braidwood, YASS and Harden, Tumut Hospital and MPS Tumbarumba Hospital. These state-of-the-art facilities ensure regional communities have greater access to essential healthcare services.  

Well done to our riders and event facilitators:  

  • David Sharp, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mark Bowd, Senior Project Manager 
  • Lucas Rielly, Site Manager  
  • Obadiah Williams, Project Engineer
  • Jonty Young, Building Cadet 
  • Kane Towns, Owner of Towns Cranes 
  • Chris Schreurs 
  • Michael Ellis, Design Manager 
  • Jess Dwyer, Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications 
  • Megan Jagers, Marketing & Communications Advisor 

 

Coles Group Celebrate Opening of First Automated Distribution Centre

May 3, 2023

Congratulations to our client and Crookes’ Queensland team on this incredible project milestone.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined Coles Group Chairman James Graham and CEO Steven Cain for the official opening their first Automated Distribution Centres (ADC) in Redbank, Queensland. This development represents significant investment in the latest retail and supply chain technology available globally.

This milestone also marks the completion of our Queensland team’s inaugural project – a monumental moment we are delighted to celebrate.

At 66,000m2, the distribution centre is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and will service 219 supermarkets across Coles and Northern New South Wales.

Sustainability was top-of-mind when designing the Redbank facility, with the project team leveraging low energy LED lighting, solar power generation and a 180,000-litre rainwater storage capacity to reduce onsite water usage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined Coles Group Chairman James Graham and CEO Steven Cain to officially open the site. Coles CEO Steven Cain said today is one of the most significant moments since Coles was founded in 1914 and five years in the making.

“This technology is not only a first for Australia, but also a win for the state of Queensland. As we’ve seen during the pandemic and natural disasters, resilient supply chains are essential when it comes to feeding our nation and providing Australians with essential supplies,” Prime Minster Albanese said.

Well done to everyone involved in this sector-leading project.

International Women’s Day 2023

March 8, 2023

Cracking the Code & Embrace Equity

Today we are celebrating the amazing women of RCC across our sites and offices. While the pursuit of gender equity is bigger than one day, IWD reminds us to amplify conversations that will drive progress, but also to reflect on our achievements.

True gender equity needs to be wholistic, which is why our focus is split across a business and industry approach. Internally, we have launched a culture program that underpins our formal DE&I approach, working with every RCC employee to build consistent, caring and inclusive behaviours. Externally we are partnering with industry peers and institutions to start building more opportunities for women at school age. Without change at this level, the industry won’t be able to move past 12% female participation. We look forward to an industry that has both equity and equality for everyone. Right now, we’re looking back to when RCC began the journey of increasing female participation and celebrating the success of women. We won’t stop here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcoming Richard Brown to the RCC Family

March 1, 2023

This week we welcome Richard Brown to the RCC family, as ACT General Manager.

He has rockstar project and executive management experience and we are excited that Richard’s construction legacy will continue with the ACT business. Richard will be leading the long-tenure team, known for its commitment to delivering projects that enhance the local ACT community.

“Richard Crookes’ reputation in our industry is second to none. To be part of the heritage which has made RCC what it is today is extremely humbling” says Richard

Looking for a new challenge after delivering major commercial and aviation projects in the UK, Richard moved to Australia in 2008 with his wife and two children and never looked back. Throughout the 2010’s, Richard often worked in Canberra and formed lasting relationships and an affinity for the city, the people, and the culture. Richard is extremely proud to be appointed as GM for the ACT business and to be living and delivering projects in Australia’s capital city.

“Although the ACT business unit is already a high performing team, I hope to apply the lessons learnt over a long and varied career and secure Richard Crookes as the contractor of choice for our clients in the ACT”


An engineer, now General Manager, Richard has managed large multidisciplinary teams, from both the construction and client management perspectives. During his career, Richard has been involved in many high profile projects; Terminal 5 Heathrow, The New British Library, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Sydney Opera House. His experience spans the public and private sectors in commercial, correctional, health, aviation, defence, mission critical, tertiary education, rail and civil. In more recent years, Richard has had a number of senior executive roles focused on operations and developing new business, people, and culture.

Jamie Crookes and the ACT Team would like to thank Scott Waller’s huge contribution acting as the General Manager for the past 6 months. His positive attitude and love for construction will continue to be central to the ACT team culture.

Please join us in congratulating Richard on his new position, or chortle together over the Southampton Football Club’s current performance.

RCC Fast Tracks School Construction, Ready for Day 1 Term 1

February 6, 2023

RCC Fast Tracks School Construction, Ready for Day 1 Term 1

As a people business, we pride ourselves on delivering certainty for our clients through open, honest and collaborative partnerships.  

When faced with the unique challenge of fast tracking four schools to offset extended inclement weather and other conditions, the RCC team worked closely with subcontractors and School Infrastructure NSW to develop a market leading programme that would enable the schools to open Day 1 Term 1 2023.  

This week we saw the success of this approach as Edmondson Park Public School, Galungara Public School, Jordan Springs Public School and Nangamay Public School opened their doors to new and returning students. Nangamay in particular was delivered in a record time of nine months. 

These projects exemplify our commitment to supporting the NSW Government in their delivery of state- of-the-art learning facilities for students and communities across the state and brings the total number of schools delivered by RCC to a huge 320.  

We look forward to continuing to support the roll out of school infrastructure across NSW in the future.