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.

Emergency Contacts – Holiday Closure 2022/2023

December 16, 2022

Our offices and sites will be closed or operating with reduced hours throughout the holiday season between the 23rd of December 2022 and the 9th of January 2023. We have provided a list of emergency contacts for all projects in the event that you need to get in touch with a member of our team during this time.

We wish everyone a happy and safe festive season and new year!

Emergency Site Contacts – Christmas Period 2022

Celebrating our Biggest Achievement – Sydney Modern

December 3, 2022

Celebrating the opening of Sydney Modern – RCC’s most significant project to date

Sydney Modern is one of the most significant projects delivered by Richard Crookes Constructions (RCC) in our 46 year history. An already complex project with a bespoke design and construction approach, the RCC team also overcame challenges caused by bushfires, the pandemic and record rainfall. Throughout, we continued to execute innovative construction methods to deliver an iconic, state of the art gallery space for the community.

In line with the Sydney Modern Project’s 6-star Green Star design rating over 8,000sqm of green roof and landscaped area planted with Australian native species and 735 solar panels have been installed, with the panels covering nearly 1,500sqm of roof top space. RCC enjoyed the challenge in the repurposing of the existing two disused World War II naval oil tanks. This resulted in a new unique art space in the southern tank, while the northern tank structure has been partially retained for the adjacent back of house area and loading dock servicing the new building.

The Tank space in the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new SANAA-designed building. Photograph: Jenni Carter

Navigating a unique site, the quality of the project is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the RCC project team. The building is formed by a series of pavilions, and is suspended over one of the city’s busiest freeways. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning practice SANAA, partnering with local practice Architectus, the focus was on complimenting the location. The new exhibition space is an expression of the city’s deep love of the Arts, and is the most significant cultural development in the city, since the opening of the Sydney Opera House nearly half a century ago.

Aerial view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photograph: Iwan Baan

Working collaboratively to deliver on the collective vision, they were able to remain agile in the face of the challenges arising from the pandemic and record rainfall throughout the construction journey.

Interior view featuring Takashi Murakami Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters. Photograph: Iwan Baan

It is an honour to have partnered with the Infrastructure NSW, the Art Gallery of NSW and the local community to deliver this exceptional project. We look forward to celebrating this project, and all it offers to the city of Sydney, its visitors and the Arts Community for many years to come.

Take a virtual tour through the newly delivered space:

Yayoi Kusama Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos 2022. Photograph: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Zan Wimberley

Installation view of Francis Upritchard Here Comes Everybody 2022. Photograph: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Christopher Snee

Installation view of the Yiribana Gallery featuring (from left) Yukultji Napangati Untitled 2005, Doreen Reid Nakamarra Untitled 2007, Bobby West Tjupurrula Tingari sites around Kiwirrkura 2015 and Ronnie Tjampitjinpa Tingari fire dreaming at Wilkinkarra 2008, and (top) Yhonnie Scarce Death zephyr 2017. Photograph: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Zan Wimberley

Installation view of Lee Mingwei Spirit House 2022. Photograph: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio

9 Excellence in Construction MBA Awards

November 14, 2022

We are ecstatic to have taken home nine awards at the Master Builders Association of New South Wales Excellence in Construction Awards 2022 on Saturday night!

These awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements by our teams and project partners involved in the delivery of these award-winning projects. Delivering projects we are proud of, and creating quality outcomes for our clients and community is what we do, so it’s incredibly rewarding to receive industry recognition for innovation and excellence at this year’s MBA awards.

Congratulations to the RCC project teams and all our subcontractor, consultant and supply partners involved in delivering these incredible projects.

For us, success is about delivering important developments for our local community, working together with our clients and project partners to leave a legacy that we can all be proud of. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in the design and delivery of these award-winning projects.

Interested in these incredible award-winning projects? Keep an eye out on RCC’s social media accounts over the coming weeks for feature stories on each project, showcasing the the innovation and excellence behind their recognition in the 2022 NSW MBA ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards.

RCC High Performer’s Program

April 14, 2022

Growing our High Performers

At RCC, we believe our high performers are our future leaders. It’s our mission to guide and prepare them for continued learning, development and career growth.

This year, we kicked off our High Performer’s Program with a workshop focused on resilience, critical thinking, self-belief and goal setting.

Forming part of our ‘Grow Our Own’ strategy, the program supports our mission to develop our employees and prepare them for continued career growth. Our Senior Leadership Team identifies our top talent and selects high performers to be included in the program each year.

This program is designed to support our high performers with leadership skills, paving their pathways to future RCC leadership positions. Each session enables our participants to apply learning that encourages new ways of thinking and productive self-reflection.

Congratulations to everyone for kicking off such a successful event and a special thanks to Julien Prosser, Director at Slight Edge Consulting Australia, for facilitating such a dynamic discussion.

Fly across Oakdale East Estate

April 13, 2022

Take a flight across Oakdale East Estate

The effects of a global pandemic and lockdowns have driven exponential growth of the manufacturing and distribution sector across Australia, shifting the focus on innovation and efficient economic growth.

Goodman and Brickworks are meeting these requirements at the new Oakdale East Estate, creating 32,000m² of functional and versatile warehouse space in Western Sydney’s Aerotropolis.One warehouse within the estate delivers one of the most sophisticated masonry plants in the world, occupied by Austral Masonry.

The facility uses the latest in masonry production technologies from overseas suppliers. Capitalising these emerging technologies ensures the production of over 220,000 tonnes of bricks every year, supporting the growing product demand within the construction industry.

Learn more about this project here.

Emergency Contacts – Holiday Closure 2021/2022

December 16, 2021

Our offices and sites will be closed or operating with reduced hours throughout the holiday season between the 23rd of December 2021 and the 5th of January 2022. We have provided a list of emergency contacts for all projects in the event that you need to get in touch with a member of our team during this time.

We wish everyone a happy and safe festive season and new year!

Emergency Site Contacts – Christmas Period 2021

UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence 2021

December 13, 2021

Congratulations to all those involved in the delivery of The Royce retirement living development and Foreshore Lake Macquarie residential project which received awards for excellence at the 2021 Urban Developer Institute of Australia NSW awards this month.

The Urban Developer Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW awards shine a spotlight on innovation, sustainability, industry leadership and excellence in urban development across multiple sectors.

FORESHORE LAKE MACQUARIE

Winner – NSW Regions Development

Congratulations to Stevens Group and all our project partners involved in delivering this project which was recognised for its seamless integration into the existing public spaces, including Lake Macquarie foreshore. The four-storey boutique development was designed to create strategic view corridors and welcoming open spaces, enhancing the liveability for residents.

Foreshore Lake Macquarie involved the design and construction of 37 bespoke residential units on the waters edge in Lake Macquarie, each with a unique floor plan. The three buildings, ranging from three to four storeys in height as well as ground floor commercial in the main building, external terraces, private lawn, basement parking for 93 vehicles and shared common areas.

THE ROYCE RETIREMENT LIVING

Winner – Retirement Living

Congratulations to Tulich and Calderflower and all our project partners involved in delivering this project which was recognised for providing Western Sydney with a premium retirement and aged care community adjacent to the existing Panthers Penrith entertainment precinct after overcoming constraints around the design for the development and including the flexibility for additional capacity in the future.

A huge thank you to our RCC teams involved in delivering these incredible projects for our clients, the residents and our local communities.

32 Smith Street 6 Star Green Star Certified

December 2, 2021

We understand that when we provide sustainable design and construction solutions, we’re having a positive social, environmental and economic impact that affects our clients, as well as the communities we live and work in. Generating positive outcomes beyond the built environment is part of the legacy we want to leave for future generations.

As such, we are delighted to announce that another RCC development, 32 Smith Street has achieved 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built certification from the Green Building Council of Australia.

In collaboration with the GPT Group, we proudly delivered a smart, sustainable commercial solution in the heart of Parramatta.

MORE ABOUT 32 SMITH STREET

The 32 Smith Street project involved the design and construction of a new 28,000sqm (GFA), 28 storey commercial tower in the heart of Parramatta’s CBD.

6 Star Green Star – Design and As Built Certification

RCC was originally contracted o provide a 5 Star Green Star Design & As Built development for GPT, however we were able to work collaboratively with GPT and project stakeholders to target and ultimately achieve the higher rating which we are incredibly proud of.

This certification by the Green Building Council of Australia is testament to our commitment to providing holistic sustainable outcomes for our clients, building end users and the communities we serve.

What we delivered

19 levels of commercial space (Level 7 – 25) which includes high rise and low-rise floors and 2 levels with outdoor terraces (Level 7 & 25).
Glass lift shaft and 8 high-speed passenger lifts in glass lift shaft (4 Low Rise & 4 High Rise)
3 levels of above-ground, naturally ventilated carpark (Level 03 – 05), designed and delivered to provide GPT with the option to later convert into office space. The carpark features parking for 113 vehicles.
4 Levels of Plant across the development
- Level 06: EOT + Plant Room 1
- Level 26-28: Plant Room 2 + BMU
End-of-Trip facilities for 135 internal and 16 external bicycle parks
Public domain improvements including two new laneway links known as James Lane to the East and William Lane to the South, and enhancements to Phillip and Smith Streets

Delivered with a fully integrated building technology platform on an Integrated Communication Network (ICN), the as built model includes asset management and ability to produce a Digital twin. This intuitive, comfortable building also pays respect to the history of the site and traditional owners of the land, the Darug people, through art installations which occupants and the community can enjoy.

Congratulations to the GPT Group, Fender Katsilidis, our RCC 32 Smith Street project team and all the talented consultants and contractors involved in delivering this development and achieving this recognition of sustainable design and construction.