Ngununggula at Retford Park

October 25, 2021

Ngununggula, the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery at Retford Park is completed and open to the public.

Sustainably repurposing the historically significant Old Dairy into a state-of-the-art gallery space, has been a challenging and rewarding journey for RCC.

Delivery of Ngununggula

After initial funding and proposed heritage site was secured, RCC was asked to assist with managing DA and National Trust approvals, reclassification of land applications, cost planning, engaging consultants running detailed design programme and managing the procurement process for Design and Construct subcontractors.

Acting as a development partner RCC worked with the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery and TZG Architecture designs to plan and manage the design and construction of Ngununggula.

This involved:

Repurposing the existing heritage Vet Clinic into a 500sqm café and heritage Dairy building into an international museum grade gallery space which provides complete flexibility for the operators.
Construction of new ancillary building to house education administrative functions including public amenities, gift shop and offices, as well as an outdoor collaborative learning and event space.
Construction of new carpark and public road which provides access to the gallery and caters for event buses.
Extensive landscaping works including heritage significant landscaping which involves repurposing trees into hard landscaping items such as furniture and wheel stops.
Installation and connection of all major services (gas, water, electricity) as there was limited capacity to the existing authority services to heritage buildings

“Ngununggula is truly a visionary venture, built upon the aspirations of many, and I am excited to work together with everyone to help achieve something of real importance, of impact, and meaning to the community.”

Megan Monte – Ngununggula’s Inaugural Director

The project was managed in line with National Heritage Listing guidelines and included an early handover of the Vet Clinic building to allow for the Café fit out, with the overall project completed to open to the local community in October 2021.

All works to the existing Vet Clinic and Dairy buildings were designed and constructed as temporary with no major or permanent changes to the structures.

RCC employed a ‘Box in Box’ style solution to project challenges, meaning the Dairy building’s historic shell remains, with a new inner shell constructed to house the gallery and honour its heritage.

Sections of the existing heritage structure remain exposed internally in order to honour the historic fabric of the building; these portions of the building are treated from the exterior to protect the internal space from the elements and ensure it meets requirements.
New humidity and climate-controlled space delivered within the heritage building
- Mechanical plant designed to provide the gallery with the flexibility to host all exhibitions – spaces need to meet humidity control certification standards required to meet museum standard lending requirements and host various desired exhibitions.
- Air and moisture leakage to the existing fabric of the building required treatment, to a level that worked for the design and is reversible to ensure the heritage aspects are protected.
- Relocated 7 tonne of plant equipment to service the gallery spaces to the upper level of the Dairy to maximise gallery floor space
To accommodate the flexibility required by a gallery space to house any exhibition and events, RCC had to design and build a bespoke structure to house fully adjustable lighting and AV fixtures. This enables the gallery to accommodate any collection or installation (from still artwork and photography exhibitions to interactive performances) and meets the requirement for the construction to be reversible and not alter the fabric of the heritage structure.

The history of the site

RCC respectfully acknowledges the Gundungurra people as custodians of the land on which Ngununggula now operates.

Ngununggula, means “belonging” in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nation People.

The Retford Park site was originally built in the 1880s. In 1964, James Fairfax AC bought the agricultural property and transformed it into an estate, later gifting the historic home and its gardens to the National Trust NSW.

This venture is the collaborative vision of many, and we’re honoured to have played a role in creating this cultural destination and delivering the first regional art gallery in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

To learn more about the Gallery and their upcoming exhibitions visit: https://ngununggula.com/

6HSL – Parramatta’s Most Technologically Advanced Building

October 18, 2021

RCC recently completed 6HSL; a world leading Innovation Hub which will facilitate collaboration between education and industry by blending A-grade commercial amenity with a vertical campus for the Built Environment.

Standing in the heart of the Parramatta CBD and recognisable by the ‘H’ for Hassall Street incorporated into the Northern Elevation, this facility is the result of a collaboration between project stakeholders Charter Hall, Western Sydney University, Solutions Consulting, Blight Rayner Tzannes, Robert Bird Group, Floth and RCC.

Delivering During Covid

RCC started on site in December 2019. Covid arrived in March 2020 and has affected the construction industry ever since. The team remained agile throughout 18 months of lockdowns and restrictions, adapting the design and construction approach to respond to changing requirements and ultimately complete the project in line with the initial programme.

Key to this success was the careful management of the project’s critical path. Weekly planning sessions enabled identification of programme opportunities and risks, as well as proactive planning of upcoming works and supply chain engagement to limit the impact of overseas procurement delays.

Protecting workers’ physical and psychological safety throughout this period was paramount. The effects of border closures and lockdowns caused fatigue across the industry, so a number of mental health initiatives were implemented to support staff and stakeholders.

More about 6HSL

The 6-star GreenStar, 19-storey building puts innovation and engineering on display, with 15 metre exposed off-form concrete columns and structural steel V bracing integrated into the glass facade. The building technology includes an integrated communications network, smart bathrooms, touchless amenities, one-tap building access, public wifi, wireless charging outlets and lift call apps.

Western Sydney University’s Built Environment Campus resides on the first 6 floors, with the integrated fit out of the Engineering and Architectural faculties including robotics labs, teaching spaces, open learning and amenities.

Structural and mechanical engineering allowed the team to increase the NLA available on levels 7-17 offering fully optimised floor plates built around a tech-infused spine.

Throughout construction RCC worked with the community to build local capability, with a Kickstart Café offering employment for disadvantaged youth and a Strategic Alliance Framework with the Western Sydney University which involves ongoing commitments to research, curriculum co-delivery and industry engagement.

“Following the mutually successful outcome 6 Hassall Street has delivered for Charter Hall, Western Sydney University and RCC, we look forward to extending our relationship as part of the iQ Westmead project.

RCC has demonstrated its resilience, adaptability, and commitment to a common goal in navigating multiple forms of construction disruption to deliver 6HSL within program.”

Mark Stante, Charter Hall

We are privileged to continue our partnership with Charter Hall and Western Sydney University on the Westmead Innovation Quarter project; another multidisciplinary research space that allows collaboration between business, health and research.

Westmead Innovation Quarter is due for completion later this year.

Managing Covid on Construction Sites

September 28, 2021

RCC formed a Covid Response Team in March 2020, made up of a diverse group of people from across the business whose sole job was to support our people and our projects through an extremely challenging time. Like the rest of the industry, we were met with a unique problem that hadn’t been dealt with previously, so it was an opportunity to create new ways of working and collaborating in order to keep the business, our people and projects safe.

Now, 18 months on, our Response Team and the wider business has pivoted from a focus on processes and response plans to managing the safety of our people and Covid cases on site. In 2021 the Delta strain and evolving Government advice has driven our businesses agile approach. Despite the ever-changing Covid landscape, our approach remains centred on the crucial balance between maintaining the safety of our staff and community, whilst ensuring appropriate measures are taken to remobilise the site as quickly as possible in line with NSW, ACT or QLD Health requirements.

Early on we decided that proactively leading an RCC process which was authorised by Health was the best way to manage positive cases and ensure our sites weren’t impacted by the backlog caused by the upward trending numbers in NSW.

The Key to Success

With more than 50 live projects and thousands of workers on our sites each day, managing the safety and continuity of our delivery is important. Over the last couple of months RCC’s Covid Response Team have managed over 25 instances of positive cases attending an RCC site.

In line with strict internal protocols and State Health guidelines, our team’s rapid response to contact tracing, notifications, cleaning and testing protocols has ensured safe and efficient remobilisation of site. This consistent outcome is testament to the stringent measures in place and the commitment of our staff who have all assumed the role of Covid Marshal to ensure ongoing compliance.

Our process, supported by NSW Health, has allowed us to safely remobilise sites, generally within 24 hours, which is important for our workforce, industry and economy during difficult times.

RCC’s process involves input from various parties with detailed analysis of the workers movements applied to a risk assessment model developed in conjunction with the various State Health bodies. Key to this system is our Covid Response Team remaining impartial, aligning our approach with government advice when identifying Close and Casual Contacts.

We appreciate the support of the NSW Health as well as all our trade partners and clients who are collaboratively working with us to ensure an efficient and measured response in every case.

“Much planning goes into any risks our projects face, including for the possibility that one of our workers comes to site COVID positive without knowing. When it occurred on the Walsh Bay project, the RCC site team worked with the COVID Response Team to manage the situation.

Planning paid off as the subcontractors, the client and all involved were kept up to date with what had occurred, how it was being managed and what the next steps were. Cleaners were on site quickly, close and casual contacts traced and testing for the workforce organised. It is a credit to the careful planning and execution of RCC’s COVID Response Plan that construction was underway again the following day.”

Rene Burkart – Project Director, Infrastructure NSW

RCC Positive Case Process

Current Trend

Over the last week or so we are seeing a shift in case numbers and locations, as the vaccination coverage increases, and we pass the 21-day mark after the 1st dose for most employees. This is an encouraging sign as we continue to communicate vaccination as the path out of site shutdowns, loss of work and productivity in the future.

A number of initiatives including webinars with medical professionals discussing the benefits of vaccination on individual and community outcomes, regular communication with staff and major prize draws are making a difference in encouraging RCC employees and our project partners to do their part to increase vaccination rates.

What Next?

With the state roadmaps to eased restrictions being rolled out, we are considering long-term strategies which will allow us to continue providing our workforce with a safe working environment, relevant communication and security.

RCC is working with Government bodies on pilot initiatives to identify ways our industry can consistently manage the impact of Covid on construction sites and communities. As construction returns to 100% capacity in NSW, we remain vigilant and prepared to provide our clients and industry partners with confidence that we will remain responsive and flexible to take on what is next, together.

Keep an eye on our socials to learn more about how we will be protecting our people, our industry and our community moving forward.

Corymbia, A Japara Home

August 24, 2021

Fostering an innovative and collaborative approach, RCC delivered Corymbia, Japara’s NSW flagship Residential Aged Care Facility in Belrose.

Throughout design and construction, we worked closely with our project partners Japara, ThomsonAdsett and CBRE, to develop a deep appreciation of Japara’s vision and deliver a high quality, home-like environment for their residents.

Located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Japara’s Corymbia development consisted of the demolition of an existing dwelling and the design and construction of a 5-storey, 100-bed high quality aged care facility with one level of basement car parking, high level services, rooftop plant and hard and soft landscaping. The facility will offer a variety of services including an in-house café and bar, expansive terraces, a cinema, a beauty, hair and nail salon and a gymnasium. The individual rooms are influenced by the native flora and fauna of the surrounding neighbourhood.

With construction underway throughout 2020, RCC ensured the Japara team in Victoria remained involved and ‘on-site’ with virtual site walks and meetings.

WATCH: Hear about the project journey our collaborative team undertook to deliver this important facility for residents and respect the surrounding residents and community throughout delivery.

Quality Residential

July 7, 2021

Over 4 decades of delivery means our experienced teams understand the risks and opportunities associated with residential delivery. We engage our multi-disciplined team early to ensure our design, buildability and material selection knowledge can make an impact. From pre-construction through to post-completion, we maintain consistent high standards, accountability and service, working with project partners who uphold those same high standards.

At RCC, we love what we do and it’s important to us that we continue to deliver buildings that our clients and owners are as proud of as we are. But don’t take it from us, hear from those who know best, our clients.

We recently interviewed Will Peters, a Project Manager from Greenland Australia, about their experience working with RCC to deliver their latest residential development. Park Sydney Stage 1 in Erskineville is Greenland Australia’s third development with RCC. Having demonstrated our proven approach to quality assurance, attention to detail and superior results, RCC was selected to partner with Greenland on this first stage of the City of Sydney’s largest urban renewal project, which involved the delivery of 330 units and a retail precinct.

“Greenland has built close to 2000 units in Australia now and hands down Park Sydney is the highest quality we have seen. We think RCC is one of the best residential builders in NSW and they just continue to improve and excel at what they do.”

Will Peters
Project Manager, Greenland Australia

Our Managing Director, Jamie Crookes, and the founder of our business, Richard Crookes, are Carpenters. We are a business built on the foundations of trade craftsmanship, and this respect for delivering quality drives the way we deliver buildings. Now in our 45th year, RCC has a legacy of quality projects to protect as one of Australia’s most experienced residential builders.

In the last 5 years alone, RCC has completed 41 residential projects, handing over close to 5,500 apartments. Maintaining high standards and a focus on service from design through to post-completion, we value our long term relationships with industry partners who mirror this approach to quality, safety and delivery certainty. We are proud to exceed our clients expectations and to continue working with authorities, our partners and our peers to align the entire industry with best practice standards.

MORE ABOUT PARK SYDNEY STAGE 1

Park Sydney Stage 1 is a 16,870m² residential mixed-use development in Erskineville, Sydney. This stage involved the design and construction of eight buildings, which included 330 residential units as well as a retail precinct which houses a Woolworths, plus multiple other minor and mini majors.

Life Changing Apprenticeship

April 15, 2021

Delivering Positive Impacts Beyond The Built Environment

Chris Maris is an electrical apprentice on the NSW Government’s Wyong Hospital Redevelopment, who has recently completed his apprenticeship.

Now able to become a licenced electrician, Chris says he not only loves his job, but that his apprenticeship changed his life.

“I can’t believe where I am now compared to where my life was five years ago.

I would tell other people in similar circumstances to take any opportunity that comes their way with two hands and don’t let go. I turned up every day and I changed my life.”

For RCC, project success is as much about the impacts we can have on local industry, as it is about the delivery of a community facility for the Central Coast. Our partnerships with industry and community organisations allows us to create local supplier, training and employment opportunities, and ultimately generate social and economic outcomes which extend far beyond building completion.

As a Central Coast local, Chris was excited to finish his apprenticeship on the Wyong Hospital Redevelopment project,

“It was a dream to get a job so close to home, especially at Wyong Hospital where my Aunty used to work as a nurse.

It gave me the chance to give something back to the local community by helping to build the hospital”

We want to acknowledge our RCC team, who work hard to create a positive impact and a legacy for the community, like Dane, our Senior Site Manager, who supported Chris to realise his goals.

“I am so grateful to Dane who has provided opportunities to so many people in our local Aboriginal community. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him”

For Chris, the opportunity to upskill and progress his trade is the collaborative result of The Glen Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, Aboriginal Employment Strategy and his employers Stowe and Nilsen.

RCC’s commitment to making a positive contribution to the communities we live and work in, aligns with the NSW Government’s focus on increasing training and employment opportunities for those who have traditionally been underrepresented in the construction industry.

More About The Wyong Hospital Redevelopment

The Wyong Hospital project involves the delivery of a new Clinical Services Building, which will provide the local Central Coast community with a new Emergency Department, additional operating theatres, and ICU/HDU capacity, mental health expansion, additional inpatient beds for medical and acute services, clinical and non-clinical support services and parking.

Take this virtual fly-through tour of the future Wyong Hospital Redevelopment facilities:

http://www.gwhr.health.nsw.gov.au/images-videos/wyong-videos

Wyong Hospital Redevelopment Prototype

December 11, 2020

Delivering functional, modern hospitals, which are ready to provide critical care from day 1 is essential. Facilities which meet the current and future needs of the local community, achieve the best long-term outcomes for patients and frontline staff. By partnering with clinical and hospital staff and representatives from the Local Health District and Health Infrastructure we are able to design and build state of the art hospital facilities which support the delivery of vital health care in our community.

On the Wyong Hospital Redevelopment, this approach led to the construction of a several prototype on site, which is offering users the chance to see and test some of the future critical clinical spaces and provide valuable input into the design finalisation process.

Our Senior Site Manager on the project, Dane Lalic, says it’s about much more than a ‘Measure Twice, Cut Once’ approach;

“Building a high-quality prototype with the necessary specifications, finishes and equipment allows the end user to live and breathe the design and ensure the completed facility will offer them a fully functional space to provide patients with the best possible care. As a Central Coast local and having delivered a number of hospitals in my career, I understand how important Wyong Hospital is for the community and the positive outcomes which can be achieved through early engagement and collaboration.

It’s important for us to understand the end user of any building; the more we know about their operational rhythms and what is important to them, the better we can deliver a facility which meets their needs. This approach is of course all the more critical when you are delivering social infrastructure projects which provide such important services for the community; it’s a huge source of pride for all of us at RCC to be able to play a role in building state of the art health facilities”

Dane Lalic – RCC Senior Site Manager

Works have progressed significantly since the first sod was turned on site in late 2019. The construction and fit out of the prototype occurred in conjunction with the early stages of the hospital main development to ensure ample time for end users and representatives from the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) and Health Infrastructure NSW to take advantage of the mock facilities. The project team erected a shed on site and delivered the build and integrated fit out to the specifications and finishes required. Providing the most practical and immersive user experience possible is crucial to ensuring that the completed Wyong Hospital campus supports the operational rhythms of hospital staff and patients and facilitates the provision of critical health care services to the growing Central Coast community population. The sample building is now far from its humble beginnings as a shed and, although only a fraction of the size of the future hospital, now contains inpatient and emergency department rooms all delivered to the scale. The RCC project team worked closely with hospital staff and end users, the CCLHD, Health Infrastructure NSW, Colliers Project Leaders, project consultants and subcontractors to carefully plan and deliver the high-quality prototype, complete with equipment, ahead of the user inspections and testing earlier in the year.

Staff will continue to visit the prototype shed, working with the team to select furnishing, fittings and equipment. It will also be used in the future for training and education sessions as staff prepare to move into the new building.

Hear from the Central Coast Local Health District team about the impact this prototype facility will have on the final hospital and their end user experience.

MORE ABOUT THE WYONG HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

Due for completion in 2022.

Take a virtual tour through the proposed new facilities, with this short Wyong Hospital Redevelopment fly-through:

7 Excellence in Construction MBA Awards

November 23, 2020

RCC is honoured to have received 7 awards, including the overall ‘Outstanding Construction Award’ at the 2020 NSW Master Builders Association ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards.

Being recognised for excellence in construction across multiple sectors and project value categories is incredibly rewarding for RCC. Delivering quality outcomes for our clients, end users and our community is just what we do, so this industry acknowledgment of innovation and quality is a bonus.

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 2020 NSW MBA ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards.

‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards Event

Watch the full 2020 ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards event here:

UOW’s Social Sciences & Creative Arts Building

September 28, 2020

The University of Wollongong’s (UoW) new state-of-the-art creative arts and social sciences building has been officially opened by New South Wales Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC.

The four storey, multi-purpose building features a visual arts gallery, two theatre spaces, music performance, rehearsal, recording and production facilities, a fully equipped newsroom, digital design studio, maker space, simulation labs and indoor and outdoor teaching facilities.

RCC is incredibly proud to have played a role in the delivery of this landmark building on the Wollongong campus.

Her Excellency the Governor had high praise for the quality facility;

“I congratulate UOW for delivering on its vision to support communities by engaging them through creativity

The University is headed in the right direction by being an institution providing world-class facilities in which students, staff and local communities can upskill themselves, explore creativity and be equipped to compete on a global stage.

I am confident this new building will live up to its vision and play an important role in Australia’s economic and social recovery post-COVID-19, by equipping the workforce of the future.”

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC

The building was named the Jillian Broadbent Building, in recognition of retiring UOW Chancellor, Ms Jillian Broadbent AC and her outstanding contribution to the University during her 11-year term.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor, Paul Wellings CBE said the University hopes to engage the best creative minds in the country to ultimately drive innovation and growth in the Illawarra region;

“This new facility is built to attract and develop the best social sciences and creative arts minds and to provide a forum for new thinking, innovation, learning and creative expression that will help drive growth within our communities”

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor, Paul Wellings CBE

To read more from the University about the Jillian Broadbent Building, find the full article covering the opening here.

RCC’s Partnership with UoW

The Jillian Broadbent Building is the second facility RCC has delivered on the Wollongong campus this year, with the team handing over the well-publicised Molecular Horizons facility earlier in 2020. The high-quality delivery of this state-of-the-art social sciences and creative arts building, and world-leading Molecular Horizons research facility highlights the strength of the collaborative relationship between RCC and the University.

More about Molecular Horizons

Design, construction and integrated fit out of the five-storey facility within the operational University of Wollongong campus. The building includes office and administration areas with meeting and conference rooms; research and chemistry laboratories (including PC2 and BC2 certified); animal housing; and an astronomy and chemistry roof platform with rooftop mechanical plant.
These state-of-the-art facilities house some of the world’s most revolutionary technology, including Australia’s most powerful biological electron microscope, the Titan Krios cryo-EM microscope.

For more about the Molecular Horizons delivery journey click here or watch the below video to hear from University stakeholders and the researchers who now call the building home.

Grant D’Arcy to be appointed as General Manager of Sydney and Major Projects

September 24, 2020

In addition to the leadership change communicated yesterday, we would like to communicate the plans for the Sydney division going forward.

We are excited to announce that Grant D’Arcy who is the current General Manager of Major Projects will be appointed as the General Manager of Sydney and Major Projects; leading both divisions.

We believe an efficient business structure with visible leadership will ensure our projects remain agile and decisions are made quickly, allowing the focus to be on reaching project milestones and objectives. This single line of leadership strengthens RCC’s ability to partner with clients to deliver their full portfolio of work, realising efficiencies in contract and construction management.

“RCC has a unique proposition; in addition to being family owned, with an agile management structure and true client first approach; we are able to partner with our clients on their wider portfolio. The Major Projects and Sydney division will continue to deliver those projects we are known for and proud of, while providing our clients with the unique collaborative construction journey that has become our hallmark delivery style.”
Grant D’Arcy, General Manager Sydney and Major Projects.

As mentioned yesterday, RCC is using this unprecedented period to innovate, adapt and prepare for the next phase of growth, and this is the first step in that shift.

The operational separation of the two divisions will remain, with each business unit focusing on their area of expertise whilst creating a single line of leadership for our clients.

Category: News