Ashley Barnes recognised as Regional Woman of the Year

December 4, 2023

Delivering innovative and complex design solutions in HNE. 

Last week, 40 current and future leaders attended the NAWIC NSW Awards for Excellence to celebrate and acknowledge the efforts of women in property and construction.  

Congratulations to Ashley Barnes, Design Manager at RCC, for being awarded the Regional Woman of the Year accolade. A very deserving winner, Ashley’s reputation as a champion for equity precedes her – as does her technical brilliance. Progression is complex and multi-faceted, but her vision is clear, “I’m responsible for helping ensure the glass ceiling within this space is shattered. If I can do that, my daughters will have the level playing field they – and all women – deserve.” 


Time and time again, RCC’s clients call on Ashley to deliver innovative and complex design solutions in Hunter New England. Paving the way for regional communities, her client-centric ethos has enabled the delivery of cost-efficient, well-considered design solutions that seamlessly integrate with local surroundings. 

We’re proud sponsors of the Business Woman of the Year award, which acknowledges women in senior positions who positively influence organisational development through exceptional leadership. Congratulations to Cate Cowlishaw, Regional Managing Principal and Vice President at HDR, for her well-deserved win. Cate has a powerful impact on the industry, and her trail-blazing initiatives are creating genuine and meaningful change for women in the building, property and construction sectors. 

 

Well done to all award nominees, and thank you NAWIC NSW for another fantastic industry event. 

 

Supporting the Starlight Express Room

April 7, 2022

Shining a light on the Starlight Children’s Foundation

At RCC, we feel privileged to do what we love – especially for incredible causes like the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Our recent refurbishment of the Starlight Express Room at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle transformed this vibrant community recreational area for brave children and their families.

Uniting with talented industry partners at cost price, our aim was to enhance the experiences of children, families and the Starlight team with a collaborative, modern environment.

 

Starlight staff and families now enjoy abundant natural light from new windows, plus updated interiors, a new kitchen, recording & broadcasting studio, entertainment stations including video games and arts & crafts, and a stage for performers and movie screenings.

The Starlight Express Room is situated off a main corridor leading into the Children’s Ward at John Hunter Hospital. Complying with hospital infection control requirements during construction in the live hospital environment, our team also maintained clear and unobstructed access to the Children’s Ward and implemented strict procedures around waste and dust control.

Thank you to all the generous and talented local contractors and consultants who we proudly worked with to deliver this rewarding project.

Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence Opened

March 24, 2022

Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence Opened

We were delighted to see the official opening of Newcastle Knights’ new $20 million Centre of Excellence in March.

The Centre provides an integrated world-class high-performance training, administration and community facility for the identification, development and fostering of rugby league talent in the Hunter.

It includes three full-sized training fields, a state-of-the-art gym, multipurpose community and function area, theatrette and players’ lounge, rehabilitation space and office areas, and precinct walking and cycle path.

Scope of work included design & construction of a new purpose-built training facility and administration hub, including:

  • Gym & Pools (heated, ice, recovery)
  • Player locker rooms
  • Amenities
  • Office spaces
  • Physiotherapy rooms
  • Doctors consult rooms
  • High performance training offices
  • Commercial kitchen
  • Front-of-house facilities

 

 

 

Delivering this project has created 80 local jobs, providing a major boost to the Hunter construction industry. This is a prime example of how we are building future-focused social infrastructure that sets our communities up for generations to come.

“Rugby League is such a big part of the social fabric of regional communities and investing in projects like this will benefit the game for generations to come.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole

Akin to Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole’s commentary, we know that sports like Rugby League is a significant part of the social fabric of regional communities.

Learn more about this project here.

Riverview Assisted Living Aged Care

February 2, 2022

Setting the standard for contemporary aged living

To meet Australia’s ageing population and increasing urbanisation, trends in aged living infrastructure are shifting towards buildings that cater to a range of lifestyle needs. This has resulted in a preference for independent living supported by community care, as well as a desire for greater autonomy in aged living services.

These trends are reshaping people’s expectations, where variety, quality and accessibility to social infrastructure services are important factors to consider when building aged care facilities.

A NEW ‘AGE’ IN LIVING

Today, providers in the aged care sector are increasingly leaning towards buildings that are adaptable to several stages of aged living. This enables residents to continue living in their communities in an environment where they can enjoy all stages of their life in a single location.

When we were engaged to build a new Assisted Living Apartment (ALA) for our client, Carrington Centennial Care, developing an ‘all-in-one’ building that housed multiple stages of aged living was key.

Combining residential aged care, assisted living apartments and independent living units, the building streamlines all aged living stages under one provider. This new approach enables a range of aged care services to now be included in the ALA environment.

Known as ‘Riverview’, the completed project now creates a space where seniors can readily access essential services and living amenities in a safe, controlled environment.

Consisting of 41 high standard assisted living apartments across three levels, Riverview features a semi-basement car park for 29 vehicles, service and utility spaces on each residential floor and a private Recreation Club including access to an adjacent Wellness Centre, indoor swimming pool, spa and restaurant.

KEY FEATURES

  • A menu of concierge hospitality services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pedicure, hairdressing, medication, companionship support, transport services and palliative care.
  • The building reflects ‘hotel standard’ community facilities on Level 4 consisting of a prep kitchen, dining room, private dining room, a multipurpose lounge and a landscaped roof terrace.
  • Works were carried out within the operational Carrington Estate which is home to existing residents.

With Riverview operational, residents can enjoy comfort and security, with the right balance between independence and care solutions, equipped with a range of services to suit individual needs.

“Carrington pursued this project with passion and excellence in mind. Richard Crookes Constructions underwrote the successful delivery and their invaluable contribution has been followed by a great friendship. We look forward to the team gathering again very soon on our next project.”

 

Raad Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Carrington Care

 

Kokoda Residences Structure Complete

December 22, 2021

The structure is complete on Waitara’s newest high-rise retirement living development.

RCC was honoured to celebrate with Vasey Communities and WMK Architecture, particularly given the significance of the trees utilised for the traditional ‘Topping Out’ ceremony being six Aleppo pine trees which were propagated from a single pine planted on site from the Aleppo pine seedling which has a unique and powerful lineage and story. Stemming from Gallipoli origins, and the Battle of Lone Pine, Aleppo were common, evergreen Mediterranean pines cleared for Turkish trenches… apart from one solitary pine. After his brother died on the battlefield, an Australian Lance Corporal sent pinecones home to his mother in Australia who planted the seeds, raising two seedlings. One of which was sent to the Australian War Memorial to be planted in its grounds in honour of all sons who fell at Lone Pine ridge. A forestry tube seedling program then designated the Aleppo pine for commemorative purposes. Vasey Communities, with its own ADF heritage, received a seedling, planting it on the current site.

The six Aleppo pine trees that were used during the ceremony will be permanently planted onto the new site.

 

“On behalf of the entire Brand Partners team, I would like to pass on my appreciation for the support and effort the Richard Crookes Constructions team continue to provide our team.
Your attitude to collaboration is sincerely appreciated and we look forward to continuing a great and productive relationship.”

 

Simon Lehman, Co-founder/Director
Brand Partners

 

VERTICAL LIVING RETIREMENT DEVELOPMENTS

Reaching this milestone on this 12 storey urban retirement village development is also significant for RCC as it is the first high-rise building we’ve delivered in the aged care sector.

Vertical living has been coined as the future for today’s retirees who want to live in neighbourhoods where they can readily access cafés, restaurants, shopping and medical services, with public transport on hand. In Waitara, Kokoda residents will live in the heart of the community with easy access to essential services and a secure, comfortable lifestyle.

Scheduled for completion in 2022.

Project fun facts
  • 9,716.2 m3 of concrete – equivalent to 4 Olympic swimming pools
  • Approximately 801 tonnes of reinforcement – equivalent to 130 elephants

 

Take a walk through the facility so far

 

 

Glulam CLT Roof at Cranbrook School

Glulam and Cross-Laminated Timber at Cranbrook School

December 21, 2021

The installation of the prefabricated Glulam and Cross-Laminated Timber roof structure on the future Chapel marks an exciting milestone in the Cranbrook School redevelopment project delivery.

After managing the procurement process RCC was excited to partner with our project partners throughout the off-site prefabrication of the Glulam, to then have the product arrive on site this month for assembly and installation.

For this project, we used CLT sheeting on top to provide lateral stability to the overall structure. The unique style of the Cranbrook School Chapel was designed by architecture firm, Architectus. Using real timber, the feature was structurally designed by engineering firm, SCP Consulting, with authentic materials procured from Austria by supplier, Viridi, and delivered by ship via Singapore.

 

PROJECT DETAILS

Due to the scarcity of timber in the market, as well as the intricate design of the Chapel, extreme care was taken to ensure that the timber arrived safely.

Our project team employed digital design coordination to manage the design and construction planning process. Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) they produced a detailed digital model of the timber structure to plan and confirm each step of the on-site assembly process. This approach facilitated confident on-site construction and a seamless process when lifting the structure into place with the crane to set into the steel.

With safety as our number one priority, RCC assembled the Glulam on temporary hardstand above slab height prior to lifting it into its final position. This enabled works to be completed from the ground using ladders rather than working at heights.

This measured approach to ensure the safety of workers on site, also protected the rare Norwegian pine itself and streamlined the overall works to maintain the project programme and quality.

 

QUICK FACTS:
  • The glulam timber was designed and modelled in Australia and fabricated in Austria by Viridi.
  • The timber species is Norwegian pine.
  • Viridi has installed the glulam as a kit of parts on site. The kit includes pre-assembled pieces into three cassettes on temporary hardstand, which are then lifted into their final position on structural steel spigots.
  • The glulam has been assembled off the Chapel roof, then craned and set into the Chapel steel.
  • The total ceiling span is 24.6m x 16.6m.
  • Total of 105 glulam members to assemble four roof types and three cassettes.
  • Total weight of glulam is 12.35 tonnes per cassette.
  • The total weight of the timber structure including the steel structure is 34 tonnes.

 

Glulam CLT Roof at Cranbrook School 2

Glulam CLT Roof at Cranbrook School 3

 

WHAT IS GLULAM TIMBER AND WHY WAS IT USED?

Glulam, short for glued laminated timber, is an engineered wood product. Originating in Germany around 1900 and making its way to Australia in the 1950s, it is used for both structural and decorative applications.

A glulam member is made with multiple layers of solid wood lumber bonded together with high-strength adhesive to form a single structural unit. Glulam timber is a versatile and innovative construction material, used widely in commercial as well as residential projects.

Key applications include:

  • Straight beams, including lintels, purlins, ridge beams, and floor beams
  • Columns, including round, square, and complex sections
  • Tied rafters
  • Trusses
  • Tied arches
  • Arched bridge supports
  • Curved beams

Often referred to as the ‘new steel’, glulam timber is renowned for its incredible strength, durability, and sleek aesthetics. It also leaves a small carbon footprint, as the raw material is renewable and can be reused or recycled. Given its reliability and flexibility to be used across an array of applications, glulam timber is in high demand globally and is considered a scarce commodity in the market.

 

 

SMP Top Out People Hero

Sydney Modern Structure Complete

December 8, 2021

Topping out marks a major milestone in our delivery of the Art Gallery of NSW’s Sydney Modern Project. We were privileged to welcome the NSW Premier and Arts Minister on site to celebrate completion of the developments highest structural point, the roof of the entrance pavilion.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister for the Arts Don Harwin joined our RCC project team, AGNSW and Infrastructure NSW personnel on site to celebrate structural completion and the progress on site since construction began two years ago.

“Sydney is the cultural capital of Australia, this major expansion of our art gallery will attract tourists from around the world.”

 

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet

In line with the Sydney Modern Project’s 6-star Green Star design rating, the roof of the entrance pavilion will be covered in solar cells. The Art Gallery is Australia’s first museum to achieve the highest rating for sustainable design by the Green Building Council of Australia.

The project has been incredibly rewarding for RCC. Involving the delivery of a new building with state-of-the-art gallery spaces for the community, repurposing the existing historic oil tank structures and navigating a unique site, the team has remained focused on collaborative relationships and innovative solutions. RCC has embraced the opportunity of delivering an intricately designed building by SANAA while working within a restricted site, protecting existing structures, maintaining the safety and amenity of pedestrians and vehicles utilising the precinct and surrounding roadways as well as ensuring the existing Art Gallery remains operational and welcoming throughout construction works.

We are proud to work with the NSW Government, the Art Gallery of NSW and the local community to bring SANNA’s incredible vision to life and RCC is one of many stakeholders involved in the design and delivery of the Sydney Modern Project.

“We’re creating an indoor-outdoor campus set in the stunning landscape overlooking Sydney Harbour, on Gadigal Country, with exceptional art experiences for everyone to enjoy and only possible in Sydney”

 

Art Gallery of NSW Director, Michael Brand

 

“We are investing in our future by creating a world-class destination for art and culture. The remarkable Sydney Modern Project cements our city’s position as Australia’s arts capital”

 

Arts Minister Don Harwin

SMP Top Out People 2

 

To date there have been more than 2,500 workers inducted on site, as well as a team of talented consultants and stakeholders all working together to make this happen. Thank you to the RCC Sydney Modern Project team as well as all the subcontractors and consultants involved so far for your incredible effort to achieve this project milestone.

Reaching structural completion took more than 540,000 hours worked on site. It involved the excavation of 80,000 tonne of material, the installation of more than 1,400 tonne of structural steel and over 12,000m3 of concrete (5 Olympic swimming pools).

Despite the pandemic, the Sydney Modern Project remains on schedule for completion in late 2022.

 

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.

 

The People Behind The WHR Project

September 24, 2020

Our Wyong Hospital Redevelopment Team Is Targeting More Than Built Outcomes.

Successful projects are as much about the positive community impacts of delivery, as they are about the completion of fit for purpose facilities. Partnering with the Central Coast community and industry organisations allows us to create local supplier, training and employment opportunities, and ultimately generate social and economic outcomes which extend far beyond building completion.

With the Wyong Hospital Redevelopment building structure now complete, we are looking forward to being able to handover this important facility for the community, and reflecting on the contribution of the hundreds of people behind the project.

 

MORE ABOUT THE WYONG HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

When it reaches completion, the new Clinical Services Building 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.

For more information about the Wyong & Gosford Hospitals Redevelopment visit the NSW Governments Project Website.

The project is due for completion in 2021.