St Bede’s Catholic College Stage 2 Reaches Practical Completion

The New Dominic Building Officially Open

School Principal John Murphy ceremoniously cut the ribbon of the new Block B “Dominic Building” last week, Stage 2 of the overall school redevelopment masterplan. Throughout construction, RCC worked collaboratively with the school, engaging with students and the school community through virtual site tours, regular construction updates and sharing important project milestones, such as the impressive precast column installation.

Learn more about our precast column solution at St Bede’s

The new Dominic Building offers students contemporary, open plan, flexible learning spaces and smaller breakout areas, plus state-of-the-art science, art and food technology learning facilities. Construction also included the large open walkway, known as the Peregrine Trail, which connects the new Dominic Building to the already completed and occupied Block C. This required careful programme consideration to minimise disruption to students in the adjacent and connecting building.

 

“Richard Crookes Constructions were able to work cohesively and collaboratively with the College and the project team to ensure that the projects outcomes were successfully achieved, resulting in a remarkable education facility being delivered for the community and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle”
Kurt Daley, Construction Manager, Diocese of Maitland – Newcastle

 

Thank you to Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle for partnering with RCC in this important stage of your masterplan.

7 Excellence in Construction MBA Awards

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

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.

 

 

The People Behind The WHR Project

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.

 

 

Meet Ana – She Loves Her Job

In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Place to Work, RCC has interviewed 10 employees who love their job. RCC is honoured to have such passionate employees who jumped at the opportunity to share what they do, and why they love it.

 

Meet Ana Cella – A Design Manager with the RCC Industrial division.

Meet Ana Cella. Ana joined the RCC team over 5 years ago as a Project Engineer and progressed to her current role as Design Manager. Ana says it’s the strong family values at RCC that makes her job one to love.

“Before joining RCC, I was a client-side PM and was able to work with various RCC staff on a number of different projects. I was always intrigued by the family values and team approach to projects compared to other companies”

Since joining the team, Ana says she has been fortunate enough to receive invaluable mentorship from various department leaders, which has allowed her to build her own skill set through their industry knowledge and experience.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with a variety of talented individuals in project delivery, new business, the executive team and design who have all been absolutely amazing. They are all such unique individuals who have succeeded in different ways, with different approaches. They have all been great mentors by always demonstrating the company values and showing me the RCC way.”

Over the years, Ana has gained valuable experience across a number of sectors and is now primarily working with RCC’s Industrial division on 2 or 3 live projects at one time. Ana says she has been surprised by the Industrial sector, with the project designs being so much more than a shed. Each bespoke project involves detailed coordination to ensure all components work and flow together and often integrates automation or considers food or medical storage requirements which makes the design process really interesting.

“Industrial warehouses have become more sophisticated, more complex and more exciting than they ever used to be”

With her sights set on becoming a Senior Design Manager or a Design Director in the future, Ana knows she is at the right place with her family at RCC.

“When I come to work and see the Crookes family in their offices, I know I am in the right place with my family…We are lucky to have the family’s strong passion and care on every project. To me, it is very important to have that level of care from the top set the tone for everyone on each job. It’s not just about the numbers, there is warmth and care there.”

We’re proud to have a workplace that promotes strong family values, but it’s our staff that ultimately make this possible.

 

MORE ABOUT THE 10TH BEST PLACE TO WORK

The Great Place to Work assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 700+ employees. It involves an independent audit across areas like hiring and integration, health and wellness, as well as workplace culture.
2018 was the first year RCC entered the assessment and we were thrilled to be awarded 17th Best Place to Work. Within a year, we rolled out a number of new initiatives to better the experiences of our people. To be recognised as the 10th Best Place to Work this year is a credit to our continued commitment to ensuring that everyone at RCC genuinely looks forward to coming to work each day.

 

 

 

Wyong Hospital Topped Out

Topping out marks a major milestone in the delivery of this important health facility for the Central Coast Community.

Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch and Member of the Legislative Council Taylor Martin joined RCC, Health Infrastructure, the Central Coast Local Health District to site to mark structural completion of the new six-storey building.

Impacts Beyond State-Of-The-Art Health Facilities

At such a key time during delivery, it was also a chance for us to reflect on the positive impact our project is having on the local workforce and economy.

To date, the project has created more than 800 jobs. With local workforce engagement already above 80% and 33 apprentices engaged thus far, the Wyong Hospital Redevelopment delivery is making a significant contribution to the local economy, now and into the future.

Thank you and congratulations to all our project partners; together we share a sense of pride in reaching this milestone on a facility which will service the local community for generations.

 

More About the Wyong Hospital Redevelopment

With the traditional topping out ceremony now complete, our team will now focus on fitting out the interior of the building.

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

 

Due for completion in 2022.

 

 

Riverview Assisted Living Apartments

RCC is excited to confirm we will be partnering with Carrington Care and Impact Group to deliver the new facility which will provide a service between Independent Living and Residential Aged Care.

We will proudly deliver 41 luxury apartments and a high-end building featuring a rooftop garden and shared spaces for future residents. The facility will offer a full suite of clinical, allied health and housekeeping services, a full-time concierge and opulent dining area.

RCC and Carrington Care signed the contract this week, with the team celebrating the first of many milestones as we work together to deliver this project.

We look forward to working with our project partners to deliver this bespoke facility in South West Sydney.

 

MORE ABOUT THE RIVERVIEW ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS PROJECT

Design and construction of:

  • 41 assisted living apartments (29 x 1 and 24 x 2 bedrooms) situated across 3 levels
  • A semi basement parking level for 29 vehicles on Level 1
  • Service and Utility spaces on each residential floor
  • Hotel standard community facilities on Level 4 consisting of a prep Kitchen, dining room, private dining room, lounge and a multipurpose lounge room /library with associated amenities
  • Landscaping on ground surrounding the building and a landscaped roof terrace on Level 4

 

MORE ABOUT CARRINGTON CARE

Carrington is a non-profit, charitable public benevolent organisation situated approximately 4kms south west of the historic town of Camden in New South Wales.

Carrington’s vision is to be the provider of choice which enriches and enables the quality of life for all people in our community.

Find out more about Carrington Living Care Communities

 

TRN House

Delivering TRN House

Oran Park Towns’ First Standalone Commercial Building Was Built on Collaboration

The first step in successfully delivering commercial developments is listening. In our experience, understanding the needs, wants and concerns of our clients and the end user early allows us to establish a collaborative partnership with the wider project team, and leverage the diverse stakeholder input to realise an informed, functional design and high performing asset.

Hearing from our project partners that this approach makes a difference to them, makes our commitment all the more rewarding. Glenn Fordham at TRN Group and Wayne Perich at Greenfields Development Company wrote to us acknowledging the impact that this collaboration had on the team and the completed TRN House building;

“We proudly now have an outstanding building incorporating a new bespoke head office to call our home for many years (and hopefully generations) to come…
We will be forever grateful for the RCC team’s assistance throughout the build and in particular, our office fit-out”

(Full testimonial later in article)

Glenn Fordham
Director, General Manager – Projects
TRN Group

 

“Greenfields Development Company joint ventured with TRN Group to construct the first standalone commercial building at Oran Park. RCC was selected as the builder and delivered an A Class quality building. The synergy between Greenfields, TRN, and RCC could not have been better. The RCC team were easy to work with and had the clients’ interests at heart.
Honesty in the building game is hard to find and it was evident throughout our experience with RCC. Thank you.”

Wayne Perich
Director
Greenfields Development Company

 

Priding ourselves on maintaining long term relationships with our clients and project partners, RCC is invested in the long-term performance of their commercial assets, beyond project completion. A ‘one team’ approach with our clients, tenants, consultants and subcontractors, where we are all working towards a shared goal, encourages innovative, solution focused delivery, driving value, efficiency and an enjoyable journey for all stakeholders.

THE TRN HOUSE STAKEHOLDER EXPERIENCE

The collective GDC, TRN and RCC team worked collaboratively with the wider consultant and subcontractor team throughout delivery, which included celebrating project milestones together. The Topping Out Ceremony in late 2019 was a significant event, marking completion of the structure on Oran Park Towns first standalone commercial building, as well as an opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause.

The entire project team joined RCC to see the ceremonial tree craned onto the roof slab, with most guests wearing pink to promote Pink Up Oran Park; a breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign supporting the McGrath Foundation, which involved several sites across Oran Park Town turning a shade of pink during the month of October.

Pictured (left to right): Terry Fordham (TRN), Ron Perich (GDC), Glenn Fordham (TRN), Mark Perich (GDC), Tony Perich (GDC), Wayne Perich (GDC)

 

“We worked with RCC on the Oran Park Commercial 1 development (now known as TRN House) under unique circumstances as both a subcontractor and client. In addition to this, we are an end user in the development. This was our first experience with a commercial build, let alone one of this scale.
From the outset during tender stage, the consistent team gave us confidence in their understanding of the proposed build within the project’s constraints and specifications. A great rapport developed with the team throughout the build and any unexpected issues were dealt with honestly in an ‘open book’ fashion and resolved quickly through to final completion. We proudly now have an outstanding building incorporating a new bespoke head office to call our home for many years (and hopefully generations) to come.
Working with this team has restored my faith in Building Contractors and I look forward to the opportunity of working with them again one day soon to deliver another significant building in the Macarthur area in which we are based. We will be forever grateful for the RCC team’s assistance throughout the build and in particular, our office fit-out. This has been a positive experience we will fondly remember and are truly grateful for.”

Glenn Fordham
Director, General Manager – Projects
TRN Group

Some of the RCC delivery team, including (Pictured front row, three on right): Michael Ryan (Project Manager), Richard Crookes (Executive Chairman) and Cameron Waller (Construction Manager).

 

MORE ABOUT TRN HOUSE

(Formerly Oran Park Commercial)

Completed in April 2020, the project involved the design and construction of a new 6 storey A Grade equivalent commercial centre with a GFA of 10,307sqm featuring:

  • 3 storey basement carpark with 320 vehicle spaces and 20 motorcycle spaces
  • 3 glass passenger lifts (including glass lift shafts) servicing 9 levels and 1 car lift servicing the roof
  • Landscaped roof-top terrace and ground floor central atrium space
  • Associated street level landscaping and public domain works; and
  • Dedicated loading / delivery dock areas
  • The team also completed the Integrated fitout of Level 5 – TRN Group’s head office which included:
    • Collaborative, open plan work spaces,
    • Various offices and meeting rooms,
    • Kitchenettes and an outdoor terrace entertaining area &
    • Custom signage throughout

 

 

Innovation Quarter – Westmead

The RCC team is excited to be on site and commence works on the 19 storey Innovation Quarter in Westmead.

iQ will be a multidisciplinary research space that allows collaboration between business, health and research – a ‘living lab’ that fosters the sharing of knowledge and resources.

“There’s never been a more important time to focus on health research and innovation, and this project collaboration with Western Sydney University will deliver critical infrastructure to support this”

Mr David Harrison – Charter Hall Managing Director and Group CEO

RCC’s General Manager – Major Projects, Grant D’Arcy, said RCC is honoured to continue working with Charter Hall, in partnership with Western Sydney University to bring the vision of an Engineering Innovation Hub to life;

“Innovation Quarter sets a new benchmark for market leading research facilities, bringing together world class research and Australia’s leading businesses, innovators and academics to solve today’s global challenges.

RCC’s focus is on delivering the digital technology and sustainability amenity required to attract Australia’s leading businesses and provide a collaborative and comfortable environment which facilitates multidisciplinary research.”

Grant D’Arcy – RCC General Manager – Major Projects

Within each building, large and flexible floorplates will offer a variety of office configurations, while future-proofed technology will support a forward-thinking workforce. The east and west towers will share a central square, lined with cafés, restaurants, bars, and boutiques – an expansive open-air lifestyle destination for Westmead.

The Innovation Quarter (iQ) will undoubtedly make an impact on the Western Sydney skyline and the international research community.

The masterplan for this landmark facility is targeting leading WELL and Green Star ratings, whilst energy and water efficiency systems equivalent to 5-Star and 4-Star NABERS Energy and Water ratings have been created to further reduce outgoings and environmental impacts for tenants and visitors.

Grant noted that RCC will continue their commitment to generating positive impacts beyond the design and construction of quality facilities, ensuring they leverage the project delivery to benefit the local community and the industry.

 

 

 

 

 

Tamara Jonson

Meet Tamara Jonson

RCC’s Group Head of Workplace Health and Safety

Tamara brings 20 + years’ experience working in high risk industries including mining, tunnelling, civil infrastructure, rail and construction to the role. We are proud to welcome Tamara, who shares our belief that positive safety outcomes are as important as productivity and quality in delivering successful projects and advancing our industry.

Educating and empowering every member of our extended team to take care of one another and go home safe to their loved ones each day forms the foundation of our safety culture.

Tamara says she chose a career in safety after seeing, at a young age, the profound and long-term impact workplace accidents can have on people’s lives and the important difference a proactive, accountable and positive safety culture can have;

“As a child I spent my holidays and weekends travelling with my dad to mines and construction sites, where he was running a cultural change program. At the age of about 10, I sat in a session with him one day and saw these miners sitting in a crib shed crying about a workmate and friend they had lost in a workplace fatality. It really impacted me, and I made a commitment to myself that this was something I wanted to work to prevent happening in the future.”

She says that connecting with people at project level, providing coaching and support to improve communication, planning and leadership, while also having an opportunity to serve them by uniting everyone to provide a safe and supportive work environment, is why she loves what she does.

“I have worked for various contractors and always found myself drawn to working for a business whose core values were based on genuine care for people; I have found that at Richard Crookes Constructions. This business allows you to be part of a family business, where you can make genuine change, with the opportunity and diversity that comes from a large contractor. From the minute I met the team I knew they genuinely care about their people as a family.

For me, a positive safety culture exists when we set high standards and expectations, communicate those standards at every level and then hold each other accountable for maintaining them.

Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that every RCC site is a safe, welcoming and productive environment. Maintaining a best-practice safety culture in line with industry advancements in technology, social responsibility, innovation and sustainability is key to achieving best-for-project results for all stakeholders.”

As a family business, our values and RCC’s legacy is important to every member of our team. As a proud Australian business, we also have a sense of responsibility to our staff, clients, project and community partners. The foundations of our business and the passion of our people is centred on delivering projects we are proud of and leaving the next generation of construction professionals with a safer, more inclusive, innovative and sustainable industry.