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

Sydney Modern Project Ground Breaking

November 8, 2019

The first sod has been turned on the site the Art Gallery of New South Wales expansion, the Sydney Modern Project, marking the commencement of this future landmark development.

RCC’s Managing Director, Jamie Crookes said he was honoured to take part in the ground breaking ceremony this week;

“As a family owned Australian construction company, Richard Crookes Constructions is incredibly proud to have been selected to deliver the Sydney Modern Project. We recognise the significant contribution that the Art Gallery of NSW and the arts community make to both the Sydney and broader Australian cultural landscape.
We are honoured, as their construction partner, to play a role in realising the vision for this expansion project and to deliver what will undoubtedly be a landmark building for Sydney and a major cultural destination in the wider Asia-Pacific region”
Jamie Crookes – Managing Director

 

RCC will continue to partner with the Art Gallery of NSW and Infrastructure NSW, as well as a team of subcontractors and consultants to deliver the major expansion.

We have a proud history of collaborating with the NSW Government to deliver important social infrastructure projects and we look forward to working with INSW, the AGNSW, the Royal Botanic Garden, neighbours and the local community on this exciting and iconic project.

 

More about the Sydney Modern Project

The completed expansion involves a new stand-alone building, located to the north of the existing Gallery, and includes new exhibition spaces, a public art garden and the adaptive re-use of two decommissioned WWII oil tanks.

The Sydney Modern Project is scheduled for completion in 2022.

For more information about the project visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au

 


Pictured from left to right: Ben Quilty, Artist Member, Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees; Gretel Packer, Vice President, Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees; Mark Nelson, Chair, Sydney Modern Project Capital Campaign Committee, Art Gallery of NSW; Ryue Nishizawa, Architect, SANAA; Kazuyo Sejima, Architect, SANAA; Dr Michael Brand, Director, Art Gallery of NSW; The Hon. Don Harwin, MLC, Minister for the Arts; The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, MP, Premier of New South Wales; David Gonski AC, President, Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees; Maud Page, Deputy Director and Director of Collections, Art Gallery of NSW; Isaac Wakil AO, Chair, Susan & Isaac Wakil Foundation; Sally Webster, Head of Sydney Modern Project, Art Gallery of NSW; Uncle Charles (Chicka) Madden, Gadigal Elder and Member of the Art Gallery of NSW Indigenous Advisory Group; Simon Draper, Chief Executive, Infrastructure NSW and Jamie Crookes, Managing Director, Richard Crookes Constructions.