2019 Awards for Excellence

Photo credit: NSW Government

Established in 1971, the Awards for Excellence in Concrete recognise and publicise the many significant contributions to excellence in concrete design, construction and materials in Australia.

In 2019, the Concrete Institute of Australia was pleased to receive 59 entries which were submitted around Australia in all categories.

The Kevin Cavanagh Trophy

The Kevin Cavanagh Trophy for Excellence in Concrete is a prestigious industry award, which is granted to the overall winner judged from all categories on the basis of being an outstanding contribution to the quality of concrete construction in Australia, clearly demonstrating an outstanding level of excellence above all other entries.

The 2019 winner of the Kevin Cavanagh Trophy was the Anzac Memorial Centenary Project by Taylor Thomson Whitting, Johnson Pilton Walker, Precast Concrete Products, and Built. The winner was from New South Wales and was entered in the Commercial Buildings category.

The Anzac War Memorial is a landmark building located at the southern end of Hyde Park, Sydney. The original building completed in 1934, is a concrete structure, clad in stone, designed by Charles Bruce Dellit.

As part of the NSW Centenary of Anzac, the redevelopment intent was to construct new education and interpretation facilities, including a water cascade that completes the original 1930s vision for hte Memorial. The redevelopment enhances the Memorial serving as a focal point for future generations to learn about our Anzac legacy and Australia’s war history.

The new underground facilities include education and exhibition areas organised around a new central chamber, the ‘Hall of Service’, visually connected to the Memorial through an open oculus. A new stair flanked by inclined lifts connects the new underground spaces with the existing ground floor.

The structure is the column free space in the new Central Chamber Hall of Service with a visual connection to the Memorial through the Oculus. The structure within the Hall of Service features dramatic precast cantilevers towards the central oculus, leaving the space free of columns.

National Awards for Excellence in Concrete – 2019 Winners

Winners of Awards for Excellence from each state were judged in their separate categories for an overall category winner. The winner received a Medallion for Excellence in Concrete and an accompanying certificate. From those entries receiving a Medallion for Excellence in Concrete, one was judged to receive the Kevin Cavanagh Trophy for Excellence in Concrete and an accompanying certificate. National awards were presented at the Institute’s 2019 Conference Dinner on 10 September 2019 which was proudly sponsored by Cement Australia.

Residential Buildings – Mosman House submitted by Partridge Structural

Commercial Buildings – Anzac Memorial Centenary Project submitted by Taylor Thomson Whitting, Johnson Pilton Walker, Precast Concrete Products, and Built

Infrastructure Projects – Mandurah Bridge Replacement Project submitted by Main Roads WA, BG&E, City of Mandurah and Georgiou Group

Repair & Rehabilitation – Brooklyn Trunk Sewer BTS001 submitted by Eywad

Technology & Innovation – LaTrobe Street Student Accommodation submitted by Hickory Construction Group

State Awards for Excellence in Concrete

All entries were judged in groups based on the state in which they are completed, and winners were awarded with an Award for Excellence in Concrete. Winners received a framed Award certificate. More than one award was able to be granted in each category. These awards were presented at Institute Branch Awards functions held in July 2019.

The entries that progressed to the National Awards were:

Residential Buildings

  • Castle Cove House – Olding Constructions, TERROIR, Simpson Design Associates, and G&D Concrete (New South Wales)
  • Extruded House – MCK Architects and Toki Construction (New South Wales)
  • Mosman House – Partridge Structural (New South Wales)
  • St. Georges Road House – Perrett Simpson, Raid Studio, and Arnet & Browning (Victoria)
  • Roscommon House – Neil Cownie Architect (Western Australia)

Commercial Buildings

  • Anzac Memorial Centenary Project – Taylor Thomson Whitting, Johnson Pilton Walker, Precast Concrete Products, and Built (New South Wales)
  • Lucent – DBCorp, Cavcorp and Torre Developments (Queensland)
  • Waltzing Matilda Centre – A.Gabrielli Construction Pty Ltd, Jolliffe Concreting, Bligh Tanner, and Cox Architecture
  • University of South Australia’s Cancer Research Institute – Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (WGA), Swanbury Penglase / BVN, Hansen Yuncken, and University of South Australia (South Australia)
  • Perth Children’s Hospital – Aurecon (Western Australia)
  • DFO Perth – Georgious Group (Western Australia)

Infrastructure Projects

  • Bridge over Clarence River at Harwood – Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture (New South Wales)
  • Bringelly Road Bridge – Lendlease Engineering (New South Wales)
  • Sydney Metro Nothwest Surface and Viaduct (SVC) Contract – Salini Impregilo S.p.A (New South Wales)
  • The Tramway shared path and seawall project – Wollongong City Council (New South Wales)
  • Ellenbrook Water Tank – BG&E, Water Corporation, and Georgiou Group (Western Australia)
  • Mandurah Bridge Replacement Project – Main Roads WA, BG&E, City of Mandurah, and Georgiou Group (Western Australia)
  • South Metropolitan TAFE (Murdoch T Block building) – Airey Taylor Consulting, Armstrong Parkin Architects, Delta Corporation, EMCO Builders (Western Australia)

Repairs & Rehabilitation

  • Barwon Water Head Office Redevelopment – GHD (Victoria)
  • Brooklyn Trunk Sewer BTS001 Rehabilitation – Eywad (Victoria)

Technology & Innovation

  • Bridge over the Richmond River at Broadwater – Lendlease Engineering (New South Wales)
  • Guide to Historical Steel Reinforcement in Australia – Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia (New South Wales)
  • VDC Precast Concrete – Richmond River Bridge – Australian Precast Solutions and Lendlease Engineering (New South Wales)
  • WestConnex 1B C&C Tunnel Hydrocarbon Fire Design – Arcadis (New South Wales)
  • Arrowhead Artificial Reef – Pacific Marine Group, Glynn Tucker Consulting Engineers, and HME Consulting Engineers (Queensland)
  • Quickcell Wide Flange Super I-Girder – Quickcell Technology Products (Queensland)
  • Innovative Very-High Strength Concrete (up to150 MPa) for Super Tall Buildings: Pushing the Boundaries – LafargeHolcim, Pronto Concrete, and The University of Melbourne (Victoria)
  • LaTrobe Street Student Accommodation – Hickory Construction Group Pty Ltd (Victoria)
  • State of the art design and manufacture of segmental tunnel linings -Salini Impregilo – NRW JV and Boral (Western Australia)