Coast builders send a message on skills

More than 500 attend 2017 Master Builders Queensland night of nights

Lendlease, winners of the Project of the Year and Health Facilities over $20million, at the 2017 Master Builders Queensland Housing and Construction Awards at Brisbane City Hall. Picture: Erle Levey

THE Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the landmark Mary Cairncross Park visitor information centre were among the major winners at the 2017 Master Builders Queensland Housing & Construction Awards.

It saw the Sunshine Coast bring home 13 trophies in a stellar night at Brisbane City Hall that recognised the best in Queensland building.

Lendlease took out the 2017 Queensland Project of the Year for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Yet it was the overall strength of Sunshine Coast builders that impressed the judges, especially in the construction section.

Not only did the landmark Mary Cairncross Park visitor information centre at Maleny take out Tourism and Leisure Facilities up to $10million but Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Management.

Best Residential Bathroom went to D J Sommer Homes for a Maleny house.

Master Builders regional manager Will Wilson congratulated the award winners and finalists from the Sunshine Coast.

He said it was especially encouraging to see the number of winners in the commercial categories.

"Our skyline has been full of cranes for the past couple years and the region's success in the commercial categories highlights the talent of builders on the Coast,” he said. "All these new commercial buildings are also an indication of the additional jobs available here. Among the state winners are a mix of the largest building companies on the Coast and some small boutique builders.

"Our builders have done a magnificent job against the biggest in the state.''

"I want to wish them all the best at the Master Builders National Excellence in Building and Construction awards in November.''

Hutchinson Builders also took out the Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10 million: for the Gympie Pool Complex.

It was an extremely challenging building using building materials in very unique ways but constructed with skill and attention to detail that has resulted in a fantastic building for the Gympie community.

It combines a 25-metre indoor pool, outdoor Olympic pool, gymnasium, water feature and water slides.

The $1.8billion Sunshine Coast Hospital comprises 150,000sq m of floor space. In addition to the hospital, Lendlease also completed the Sunshine Coast Health Institute, the mental health facility, two multi-level car parks, parklands and the supporting infrastructure.

The hospital, the biggest project seen on the Sunshine Coast, used cutting-edge design and building techniques to deliver the best health facilities available. In a great test of thought, planning, collaboration and quality control, the building process has provided the community with the latest in facilities and technology.

Design changes, modifications and the rapid advances in technology meant everything had to be thought through and everyone had to keep ahead of the build. This meant some sectors working years ahead on the planning.

The Mary Cairncross Park visitor information centre at Maleny was a fantastic community building with a long history associated with the Sunshine Coast, Hutchinson's Michael Michell said.

"The selection of materials including timber, natural stone, glass and steel blends into the backdrop of the rainforest.

"One of the biggest challenges was building an elevated boardwalk through the rainforest without damaging the ground and without altering the canopy above. After months of collaboration with the project team including Parks and Wildlife staff a strategy was established and executed with great success.''

"The passion of the site manager Stuart Hergreaves for both the building and the environment around attributed to the great result.

"This meant being mindful of the flora and fauna during the building process and working with Parks and Wildlife to relocate native visitors to the site such as snakes, lizards, frogs and spiders, ensured the natural harmony around the site was the same if not better than when construction started.''

View the full winners' list and photo gallery at www.mbqld.com.au/housing-and-construction-awards/winners.

Coast's skills on show

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