Victorian Master Builders were selected as winners in multiple award categories at Master Builders’ National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards on Saturday 25 November at the Princes Wharf 1 in Hobart.

Kane Constructions Pty Ltd received the National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award $50‐$100 million for its work on University of Melbourne Arts West Redevelopment, an animated and high‐profile renovation of a 1990s institutional building in Parkville. This accolade follows Kane’s victory as Master Builder of the Year (Commercial) at Master Builders Association of Victoria’s Excellence in Construction Awards in August.

The building’s previously sober façade has been replaced with a matrix of horizontal fins sculpted to depict silhouettes of notable objects in the university’s cultural collection. The interior offers a vivid and textured series of spaces for study and instruction including a 150‐seat lecture hall. An expansive atrium links with the original building by a 30‐metre vierendeel truss, notable for its strength and decorative quality without diagonal bracing.

“This building has an unexpected degree of personality; its interior spaces have a notable but restrained multi‐ethnic flavour that creates a pleasant educational atmosphere,” Master Builders CEO Radley de Silva said. “The way this project is put together is compelling and invites exploration.”

“We are very fortunate to have high‐calibre projects such as these to demonstrate the significance of Victoria’s building and construction industry and contribute to its distinguished heritage.” Mr de Silva said.

Other Victorian winners (photos and interviews available):

Grocon PCL Joint Venture received the Commercial/Industrial Construction Award for projects over $100 million for their work on the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Melbourne. This centre for cancer treatment, research, education and care brings together ten world-leading cancer organisations to form the VCCC Alliance. Due to the nature of some of the areas housing imaging equipment, all aspects of the concrete structure were required to be designed and installed to meet the specific shielding requirements of the relevant regulations.

McCorkell Constructions received the National Education facility Award for their execution of Ruyton Girls School, Kew. The project comprised demolishing an existing school classroom building before constructing a four-level multi-purpose building, plus extensive landscaping. The building displays a concrete-reinforced structure and includes a basement with a functions area, plus kitchen for catering and performing arts spaces and facilities.

Among housing winners, Cameron Construction was awarded the National Project Home for projects under $350,000 for their work on Macs Cove. Taking inspiration from designs of the 1950s this modern home takes advantage of cutting-edge technology and materials. Glass was used for the external facade, creating a striking contrast to the surrounding pine forest. The house features an innovative modular design allowing both bedrooms to be opened up to provide an unimpeded view of all areas of the house’s interior and exterior.

Bayside Construct won the Cbus National Medium Density Award for projects over five dwellings for their work on the Mint apartments. This project consists of 16 apartments spread across four floors, enjoying either panoramic city views or bay views. Each residence offers an expansive floor plan with either a robust dark colour scheme or a bright light-hued palette, which showcases its finishes. An integral part of Mint’s design draws visual interest across the façade, with green-tinted glass and a custom mould for the precast panels.