23 minute read
Richard Crookes Constructions
BUILT TO TRANSFORM
Our genuine connection to construction tradecraft and on-site activities is our guiding mantra and central to everything we do.”
The commitment of Richard Crookes Constructions (RCC) to delivering projects that make a difference to Australian communities channels its founder’s passion for construction.
Richard Crookes, who established RCC in 1976, was himself a carpenter by trade, and his authentic roots remain the foundation of the business more than 45 years later.
“As tradespeople at heart, the Crookes family has a strong connection to construction. The love for the product has very much been the main driver,” notes Marc Avery,
Commercial, residential and social infrastructure in Australia is being revitalised by Richard Crookes Constructions, as detailed by General Manager of New Business and Strategy, Marc Avery
Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Ryan Gray
General Manager of New Business and Strategy at RCC.
“People expect us to be more corporate, but as a family-owned and managed company we come across as very down-to-earth and prefer to let our projects do the talking.”
RCC believes that a truly collaborative project journey, together with aligned partnership objectives, is what delivers quality project outcomes that speak for themselves.
It is this honest approach that ensures the project journey is an enjoyable and harmonious one throughout the RCC ecosystem, allowing the focus to be on reaching project milestones and objectives.
“We ensure that every project has a ‘head start’, where we get together to talk about success factors, things that
create poor outcomes, and expected behaviours throughout the process. To establish these is absolutely critical to collaboration,” Avery outlines.
“Collaboration is probably the most overused word in our industry, but it is absolutely essential. From the architects, engineers, programmers and quantity surveyors through to the client, it’s about having higher forms of collaboration, which we are trying to focus more on.”
Likewise, by maintaining a flat business structure with visible leadership, RCC ensures that projects remain agile, and decisions are made quickly.
“Our structure is very open and transparent. We hear the voices of our 800-strong workforce very clearly, and we aim to create a workplace where our staff bring their whole selves to work every day to deliver really high-quality projects.”
A FINE ART
Operational throughout New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), RCC is unique in its ability to work across a client’s entire portfolio, realising efficiencies in contract and construction management.
The company generates around AUD$1.6 billion in revenue annually, according to Avery, and works on more than 50 projects at any one time.
“The whole strategic focus of the business is to make sure we’re diverse enough and have the relevant experience in every type of project, every geography, and every project size,” he informs us.
“We can execute projects, big or small, in regional as well as metropolitan areas. We’re really happy with the diversity and complexity of the projects we’ve been doing, and in the last five years in particular we’ve become quite well known for complex projects.”
Avery highlights RCC’s involvement in the transformation of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). The Art Gallery’s $344 million Sydney Modern Project is a once-in-a-generation transformation that features a new standalone building, public art garden, and revitalisation of the existing historic building.
The new building designed by SANAA and built by RCC on behalf of Infrastructure NSW and the AGNSW, brings together art, architecture and landscapes in spectacular new ways, with dynamic galleries, site-specific works by leading Australian and international artists, and extensive outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.
With the creation of the new building adjacent to the existing state art gallery, the AGNSW will become a two-building art museum, almost doubling the amount of space for art to be displayed and enjoyed by the public.
The Sydney Modern Project will be the city’s most significant cultural development since the opening of the Sydney Opera House nearly half a century ago, and remains on schedule to open to the public in December 2022 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
RCC VALUES – AT A GLANCE
RCC’s company values guide the way it works, and ensure it stays true to its origins. RCC takes pride in these values; they reflect the culture, character and vision of the company and help to guide its individual and collective behaviours.
CLIENT FIRST – RCC provides a personalised service to clients with a focus on enjoying the journey.
DELIVERING CERTAINTY – Complete confidence that the project will be delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of safety and quality.
DOING AS IT SAYS – Being a trusted and reliable builder, and providing a great service, is what RCC is all about.
FAMILY – RCC has a strong culture based on family values: openness, honesty, fairness, respect, collaboration, and hard work.
FIRST STEP SAFETY – Protecting people to ensure the safety of their future, health, family, friends, and surrounding environment.
MLP Co is a Sydney based building contractor that works across both commercial and residential markets. MLP Co was formed in early 2013 and has grown quickly on the basis of successful project delivery and great client service.
The company was founded by Mitchell Peters, who has presided over a rapid growth period taking on a number of employees whilst still maintaining his commitment to quality and safety. Mitch is a third generation builder who has decades of experience in the construction industry. Paddy O’Halloran joined as Director in 2015 and has managed a vast array of projects and staff in both Australia and the United States, giving him a diverse approach to construction and business management.
The team at MLP Co is highly experienced and brings a professional and organised approach to construction management and project delivery. Their client base spans across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, health, education and government.
MLP Co has achieved their success through an organised, methodical approach to each project, and exceptional client service. They are capable and experienced in delivering projects under a range of different contract types including Construct Only, Design and Construct, Managing Contractor, Cost Plus, Guaranteed Maximum Price and Custom Flexible Agreements.
MLP Co has focused on obtaining repeat business and developing long term relationships with their clients. They are committed to delivering the best results. They ensure that they dedicate appropriate resources to each project and follow a thorough process in selecting suitable subcontractors. Every project includes the personal involvement of senior management in overseeing works, and they pride themselves in being innovators in the industry. They are always looking to find the right solution for complex designs and takes enormous pride in the finished article.
The MLP Co team is committed to the highest standards of safety, innovation and environmental management and they have been ISO certified since 2015. They are also a NSW Government Prequalified Contractor.
The NSW Government has executed a multi-pillar reform program that has included improving ratings transparency on construction firms to support consumers and the community. When the Trusted Builders Registry went live in May 2022, MLP Co was one of only 19 launch constructors after obtaining a gold star rating from the independent construction industry ratings tool (iCIRT), provided by Equifax Australia.
MLP Co is proud to have had a long standing relationship with Richard Crookes Constructions, having worked together on a number of projects including Cessnock Correctional Centre, University of Technology Sydney CB02 to CB07, Hornsby Hospital and currently at Wyong Hospital.
T +61 2 9417 2000 | E enquiries@mlpco.com.au | www.mlpco.com.au
APAC OUTLOOK: WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT TAKE ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA?
Marc Avery, General Manager of New Business and Strategy: “At the moment, there’s a once-ina-generation series of pressures. There’s a lack of resources, both human and material, which is driving inflation, and we’ve had significant environmental factors to deal with from bushfires to floods on various occasions.
“There’s also this paradigm shift within construction towards more of a work-life balance, and I think it’s something that’s changing for the better, which is quite exciting.
“Construction is embracing modernisation, be it through greater diversity in the workforce, increased digital innovation, off-site construction, or sustainable energy, and there’s a fantastic amount of commercial, residential, and social infrastructure being built.”
Cementing Sydney’s position as the cultural capital of Australia, this major expansion of the Art Gallery will attract yet more tourists from around the world.
“It is a building that will forever be regarded as a landmark in Sydney. To be able to deliver the Sydney Modern Project successfully is a stand-out performance and gives us an enormous level of pride,” Avery beams.
As well as the new standalone building, RCC’s project scope for this new cultural landmark includes a covered entry plaza, exhibition spaces, roof terraces, landscaping and associated site works, loading and service areas, and services infrastructure.
The Art Gallery’s new building will be the first public art museum in the country to achieve a Green Building Council of Australia 6-star Green Star design rating, with sustainability initiatives like solar panels and rainwater capture and harvesting part of the design.
Meanwhile, the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct redevelopment delivered by RCC on behalf of the NSW Government, has doubled the arts
Opera Residences and Quay Quarter Lane apartments
and cultural space on Sydney’s famous waterfront with the creation of new facilities and performance venues.
“We have taken a landmark heritage project and modernised it for the next 100 years, giving it a real focus on the arts; it was just a really nice experience,” Avery shares.
The precinct will be home to an expanded group of prestigious companies, including the likes of Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, adding vibrancy and diversity to the city’s night-time economy, increasing cultural participation, and enabling a range of new local jobs.
Elsewhere in Sydney, the iconic Sirius Building is being revitalised whilst protecting its rich heritage, offering high-end, luxury living and an exciting Sydney lifestyle opportunity.
A stalwart of the city skyline, key features of the Sirius Building regeneration include 76 highend apartments with spectacular 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour, three SOHO (small office/home office) units, a separate building that features a pool and café, and several pools for rooftop apartments.
“We’re really proud of some of our high-end residential work, having built some of the highest grossing apartments on Sydney Harbour,” acclaims Avery, who cites the delivery of luxury Opera Residences and Quay Quarter Lane apartments as further examples of RCC’s success in the residential space.
EDUCATIONAL SPACES
RCC loves to build spaces with the end user in mind.
A prime example of this is the recently completed Westmead Innovation Quarter (WIQ), where research meets technology and the brightest minds in the field are united.
Partnering with Charter Hall and Western Sydney University (WSU), WIQ is a multidisciplinary, mixeduse research space that fosters collaboration, knowledge and resource sharing.
WIQ sets a new benchmark for market-leading research facilities, bringing together the international research community and Australia’s leading businesses, innovators and academics to solve today’s global challenges.
Large and flexible floorplates within each building offer a variety of office configurations, whilst futureproof technology supports a forwardthinking workforce.
“We’re very proud of WIQ. It’s an asset that can be used as a workplace
BVN
SIRIUS: Everything old is new again
Saved from demolition and now on the brink of a new chapter, Sirius is one of many Australian buildings being redeveloped rather than rebuilt. It’s the more difficult route to take, but the one that will ultimately lead to a harmonious and sustainable harbourside icon.
“We saw in Sirius the opportunity to retain, restore and reimagine,” says Phillip Rossington, BVN Principal Architect. “It’s an iconic piece of architecture and Sydney history. Our design pays tribute to this in a very tangible way.”
The interplay of old and new underpins BVN’s designs for Sirius. Firstly it retains original proportions and materials - the existing concrete façade will be restored. And secondly it builds on this - new copper pods are a modern interpretation of the original concrete modules. The concrete language speaks to the building’s architectural past, and the new copper responds with a design language of today.
BVN is also designing the interiors for the 77 apartments as well as the lobby, rooftop and restoring the historic Phillip Bay Room. This means the design for Sirius will be well integrated from top to bottom and from the inside out. And a green rooftop will create an urban oasis amidst the buzz of the harbour city, tying together the entire property.
“It’s not just about making something beautiful. It’s about making something meaningful,” says Sally Campbell, BVN Principal and Interior Designer.
BVN and Richard Crookes Constructions will deliver a new Sirius into Sydney by the end of 2022.
www.bvn.com.au
6HSL Project
but also a teaching place, so it’s really activating a number of users,” Avery says.
Like WIQ, the delivery of the 6 Hassall Street (6HSL) project is also the result of a collaboration between Charter Hall and WSU.
A world-class education and innovation hub, 6HSL is another of RCC’s key developments and stands at the heart of the Parramatta central business district, recognisable by the ‘H’ incorporated into the Northern Elevation.
It boasts a stunning ‘tripleheight’ entry precinct with an activated ground floor public plaza complemented by food, beverage and retail providers.
Complete with dynamic university showcase spaces, user experience labs and technology-rich installations, education meets industry at 6HSL, a collaborative environment that stimulates the best ideas and is the perfect home for ambitious, forwardthinking businesses.
It comes as RCC leads the push to futureproof facilities across public, private, and tertiary education infrastructure. The company collaborates with stakeholders to produce educational spaces that create teaching opportunities and optimise learning.
Innovative construction only becomes a reality when a collaborative team comes together and works hard to do something new. This is often fostered in the tertiary space, where universities invest heavily in planning and design to deliver student-centric, blended learning environments that attract the very best professors and students from across the world; the development of 6HSL is a prime example of these components in action.
Combell Steelfab
Combell Steelfab is one of the leading structural steel fabricators in Sydney. Established in 1970, we are a family-owned business with over 52 years of experience. The company was originally started by Ron Comin and his partner, and over the years Ron’s sons, Paul and Darren, have both joined Combell Steelfab.
Having built our name on the key values of performance, reputation, and reliability, we are a prime example of just how successful a family-owned Australian manufacturing business can be.
Combell Steelfab is a leader in providing high-level construction services at a fair and competitive price. We do so by creating a successful partnership with the builder, from tender to project execution, through to completion and beyond. Our aim is to establish lasting relationships with the builder by exceeding their expectations by delivery and erection of steelwork on time every time.
We are a member of the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) and by extension, the Environmental Sustainability Charter. This is centred on the key three key pillars of:
• Responsible steel procurement. • Green Star environmental rating. • Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Through Combell Steelfab’s work with Richard Crookes Pty Ltd., we have been involved in several strategic projects, including:
• GWA - Prestons • Lot 1A Oakdale - Horsley Park • Project Blue - Orchard Hills • Toll - Prestons • Woodpark Rd - Smithfield • Orrcon - Marsden Park • Logos - Marsden Park • Masonry Plant - Horsley Park • Coles - Kemps Creek • Lot 2, 3, 4 - Bankstown Airport
www.combell.com.au
Providing structural steel fabrication for the Sydney Metro, Newcastle, and Canberra areas since 1970
Combell Steelfab based in Western Sydney Liverpool, is one of the leaders in structural steel fabrication offering a range of services to the industrial & commercial building industry. From structural steel fabrication, blasting & painting, site delivery & erection, design & construction & project management team, Combell has the capabilities to meet your needs.
OUR SERVICES: - Blasting & Cleaning - Welding & Fabrication - Painting & Paint finishes - Site erection project management - Completion - Transport
Paul Comin - General Manager 0417 087 773
Darren Comin - Site Manager 0417 087 774
Ron Comin - Managing Director 0417 087 771
Combell Steelfab Pty Ltd 51 Jedda Road, Prestons NSW 2170 (02) 9607 3822 steelfab@combell.com.au
Alexandria Park Community School
“Some of the other projects that we’re really proud of include our work at the University of Sydney. We’ve also just finished one of our biggest ever school infrastructure projects at Alexandria Park Community School,” Avery adds.
COMMUNITY-FOCUSED HEALTHCARE
At RCC, health infrastructure is built to support the needs of communities now and into the future across regional and metro areas.
With over 40 years of healthcare project experience for both government and private clients, RCC knows the importance of working in live and complex environments such as hospitals, whilst protecting the essential operations.
To significantly increase health capacity on the Central Coast and meet the growing healthcare needs of the community, RCC recently delivered a six-storey state-of-the-art Clinical Services Building (CSB) in December 2021 as part of the Wyong Hospital redevelopment.
The $200 million CSB project comprised a new emergency department, operating theatre and medical imaging department, more inpatient beds and intensive care services, enhanced paediatric services, and an additional 114 parking spaces.
Refurbishment works also took place, such as alterations to the central sterile services department (CSSD) packing and decontamination areas, an additional operating theatre, and more recovery bays and support spaces.
“The Wyong Hospital redevelopment was really special for us. We’ve got a very large regional business, and we’re very invested in regional areas,” emphasises Avery.
“We were working right next to a live hospital and had to build quite a large building in a regional area. Throughout delivery we drove a high level of local industry engagement as well as a number of training initiatives. It took a very high level of care to get it done on time and within budget, which we were able to do.”
The project will improve the experience of patients by providing them with access to more health services closer to home, enabling them to remain near family, friends, and existing support networks.
ENHANCED CULTURE
As a business based on family values with care for people at its core, the culture at RCC is continuously worked on.
Allcott Hire
At Allcott Hire we are constantly expanding and evolving our range of equipment to respond to the changing environmental and safety climate.
We also cater for the changing needs of our customers that range from DIY through to construction, building maintenance, traffic management and Infrastructure.
So whatever your requirements, day or night, you can always count on Allcott Hire to provide you with the quickest service and the best range of tools, plant and equipment to always get the job done, on time and on budget.
www.allcotthire.com.au
Austruss
Smalls Road Public School is a prime example of the working relationship between Austruss and Richard Crookes Constructions. Innovation demands trust.
Our many years of partnership allows innovation of modern methods of construction specific to each project, delivering unprecedented efficiency, safety and quality for clients.
At Austruss, we love nothing better than to look at the structure of a building and to develop a way to build it smarter. We look forward to delivering projects of merit for our communities with Richard Crookes Constructions into the future.
www.austruss.com.au
Leaders in prefabrication since 2003
We are proudly Australian owned, designed and made, providing prefabricated light gauge steel framing as well as prefabricated elements such as floor cassettes, wall and facade panels, modular construction, skids for data centres and bespoke solutions. We work in Education, Health, Aged Care, Commercial, Residential and Infrastructure sectors.
7 Braemar Avenue, Braemar, NSW 2575 | 02 4860 1400 | info@austruss.com.au
www.austruss.com.au
Network Architectural
Network Architectural is proud to have supported Richard Crookes Constructions with the supply of high-quality cladding products.
We are a trusted partner for innovative façade and ceiling solutions, and the exclusive distributor of the industry’s leading brands including Mitsubishi ALPOLIC™ NC, a durable, fire-safe, fully compliant aluminium composite cladding with a 20-year full-cover unconditional warranty.
Passionate about what we do, we listen, learn, and always strive to improve. Helping find the best solution for your designs, specifications, and project requirements is our priority. We look forward to continuing to support Richard Crookes Constructions on future projects.
Alexandria Park Community School
Indeed, a Future Culture Programme has recently been launched based entirely around RCC’s culture and creating great experiences, for people that work at or with RCC.
“Our big bet at the moment is the Future Culture programme. It is building on half a century of doing business with a people focus, and enhancing it to the point where both the employee and client experience is better at RCC than anywhere else,” Avery states.
“We’re nine months into the programme and have started the programme with the executives and key leaders in the business, as we believe behavioural and cultural change should be seen from the top down. Our view is that the industry is still very much people-led, and that the success of the industry as a whole depends on providing a better working environment. We’re trying to make that change in our sphere of influence.”
Equally, as a family company, the safety of RCC’s employees and communities is a natural priority and central to achieving a First Step Safety Culture.
The company understands the impact its footprint can have on those who come into contact with its construction sites. As such, it goes above and beyond simply ensuring the safety of site entrants.
Indeed, RCC sees itself as responsible for educating employees, subcontractors and stakeholders, ensuring they leave RCC sites with increased awareness and the skills and tools to drive a better safety culture in the wider industry.
“Safety is a very big thing. We treat our people like family and provide the safest possible workplace for them. The idea of being a family business is very much the basis of everything we do, particularly when it comes to safety.”
www.networkarchitectural.com.au
– MARC AVERY, GENERAL MANAGER OF NEW BUSINESS AND STRATEGY, RCC
THE CHANGING FACE OF CONSTRUCTION
In recent times, RCC has found that wanting to work for RCC, and being proud to do so, involves more than just the projects it builds.
Quay Quarter
– MARC AVERY, GENERAL MANAGER OF NEW BUSINESS AND STRATEGY, RCC
It also involves the way in which the company builds, from the impact it has on the environment to diversity within the industry.
“Construction is one of the biggest employers in Australia, and under traditional workplace practices, we’re excluding almost half of the population from joining, so we’ve got to make the industry more inclusive,” Avery observes.
To create a diverse workforce from the ground up, the RCC Cadet, Apprentice and Graduate Programmes provide first-hand experience across various aspects of the business.
Cadets rotate between four areas of the business to gain exposure across a variety of roles, and ensure they build the skills necessary to progress upon graduation.
The programme is designed to provide employment and on-the-job experience to students, as well as support their studies so that when they graduate, they can make an informed decision about their career path and step into a full-time role in their chosen area.
“By having a Cadet Programme, in which we’ve now got 100 people under the age of 22 starting their careers with us, we’re sowing the seeds for the long-term benefit of both RCC and the industry; that’s so important to us,” affirms Avery.
“In the last four months alone, we have seen a four percent increase in female participation in the business. And while we have a number of Schools Engagement Programmes and University Partnerships to drive female participation in more junior roles, we also have a focus on creating leadership pathways and keeping women in the industry for the long-term.”
As well as driving a diverse future for the industry, RCC is dedicated to moving towards more sustainable construction practices.
Construction has a sizable impact on the environment and climate
change, however RCC is committed to the delivery of sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders, partners, and communities in which it operates.
“There are huge focus areas on sustainability in the way you construct buildings, so we want to be at the forefront of that,” Avery reveals.
Similarly, from individual projects through to company level, RCC undertakes regionally unique and impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“We have a very strong connection to the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation. We provide support for their major fundraising activities, so that’s a key focus of our charitable position; we also make a number of smaller contributions across multiple fronts.
“With over 50 live sites we have the ability to have a huge impact on the community. Our focus in on ensuring it’s a positive impact and we can create a legacy in the areas we work. We’ve also just launched our Indigenous Impact Plan (IIP) which formalises a genuine commitment to supporting tangible socio-economic outcomes for First Nations peoples in partnership with indigenousowned businesses, service providers, community leaders and members.”
LASTING LEGACY
RCC’s company philosophy is built on long-term relationships, and the success of its partners and their projects.
“We price around 100 projects a year. This exposure to the market allows us to speak to an enormous number of suppliers and subcontractors,” Avery tells us.
“Our focus on having better Tel: 02 9902 4700 reception@richardcrookes.com.au www.richardcrookes.com.au
relationships with suppliers and subcontractors is a key part of RCC’s future success. For us to go out to the market and have their support when we only win 25 percent of projects is enormous.
“We can’t thank our subcontractors enough for the fact they keep coming back and supporting us to win and deliver work.”
With this unwavering support, RCC will continue to leave a lasting legacy and deliver the commercial, residential and social infrastructure to enable growing communities.
