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Taylor and Scape Australia recently joined special guests to celebrate the topping out of Scape Kingsford, marking the completion of the project’s highest structural point.

The Topping Out Ceremony was led by Project Director, Peter Yamin, who welcomed guests and commenced formalities with a Welcome to Country. Philip Bermingham, General Manager – Major Projects, acknowledged the collaborative efforts responsible for reaching this milestone, followed by Tim Peel, Chief Financial Officer of Scape, thanking Taylor’s delivery team and other key stakeholders for their dedication and contributions.

Keeping with tradition, a tree was placed on top of the 18-storey building as a symbol of good luck for future occupants. Following formalities, a site tour was provided to guests to appreciate the impressive milestones achieved.

In support of the UN Women’s Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign, Taylor joined the Property Council of Australia and Champions of Change Coalition as they hosted a panel discussion over lunch.

The industry-wide event addressed the impacts of domestic and family violence in our workplaces and society, and provided valuable insights into the collective actions we can take to contribute towards a safer and more equitable industry. Australia’s Minister for Social Services, Hon Amanda Rishworth MP provided a keynote address followed by a panel discussion moderated by Elizabeth Broderick AO, Founder of the Champions of Change Coalition.

As the nation’s largest employer, the property sector plays a vital role in investing in gender-based violence prevention. It is crucial to understand how organisations can support their staff and incorporate gender equality conversations in their workplaces.

Congratulations to our Gordon Quarter project team for being awarded the National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award– Retirement Villages at the Master Builders Association Excellence in Building and Construction Awards 2023.

Working closely with Anglicare and Allen Jack+Cottier Architects, Taylor brought this state-of-the-art development to life. The redevelopment includes 40 new independent living units, a brand-new 107 Roden Cutler Lodge residential aged care home, and the Burnham Thorpe Heritage Conversion to new living apartments and community spaces.

Gordon Quarter also features new community facilities including a Café, snooker room, wine cellar, and outdoor BBQ areas, as well as spacious common areas, beautifully landscaped gardens and terraces, staff facilities and associated carparking.

Respecting the history and heritage of the existing Burnham Thorpe building was a significant component of this project. By collaborating with the local community, the Taylor team maximised every opportunity to protect and enhance existing architecture, as well as maintain fauna and flora DA requirements.

Congratulations to our client, Anglicare, consultants and subcontractors for their dedication in the delivery of this multiple-award winning project.

Learn more about Gordon Quarter here.

Last Thursday night, Team Taylor gave up their cozy beds and joined other industry professionals to sleep under the stars for the Property Industry Foundation (PIF)’s SleepOut for homeless youth at Centennial Park.

Despite the rain, 90 individuals came together for an evening filled with informative speeches, lawn games, s’mores roasting, and networking. Attendees were fortunate to hear from Kyzar Jing, Lived Experience Advisor at the Advocate for Children and Young People and Member of the PIF Beneficiary Review Committee, who shared his eye-opening childhood homelessness experience. Elizabeth Mackison, Submission Manager at Taylor and Member of PIF’s Future Leaders Committee, highlighted the purpose of the committee and encouraged support of the Foundation.

As one of Australia’s most trusted construction partners, building honest, trusting, and reliable relationships with our delivery partners is critical to our company’s success.

We recently held our Delivery Partner Celebration at the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our hard-working Subcontractors. The event provided an opportunity to re-connect with each other and acknowledge our collective achievements in 2023.

Fostering a sense of unity and collaboration, Team Taylor and our delivery partners mingled and shared successes while enjoying delicious food and beverages. The celebration highlighted the integral role our subcontractors play in the successful delivery of our projects, with speeches from George Bardas (CEO) and Mark Taylor (Managing Director), recognising the unwavering dedication and efforts of our partners throughout the year.

As 2023 winds down, we would like to thank our delivery partners for all their continued efforts and look forward to continuing our collaborative journey to create outstanding spaces that make a difference in the new year.

Christine Kelly, a proud Kamilaroi woman, recently completed a six-month work experience program at Taylor. Christine was introduced to Taylor via the Taylor Women in Construction Partnership with the KARI Foundation. The initiative seeks to provide a platform for First Nations women to explore, engage, and excel in the construction industry.

After successfully completing four information sessions and intensive mentoring at KARI, Christine joined Taylor for three days a month over six months. Christine’s work experience program was designed to provide a well-rounded experience to enable her to gain a clear insight into different facets of a Tier 2 construction company. Christine was given the opportunity to learn about the different roles and career opportunities in design management, construction management, the fundamental processes of construction, and what life is like as a Cadet at Taylor.

Gaining first-hand experience, Christine worked across numerous Taylor sites including Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Factory Renewal, Scape Kingsford, Campbelltown Hospital, Rosebery Engine Yards, as well as in Head Office. Shadowing various members of the Taylor team, Christine was included in team and client discussions to truly understand the importance of strong communication and active listening skills. Team members also showed Christine the fundamentals of Environmentally Sustainable Design and Green Star accreditation as well as various IT software including BIM 3D Modelling and Bluebeam.

Congratulations to our Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall Renewal and Gordon Quarter project teams for their recognition at the Master Builders Association of NSW’s 2023 Excellence in Construction Awards.

Across 150 entrants, Taylor’s projects received accolades in the following categories:

• Restoration / Adaptive Re-Use of an Historic Building $100 Million & Over – Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall Renewal
• Lifestyle Living Over 55’s: $100 Million & Over – Gordon Quarter

The Sydney Opera House is recognised as a significant cultural landmark across the globe, hosting some of Australia’s best performances in theatre, dance and music. To maintain its world leading status and provide exceptional acoustic performance spaces, an upgrade was required to ensure the best possible experience for decades to come.

The Concert Hall Renewal Project provided significant upgrades to three specific areas; the Concert Hall, Creative Learning Centre, and Entry Foyer. The once-in-a-generation renewal of the Concert Hall involved improving acoustics, accessibility, theatre machinery and system upgrades. The Creative Learning Centre is a dedicated space for young people to play, learn, and experiment in an environment that reflects the Sydney Opera House’s creative spirit. Entry Foyer works focused on upgrading accessibility between the Entry Foyers and Concert Hall via a new lift, ramp, and stairs.

Read more about the project here.

As part of our Learning Partnership Program with Roseville College, Taylor collaborated with the curious minds of a kindergarten class at Roseville College. Embracing the lessons from ‘The Three Little Pigs’, the girls ventured into the world of building and materials, transforming the classic tale into a practical learning experience.

The students were given the task to design and construct houses out of cardboard that would be put to the test by the ‘big bad wolf’ who huffed and puffed but could not blow their houses down, with each house surviving the test of stability. Taylor was represented by Ben Folkard, General Manager Refurbishment & Live Environments, James Drury, Post Contracts Manager and Jacklyn Wickham, Senior Marketing Manager. Together they facilitated an interactive workshop. To captivate the girl’s imagination, the team showed a timelapse video of the Roseville College Sport and Wellbeing Centre, currently under construction next door. They watched the fast-paced movement of the crane and the flow of the concrete pumps which sparked a series of insightful questions and discussions.

In October, the Property Council of Australia NSW Future Directions Committee ran an exclusive Graduate Event for its members. Five representatives from Taylor attended the informative session hosted at Lendlease’s Sydney Headquarters.

The event commenced with a light breakfast accompanied with networking, followed by a panelist discussion moderated by Lizzie Cittenden, Development Manager at Lendlease. The discussion flowed across topics on networking strategies, building personal brand, and accelerating professional development. Thank you to all speakers for sharing their experiences and insights – Filomena Beshara, Alessandro Biondi, Miranda Swift, and Celia Reynolds.

Taylor is a long-standing and proud series sponsor of NSW Future Directions, represented on the committee by Senior Marketing Coordinator, Georgia Barnes. Investing in our next generation, Future Directions is an initiative developed to support young property professionals under 35 years old, by providing pathways and networking opportunities through engaging events, committees, research, and learning.

Thank you to our emerging Taylor leaders who attended:

• Dorna Faghireh, Cadet
• Scott Chapman, Cadet
• Sian Thomas, Cadet
• Joe Cavallaro, Contract Manager
• Georgia Barnes, Senior Marketing Coordinator