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Building upon our strong culture of connection and inclusivity, Team Taylor came together to celebrate Harmony Week 2024. With a workforce rich in cultural and linguistic diversity, we are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace, where people feel connected and accepted for their differences.

Staff at Head Office and across our project sites gathered and held various Food Festivals, sharing dishes from their cultural background with their peers. While sampling a range of cuisines, individuals shared stories and laughter as they expanded their understanding and appreciation of one another’s heritage and traditions.

From Scape Kingsford to Rosebery Engine Yards, Darcy Road Public School, Scots College, Roseville College, and our Western Sydney projects, it was great to see our site teams participation and enthusiasm. A special shout out to our Eastern Creek Site Team who each printed three images about their heritage and discussed this with each other over lunch!

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians form all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is a time to reflect on the importance of respecting each other and our differences.

To foster collaboration and professional development within the industry, Taylor hosted its inaugural Future Connect event at our North Sydney Head Office. The event was designed to bring together young professionals from the industry, with The APP Group and MBM as our guests to provide a unique platform for networking, sharing ideas, and establishing valuable professional relationships.

While enjoying delicious refreshments throughout the evening, guests engaged in empowering conversations, drawing from each other’s diverse industry experience and insights. Attendees were encouraged to build new connections and share ideas with like-minded professionals from different companies. As part of the event, a representative from each participating company delivered a concise presentation offering an overview of their business’ core services, sectors, and projects.

A Taylor initiative, Future Connect aims to create a community of supportive professionals in the property and construction industry.

We would like to thank The APP Group and MBM for attending, and we are excited about the opportunities that the next gathering will bring.

Taylor is proud to celebrate Rob Smith’s 10 years of service with Team Taylor! With 15 years’ experience in the construction industry, Rob is a highly respected and supportive member of the team who has helped deliver an array of large-scale projects.

After gaining contract administration experience in London and Sydney, Rob joined Taylor in 2014 as a Contract Administrator on our HammondCare Miranda project. Over the last 10 years, Rob has progressed through commercial roles up to Commercial Manager, primarily working within our New Build division on projects such as MPark Building A, Gordon Quarter, Cardinal Freeman Village Ashfield, and most recently, on our Western Sydney Data Centres.

As a design and construct Commercial Manager, Rob’s knowledge of contracts and his ability to secure the best outcome for clients during negotiations with subcontractors ensures he is a fundamental asset to every project. With a deep understanding of all facets of project administration and commercial management, Rob has built a strong reputation amongst clients, consultants, subcontractors, and his project teams. A highly organised and diligent individual with strong communication skills, Rob can effectively and efficiently respond to varying client expectations.

In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), Team Taylor recently attended the NAWIC NSW inaugural IWD High Tea and Great Debate at Ivy Ballroom as a Supporting Sponsor.

This year’s IWD theme of “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” was explored through an insightful debate by a diverse panel of industry professionals, including our own Relationship Manager, Jessica Evans. The topic of debate was the prominent issue of the gender pay gap, specifically, ‘Pay Transparency is a Game Changer for Women in the Workplace’.

The two teams provided compelling discussions highlighting the economic inequality and challenges for women in the construction industry, shedding light on impactful ways to collectively accelerate gender equality. A key takeaway from the debate was that while pay transparency is an important tool and a necessary step in the right direction towards equality, meaningful action by all organisations in our industry is required for long-term change.

Team Taylor recently joined our subcontractors and suppliers for our Annual Charity Golf Day, held at St Michael’s Golf Club in Little Bay. A much-anticipated event in our annual calendar, players came together for a fun day of golf, networking, and most importantly, fundraising to support the vital work of Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation.

Taylor is proud to have hosted eight annual charity golf days that have raised over $475,000 for NeuRA, Taronga Conservation Society, JDRF (Type 1 Diabetes), and Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation.

Reflecting on a long and rewarding career, Team Taylor wishes the very best to well-respected Senior Site Manager, Peter Barnes, as he enters retirement.  

Peter commenced his career in construction as a carpenter at AV Jennings. From here, he became one of the industry’s most respected Senior Site Managers, with a career spanning over 50 years. His tenure at Taylor, following significant roles at Barclay Mowlem and St Hilliers, was marked by his exceptional leadership in construction. This is evident in his delivery of quality projects including Liverpool Hospital Stage 2 Redevelopment, Dominion Darlinghurst, Homemakers Supa Centre Belrose, as well as the Pullman Hotel and Mariners Cove Apartments in Homebush Bay.   

At Taylor, Peter’s expertise contributed to the successful completion of multiple award-winning and diverse projects, including the $254m Putney Hill Precinct that spanned over several years and the $47m Knox Performing Arts Centre. His vast expertise, strong communication skills, and attention to detail have enhanced Taylor’s project portfolio and reputation.

Beyond his extensive project experience, Peter’s wealth of construction knowledge is second to none. He has been an influential figure and mentor for team members across the board, always willing to support the development and learning of others. Peter is also very technically proficient with practical design details and concepts, demonstrating a track record and an outstanding ability to consistently achieve premium quality outcomes.  

Perhaps most noteworthy is the mutual respect and time Peter has given to all delivery partners on his projects over the years, from the immediate project team, through to the subcontractors, clients, and other stakeholders. This trait, along with his patience, perseverance, and passion to deliver projects that truly connect people and places, will always be part of the legacy Peter leaves with Taylor.   

Peter is, and will continue to be, a highly regarded leader and asset to Taylor. Congratulations Peter – Taylor thanks you for your loyalty, hard work, and commitment. Your impressive career has set a positive example for many future leaders to come – wishing you a happy and healthy retirement.

After 12 years at Taylor and an extensive portfolio of prior experience, Team Taylor bids farewell to Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager, Stephen Player, as he embarks on this new chapter of retirement.  

With a career spanning over 50 years, Steve’s journey in the construction industry has been impressive. Beginning at AV Jennings as a Leading Hand, then continuing his journey through esteemed companies like Fletcher Construction, John Holland, and Abigroup. Steve’s dedicated length of service is a testament to his expertise and unwavering commitment.  

Joining the team in 2011, Steve brought with him a wealth of knowledge and a passion for quality and compliance that quickly became the gold standard within Taylor. His meticulous attention to detail and his deep understanding of industry regulations have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of our projects, ensuring that every structure we built not only met, but often exceeded the highest standard of quality and safety, from commercial buildings to maximum security facilities.   

From implementing corporate and project procedures and forms and conducting project procurement and quality audits, through to applying cost effective systems, improving subcontractor lettings, and assisting with contract administration – Steve has undoubtedly played an integral role in Taylor’s operations behind the scenes. 

In addition to these professional contributions, Steve is reliable, hardworking, and incredibly devoted. A quiet achiever, his highly efficient and procedural approach has made him a reliable and trusted team leader and mentor to others. Not to mention he has always been actively involved in our charity and community initiatives, making every effort to strengthen key relationships on this front. 

We wish to commemorate and acknowledge his hard work, valued contributions, and many achievements throughout his successful career.  

Congratulations Steve – Team Taylor thanks you for your dedicated service and wishes you a retirement filled with relaxion, joy, and the satisfaction you have made a lasting difference. 

The First Building in Australia’s newest city is beginning to take shape, with significant progress being made over the past couple of months. Following the erection of the steel cruciform columns, the team has successfully installed the Glulam timber beams spanning across the columns of the office space and the central spine. On Level 1, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) slabs have also been installed in the office space, and the first pair of Bondek slabs within the building’s core have been poured.

The extensive use of timber throughout the structure demonstrates how contemporary urban landscapes can be successfully represented in modern placemaking, while simultaneously meeting sustainability targets. Using CLT and Glulam timber beams will reduce the project’s overall embodied carbon emissions, with the timber structure designed for disassembly or relocation.

Works on the lower ground floor are also progressing well. The team have dug six meters below the surface to install the substantial 150 kilolitre Rainwater Tank at the south of the Manufacturing Hall. The core stairs between the Lower Ground and Ground Floor have been poured, enhancing the building’s internal connectivity.

October and November saw steady progress of works as Team Taylor ticked off several project milestones, namely the unveiling of the Foundation Stone. Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, recently visited the College to officially reveal the stone and masonry structure which has been intricately built to a traditional Scottish Baronial design. Celebrated widely across the College’s community and press, the unveiling marks a key milestone as the project moves steadily toward completion in 2024.

Beyond the Foundation Stone, another significant milestone has been the dropping of the scaffold. This has been progressively removed over the past couple of months, with the remaining half of the façade approaching completion.

Internally, the Ground Floor concrete topping slab with an integrated Indigenous artwork has been poured and finished, with the remaining internal fit-out, including joinery, progressing. The unique topping slab was designed by the Indigenous art organisation, 500 Voices which has been created with intensive research and consultation, resulting in a bespoke design culturally relevant to Country and its ancient traditions.

Both the First and Second Floors are very close to completion with the majority of high-end plaster mouldings and partition walls finished. Primary works are taking place on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Floors where plaster mouldings, joinery, carpentry, and tiling finishes are in progress. The Fifth Floor balcony balustrade is also complete with other elements of the roof structure such as slate and lead works being finalised.

The project team is facilitating regular tours of the John Cunningham Student Centre which, upon completion, is set to create a new, accessible learning and study environment delivering several key benefits to the College community. These comprise multiple new learning spaces, dedicated pastoral care and counselling facilities, improved academic research spaces, enhanced accessibility routes and new formal function rooms on the upper levels.