Team Taylor Takes the Stage at Sydney BUILD Expo 2023

Now in its 7th year, Sydney Build is the best-attended construction event in Australia, offering 300+ accredited presentations, 500+ exhibitors and incredible networking opportunities for Australia’s architecture, engineering and infrastructure industries.  

Adam Vassallo, Senior Project Manager, and Clare Bailey, Head of Marketing, joined fellow panellists to share industry-leading insights, with Adam joining Tony Lavorato, Design Director, Structures – Aurecon, and Nigel Justins, Principal – Architectus on the Sydney BUILD Main Stage for an invigorating panel discussion on the Renaissance of Public Spaces.  

Adam shared his experience managing the monumental Concert Hall Renewal Project for the Sydney Opera House – one of the most recognisable buildings of the 20th century. The Concert Hall – also known as the heart of the Opera House – attracts a diverse range of contemporary performers and events.  

The Concert Hall Renewal Project was no small feat, especially when balancing the update of theatre systems and building fabric with heritage responsibilities. Overseeing the installation of new stage machinery and winch cable systems capable of lifting four times the weight of previous installations, Adam explained how the Taylor team installed 174 tonnes of new structural steel, placed 720 tonnes of concrete and laid 300 kilometres of cable to bring the design to life. 

Clare Bailey joined Cain Slater, Chief Operating Officer at KARI, Michael Dunstone, Senior Adviser Indigenous and Social Inclusion (National) at John Holland, George Denny-Smith, Senior Consultant at RPS Group and facilitator Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Director at the Property Council of Australia to discuss Reconciliation in Construction.  

The Reconciliation in Construction panellists shared how businesses can effectively create safe spaces for staff by identifying the importance of open and honest conversations. Michael Dunstone emphasised that collaboration and consultation were imperative to the successful development and implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans, with Cain Slater adding that, “…organisations need to understand that a Reconciliation Action Plan without community input isn’t a plan – it’s just telling the community what they need or want.”  

Congratulations to all panellists on their invigorating and thought-provoking discussions. We look forward to sharing more learnings and insights at BUILD Expo 2024.