The relocation of the Optus head office to Macquarie Park in Sydney’s North Ryde now stands on the international stage as a leader after being nominated for a prestigious RICS Award, within the regeneration category.
Some of the best building and conservation projects from around the world make up the shortlist of the RICS Awards 2008.
The shortlisted entries now compete to become overall category winners in Building Conservation, Regeneration, Sustainability and Community Benefit.
One shortlisted entry will win the top prize of Project of the Year – a prestigious award presented to any entry that is judged to have excelled in any or all of the main categories.
Kaye Herald, Director of RICS Oceania said,
"The nomination of an Australian project in the RICS Awards demonstrates that local developments can be world leaders. The Optus project shows how large scale projects can blend the built and natural environment to the benefit of the company, the environment and the community as a whole."
John Preece, Regional Director of Building Consultancy and Occupier Services at DTZ, who procured the accommodation and project managed the development on behalf of Optus, commented,
"Optus and DTZ are delighted that the RICS has shortlisted this impressive campus for such a prestigious award.
The campus, totalling 84,000sqm of commercial space within an 8 hectare landscaped site, provides not only a working office environment for Optus’ 6,500 staff, but also the breakout areas, retail, gym, and childcare facilities which are vital to enhancing the staff ‘experience’ of working at Optus."
"This campus is the first of it’s kind here in Australia, and remains the largest ever single tenant corporate relocation in Australia’s history.
I am delighted to have been so intimately involved with the planning and implementation of this project, working alongside Optus and Stockland (the owner), and it is particularly rewarding to see the entire environment operate so successfully now it is fully occupied.
To have our efforts recognised by the RICS in this manner is really the icing on the cake".
The awards are a perfect showcase for the diversity and creativity in the built and natural environment.
The finalists have proven that their schemes demonstrate excellence within their specific category, and that their projects have made a positive contribution to people’s lives.
Simon Pott, chairman of the judging panel commented:
"The response has been excellent this year. The shortlist highlights the exceptional standard of work being done today to enhance and preserve the global built and natural environments.
The shortlist contains a magnificent range of exciting projects which are a credit to the skilled teams involved."
The regeneration category recognises improvements to the built or natural environment that make a long-term contribution to the viability and prosperity of an area.
Key judging criteria include the background history of the site, whether the scheme is part of a wider regeneration policy/initiative and reaction of the local community.
The winners of each category along with the overall winner will be announced at the annual gala ceremony at The Millenium Hotel on 17 October 2008.
