Tag Archives: Construction

Recreation

Construction And Architecture Deliver Excellence at Campbelltown Memorial Oval

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The relationship between construction and architecture is intertwined, yet requires give and take, to bring a client’s vision to life. The architect draws the vision. The builder then constructs the physical version of the vision, on time and within budget.

Along the way, there are often “buildability” issues, where the design as it’s documented isn’t feasible in reality. Or the materials and methods required to construct the design, fall outside of the client’s budget.

This is part and parcel of the construction process; it’s rare to have a project where there are no design changes. That’s why at Sarah Constructions, we actively encourage early collaboration with architects on a job. Together, we can approach these issues on the front foot.

Our approach is to pool our expertise and collaborate to come up with the best possible solutions for our client’s.

Teamwork makes the dream work

For us, the architect is part of the project team. We welcome them on site and look forward to working together. A harmonious joint partnership culminates in a better end result for the client, every time.

The same goes for subcontractors and consultants too. We believe that when you’re part of the project, you’re part of the team. Your expertise is valued and welcomed. The Campbelltown Memorial Oval Sports Hub project was the perfect example of this.

A joint venture between Campbelltown Council and the Australian Government, the Campbelltown Memorial Oval was transformed into a modern sporting and community hub. Designed by Hames Sharley, the Memorial Oval Sports Hub was built by Sarah Constructions and our subcontractors.

From the outset, the approach on site was one of genuine teamwork and joint responsibility.

Hames Sharley and Sarah Construction worked well together due to our shared professional and collaborative spirit, we both promote the idea that we’re all on the same team and able to just get on with the project.

The key to collaboration is communication

A critical part of any relationship is communication. The Sarah team used the Aconex system to manage documents and communications. This proved to be highly effective in tracking the history of decision making and cost management. Being centrally located, the system was transparent and inclusive.

Anthony Rigon, Project Administrator at Sarah Constructions, said that open and regular communication is really important to a smooth running project. “We always try to create a ‘how can I help you’ approach to working with others on site. At the end of the day, we want to produce a fantastic outcome for the client. That’s easier to achieve if we all work together.”

“If everybody feels responsible for the project, they make it a priority. The client comes first, always.”

Bringing solutions not problems

Of course, this doesn’t mean the project was all plain sailing. Construction management is all about problem solving; there are always issues to resolve. But when those issues inevitably arise on site, the Sarah team adopts a solution first focus.

To manage any buildability issues, the Sarah team approached the architect with a plan in mind. Instead of just discussing problems, Sarah addressed the issues with potential solutions instead. There was always an attempt to resolve the issue, matched with a willingness to work together to ensure that the build balanced with the architect’s opinion.

There was always a harmonious balance between respecting the design intent and making sure it could work in terms of constructability.

Collaboration creates better client outcomes

The Memorial Oval Sports Hub is a safe, accessible and highly functioning destination, providing quality sporting and recreational facilities for local sports clubs and the wider community. It’s also an example of how the community can come together to create something of incredible value for everyone.

The Sarah team’s collaborative approach extended beyond the project team and consultants to the end user sports clubs, who were given site access during the build, to ensure end requirements for community use were met.

Sarah Constructions, Hames Sharley, Campbelltown Council and the community have created something special, that will live on and add value to the lives of its users for years to come. It’s a powerful example of the excellence that can be achieved when construction and architecture align. Where there’s a willingness to work together, there’s a way to deliver extraordinary construction outcomes and lasting legacies.

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Education

Pembroke School – Environmental Sustainability and the New Middle School Building

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Successful construction is ultimately about delivering end user satisfaction while ensuring best practices are used to maximise the lifecycle and sustainability of the building. What better way to achieve this outcome than to engage with the end users themselves – the students who will move into the space next year!

Sarah Constructions are currently building Pembrokes New Middle School Building and have engaged the Pembroke Y6 students – who will be the first to occupy the building – as consultants during the construction process. This innovative addition to the curriculum saw Project Manager, Paul Marino, and Design Manager, Michael Kilmartin, work with the students over 3 workshops to answer the question:

‘How can we build a sustainable building within a residential area?’

The students were required to analyse the build in order to develop suggestions and alternatives for potential inclusion into their new building and provide feedback to us – the builder – in order to increase the overall sustainability of the project.

The task was set to choose a focus topic from a range of options across Design & Post Construction (Water, Energy, Material, Surroundings, Functionality) or Pre-Construction & During Construction (Project Environmental Management Plans, Dust & Material Tracking, Air Quality, Traffic, Erosion, Chemicals, Noise, Vibration and Rubbish etc).

Providing a different dimension to their usual curriculum, this exercise enabled the students to adapt their skills in alternate ways. Care was given to ensure the students were able to ‘think outside the box’ to find their own solutions; they were guided in the right direction, not led, and this approach produced some fantastic results. We received well researched, engaging presentations on their chosen focus topics –Native Planting, Water Wastage and Management, Energy Usage, Solar Power, Optimising Functionality, Sustainable and Local Materials, Recycled furniture, Recycling, Composting and Climate Change…just to name a few!

A real understanding of some complex topics was shown. Many groups identified real-world cost impacts; understanding buying in bulk to reduce unit pricing, calculating initial costs vs. ongoing costs, and balancing them with the environmental benefits of their chosen subject demonstrating an understanding beyond their years.

We only realise the value of water after the source runs dry. The importance of water and rainwater collection was clearly demonstrated, with a highlight being Layla’s working model of a rain water tank and sump pump. Not only were the practical benefits made clear, it was cost planned too – it doesn’t take long for a rain water tank to pay for itself!

We also learnt that the initial cost outlay for replacing the school’s standard taps with sensor taps would be well worth it in the long run for both the environmental benefits and the reduced water bills -thanks to Ty and Max!

 “Our students were so excited to take part in this project and have found this experience invaluable for future investigations.” Nicola May, Teacher – Pembroke School

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Pembroke Students Laila and Charlie present their working sump pump and rain water tank model

 Our Future vs. Aesthetics. What is more important?

The undercurrent of the day was the understanding that small changes really can make a difference; there was a realisation that our decisions and the choices we make can have a far-reaching impact and an understanding that our actions have value – just because it’s the way it has always been done, doesn’t mean it’s the way it should always be done. Stewart, Zachary and Rory’s presentation reminded us that even though we are a small part of the world as a whole, ‘we can still save the world with small sustainable changes.’

 “I think all the ideas were fantastic. A majority of the suggestions will be incorporated within the building in some shape or form which demonstrates how well the students undertook their research. In particular I liked the ideas of having compost bins for the removal of any fruit or vegetable scraps students would throw away which gave the school the ability to use as fertilizer etc. Also, the real demonstration of how a rainwater tank could be utilized within the building was impressive!”
Paul Marino, Senior Project Manager – Sarah Constructions

All of the students were confident in their approach and had a great understanding of their subjects. Innovative ideas were raised – many of which are already being included in the project – and they all demonstrated a fantastic ability to work as a team.

The manner in which the students presented and the level of detail and understanding shown was a credit to Pembroke and their collaboration with the Sarah team in the implementation of this program.

Their enthusiasm was infectious, and they managed to bring suggestions to the table that we had not yet heard of! Ashcrete, for example. A more sustainable alternative to concrete (which creates up to 5% of the worlds CO2 emissions), is made from 97% of recycled materials and is carbon neutral!

Sustainability is a growth sector for a number of commercial markets and an area of future education and potential employment for the students.

Through the delivery of this program we hope that we have sparked some interest in our industry – and inspired some of our future construction leaders! With some students already focusing on optimising the functionality and use of space within their new building, Architecture and Design may well provide a potential career path. This process has been a two-way journey whereby the students have learnt from us, but equally, we have learnt from them. Project Manager Paul shared that seeing the excitement on their faces, and knowing he played a small part in creating this amazing building, has provided him with personal and professional satisfaction. “This project with the students got me out of my comfort zone but it was such a rewarding experience.”

We look forward to seeing what changes Pembroke look to implement across the School as practical completion and handover draws closer, such as the suggestion for composting bins and new recycling initiatives.

The success of this project, and the value provided to both the School and to our team, has inspired us to encourage other clients – which could extend beyond the education sector – to utilise their construction projects as an opportunity for engagement and education.

We hope that participating in this project will not only provide the students with a greater connection to their new learning space, but that this process has made an impact on the way they approach building and sustainability in the future.

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Pembroke Students Lucy and Emily Presenting Green Futures
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News, Residential

The Minda Inc Master Plan: Delivering Stage 2 + 3

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Completion of Stage 2 + 3 of the Minda Master Plan at Brighton is a significant achievement for all stakeholders. Construction spanned over 18 months with extensive prior planning, to successfully culminate in the delivery of a high quality, integrated, affordable, sustainable urban village.

President of the Board of Minda, Susan Neuhaus, says the Minda Master Plan is the biggest project in their 120-year history. “Stage 2 of the Master Plan represents a $90 million commitment and includes our lifestyle precinct which offers a range of learning and lifestyle programs. Accommodation in Stage 2 includes 18 single-storey houses and two three-storey residential apartments buildings that combine the comforts of home with leading-edge technologies and a contemporary model of service delivery”.

The successful delivery of large scale projects require careful planning, budget management and an innovative construction approach but most importantly, it is the people behind these processes that drive success. Collaboration and commitment to working together to achieve outcomes makes all the difference when working with large site teams of up to 250 people. At Sarah Constructions, a commitment to people first and a serious focus on robust communication channels to support this, is at the core of how we do business.

People at the core of construction

Ben Layley, Sarah Constructions Senior Project Manager, has worked in senior roles on other larger projects, however Stage 2 + 3 of the Minda Master Plan was the largest project that he has managed. “My leadership and management skills have developed over the two years managing this project. It was a transition for me to step back and manage the big picture, not the day to day running of the site. A key to this was delegating to other key players, releasing the reins and trusting they will deliver. As a leader you want to be approachable but not a pushover, and through regular communication maintain positive relationships with a client focus” said Ben.

Sarah committed a large project team to manage the complexity of this project. Spreading across 100 acres, works were located across a large physical area and across many different fronts at once. With 250 trades people on site at the height of construction, across 25 individual buildings, the Sarah project team peaked at 30 staff to manage this. “Procurement was well planned and regularly reviewed to ensure the correct engagement of trades throughout the project. We held regular site meetings, to collaborate across the team in order to ensure we weren’t overloading certain trades or certain people” said Ben.

Stakeholder Communication To Build Positive Relationships

A key driver for Minda Inc in Stage 2 + 3 was to ensure positive stakeholder relations were maintained through regular and informative construction updates. Located in a residential area, close to schools and other community spaces, it was important that local residents and the wider community were updated on potential impacts due to the construction process.

“A specific client requirement was that we implement a Communication Management Plan, with a focus around external communications. This included how we would filter and receive feedback as well as how we would respond. Internally Minda set-up a communication working group, with a set focus to distribute building updates to their community and stakeholders. The Sarah team attended these meetings and proactively provided information. We had a strong focus on ensuring that the client interface was managed well” said Ben.

Considering potential impacts on the local community was paramount even before construction began “As well as planned communications, we also very carefully considered our approach to how we would build. We took a long time to consider traffic, in and around the site. As it was surrounded by residential streets, we couldn’t have a mass of concrete trucks parked on the streets, to manage this, we created new internal road so that trucks could park internally, on the site” said Ben

Another important stakeholder group were the residents living in the Stage 1 facility of Brighton Dunes. The Sarah team initiated conversations with the residents early in the construction process to explain how the building works would unroll and impact them. “We made sure that the Brighton Dunes residents felt like they were involved in the construction journey. We had continuity of people working on site, the residents have gone on the journey with these people, they were faces they recognise and people they could talk to if they needed” said Ben.

More Than Just A Project: Involving Minda Residents

Adrian Esplin, Chief Executive Office for Sarah Constructions said “For us, it is more than just a project, and although we’re excited by every project, the Minda Master Plan holds some special significance. Being able to see the positive impact a project such as this has on South Australians with disability is fantastic and very satisfying.”

The project is part of a strong relationship that has been built between Sarah Constructions and Minda Inc. In collaboration with Minda, Sarah ran a program to employ residents in the construction process. From an initial work experience group of 15 people, 4 Minda residents were employed by Sarah for nearly 1 year. This experience helps residents to access future employment opportunities, through demonstrated work capabilities. Even after project completion, Sarah’s commitment to Minda and their outcomes for residents continues, with 1 resident from Minda offered contract work with the team at Sarah Constructions Head Office.

“Minda are a great organisation; what they stand for and what they want to achieve is fantastic. It has been an honour to play a part in delivering the most advanced disability support hub in South Australia” said Ben.

The scope of this project covered construction of multiple different buildings including residential apartments, houses and community spaces, supported by a range of infrastructure and landscaping. For full details on the project, including outcomes delivered, click here for the project summary.

We thoroughly enjoyed building a great relationship with Minda and are truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves; improving the lives of those with disability.

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Carmelite Retirement Living Complete External Entry
Aged Care

Carmelite Construction Complete – Leading The Way In Retirement Living

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with Senior Project Manager, Robert Maiolo

Southern Cross Care are leading the way for retirement living in South Australia with Sarah Constructions recently completing their new Carmelite development. Located in Myrtle Bank, the 5 level, architecturally-designed facility includes a mix of premium retirement apartments on the top levels, moving down to residential care suites plus a range of facilities and services on the lower levels. This integrated style of aged care accommodation, combined with a state of the art facilities, will set the new benchmark for retirement living in Adelaide.

The project, at over $50 million is a flagship facility for Southern Cross Care. The last time we reported on progress from Carmelite, the building was nearing the Top Out stage. To understand the steps involved to bring this new development to life, we sat down with Sarah’s Senior Project Manager, Robert Maiolo, to gain his insights from the last 12 months of construction.

“After Top Out was completed, the next major phase involved works being carried out across the external facades. In order to access the multi-levels of the main tower, we erected significant perimeter scaffolding. The scaffolding presented a major programming consideration, as it blocked access to a large degree of outside areas; we addressed this from the outset through detailed scheduling and logistics management.

External Scaffolding at Carmelite

 

As we were cladding the facades, we were also working on completing the balconies, this included waterproofing, floor tiling, cladding and soffit. Balcony design and construction was a key client focus, so the project team spent a lot of time, making sure that the detailing was robust.

Internally the focus shifted to first fix services works and the partition contractor (ceiling and linings) taking a lead role in shaping the internal fit out. The high level of coordination required for this process was established through BIM modelling undertaken at the front-end of the job. This paved the way for limiting potential issues on site with any clashes between services and made for a smoother construction process. The priority for the role-out of first fix services was within the tower working from bottom up, in sequential order.

With the completion of first fix services, we then moved through with the final finishing trades which included tiling, joinery, second fix, carpentry, carpet, vinyl, painting and hardware. To set the benchmark for quality and ensure premium finishes throughout all of the rooms, we established prototype rooms for both the apartments and aged care suites. This enabled us, the design team and the client to visually review the set-out, final selections and level of finish. We worked really hard as team, to ensure a superior level of detailing and high quality finish throughout.

Finished Apartments At Carmelite

The final stage of the project, once the scaffolding was removed was to move through external landscaping and civil trades. This process required tight coordination and sequencing of external works to ensure the completion of works within a compressed time frame. To achieve this, we identified the key trades involved, then through regular liaison and working collectively together we were able to deliver to schedule.

New Benchmark In Retirement Living

External Landscape Area at Carmelite

 

Completing a large project of this scale requires a cohesive team effort. At anyone time there was up to 195 people working on site, to make it successful, we all needed to focus on delivering results for the client. From my personal perspective, I was really proud of how the team came together, pitched in and supported each other to get the job done to a high standard. It was a significant and complex project to manage, for me there was a strong focus to manage relationships and overall project delivery.

It was with pride, that we delivered Southern Cross Care, 8 weeks ahead of schedule a new premium building featuring residential apartments and aged care suites, plus state of the art facilities to support the health and well-being of residents” said Robert.

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Education

Collaboration And Long Term Planning, The Future Of Education Construction

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By Jon Anderson, Construction Manager

As a specialist in Education Construction, and on-site Construction Manager at the University of Adelaide, I take a keen interest in the future of education construction. In recent years, I have witnessed the education landscape being reshaped by globalisation and the digital revolution.

Students are increasingly conducting their lives through social media and online services and they now expect educational institutions to communicate with them online too. Education infrastructure of today therefore needs to not only include state-of-the-art equipment for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects; education spaces must also be updated to accommodate contemporary trends in delivery.

Governments are investing millions to upgrade and build new educational facilities to match these changes; and savvy education institutions are adopting a collaborative approach with master builders, including long term planning to future-proof their property.

In order to capitalise on this investment, we need to understand that Infrastructure is interconnected; each building upgrades impacts stakeholders and operations from one facility to the next. If construction experts are involved in the early stages of planning, the impacts can be taken into consideration long before any works begin.

It’s about collaborating to give the client the right advice to future-proof for the next wave of technology.

The future of education construction

Long term planning

With a dynamic and forward facing approach, the University of Adelaide (UoA) also looks to be at the leading edge of education construction. UoA has a Masterplan, a vision for the future of their institution up to 2035. By adopting sequential long term planning with early involvement from Sarah Constructions, UoA infrastructure upgrades can be mapped out as a programme of works, not just as individual projects.

This approach delivers a streamlined process and ultimately saves money. With foresight and planning, we’re able to add value to the design development process by proposing constructability improvements and future-proof efficiencies.

With a commitment to facilities that allows students to learn and grow, St Johns Grammar Performing Arts Centre provides another example of success through early planning. Sarah had considerable input into the design and worked closely with the architects from the beginning, researching and coordinating affordable design solutions that remained faithful to the overall vision.

It was due to this close collaboration and expert cost management that savings could be made and redistributed to afford what other builders deemed impossible within their budget: A light, open plan learning centre, complete with top of the range equipment and the “wow” factor of a spectacular atrium.

Collaboration

Education institutions, by their very nature, are all about the future. They’re in the business of nurturing our next inventors, politicians, teachers and builders. It’s important to recognise that life now is a little different to back when we were in school. The internet, computers and mobile technology have changed the world we live in, almost beyond recognition.

Personally, I believe this evolution has largely been for the better. As globalisation and IT has developed, we have become more connected and therefore more collaborative. Processes have been made faster and easier; we can do more and so we expect more. The future of education construction needs to reflect these changes and leave room for further development.

With the Margaret Ames Learning Centre at Immanuel College, a key requirement of the brief was to foster collaboration. To encourage students in original thinking, the learning centre included open plan learning areas, interconnecting classrooms plus first class IT and AV capabilities. Immanuel College has embraced future focused thinking; their new centre was the first secondary teaching space of its kind in South Australia.

Similarly, the new Common Teaching Area and breakout space in the Barr Smith Building at UoA showcases the kind of flexible learning environments that are needed to be future-ready. Multipurpose rooms suitable for classes in anything from Japanese Language to Forensic Science, coupled with an unconventional, open plan breakout space, keeps UoA at the cutting-edge of education and maintains appeal within their target markets.

Welcome to the future

It’s not just collaborative learning environments that pave the way for the future. It’s collaborative business operations too. At Sarah Constructions, we enjoy less contractual, more collaborative relationships, because we understand that we’re all experts in our respective fields.

Delivering great outcomes requires input from experts across industry which is why we take a collaborative approach with our consultants. In the same way as it benefits the client to involve us as early as possible, it benefits us to involve our consultants and sub-contractors as early as possible as well. We believe that the sooner people come on board and become familiar with your operations, the better.

Taking a long term planning approach to Education Construction means you can map out a pragmatic and proactive process for realising your vision in the most efficient, cost-effective way. With early involvement from construction experts, you’re beginning that process of growth and transformation on the front foot, armed with the practical expertise of a team that specialises in turning visions into lasting legacies.

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Education

St Mary’s College – Embracing Construction

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St Mary’s College have embraced the project currently underway at their School, working with us to gain as many positives as possible out of the experience for their students. Taking note of the interest shown by some of the students while the footings were being drilled (see image below), School Principal Clare Nocka arranged for our Project Manager Jay Johnson and Site Manager Bojan Stegnjaic to take the hot seat and sit down for an interview with the girls!

“We found out that we are about 15% of the way through the project and that the hardest part is building on the intersection of two main roads. We also learnt that just like in our school, one of the challenges is managing all the relationships involved in such a big project. One of Jay’s jobs is to keep everyone happy and there are lots of people involved. A building project in a school environment brings particular complexities because keeping the students safe and the school running is an important factor.

Bojan and Jay managed the interview hot seat very graciously and we are thankful for how well our builders are working with our school team. Maddie, Edie and Arabella were very good interviewers, even in their excitement! They were disappointed to learn that they would not get a chance to drive one of the giant machines but I think they enjoyed the experience nonetheless.”

The team at Sarah strive to ensure that our clients not only love the completed project, but also the journey they take to get there. We hope that taking an active part in this experience inspires some of the St Mary’s College girls to consider construction as a career – they might even get the opportunity to drive some of the ‘giant machines’ in the future!

Hospitality

Constructing a unique vision: d’Arenberg Cube

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South Australia’s highly anticipated and eye-catching cellar door is now open. 14 years in the making, the d’Arenberg Cube is much more than a cellar door; it delivers winery visitors a total sensory experience. The iconic building attracts attention via its startling construction and continues to deliver unique immersive experiences once you step inside.

This truly remarkable building, reminiscent of a Rubik’s Cube, was initiated by Chester Osborn, fourth generation grape grower and Chief Winemaker at d’Arenberg, and brought to life through teamwork, tenacity and skilful construction.

Chester originally delivered his ambitious concept to Sean Aplin, Design Manager at Sarah Constructions 14 years ago.

“Chester arrived with a large plastic cube model that he’d made himself. He put it on the table with a flourish and said that’s what he wanted to build!”

“I was immediately intrigued. I remember thinking that the first couple of floors would be relatively straight forward but then the building twists at the third level and the top floor then twists the other way; I was already starting to formulate ideas on how you could build that.”

How indeed.

Chester’s vision saw the four levels of the Cube raised up out of the vineyard, as though it were floating. The outside was covered with shapes so that, if the building were squared up, the patterns would all align. And there were to be pop up umbrellas at the top with a lift shaft jutting out. The list of design quirks and unique building features was extensive.

Phase one

The Design Team, led by Sarah Constructions, began by working on answering the question: how can we bring this creative vision to life?

The ground floor of The Cube is the smallest floor area; however, it needs to support the rest of the structure. The requirement for the third and fourth floors to change orientation meant shifting the supporting columns from the
positions carried through floors one and two. Reinforcing and post tensioning layouts were required on all floors to accommodate the building’s unique shape.

“It required detailed feasibility to determine how it could be achieved, roughly at what cost, and how we could overcome some of these spatial and services issues,” says Sean.

“From the beginning, we needed to establish how it could be done.”

The main spatial issue was how to maintain the aesthetic of each cube’s fine lines, when the entire building was to be transparent. So, the Design Team got to work, looking to answer considerations for the building’s distinct requirements; such as, “on a building with glass walls and a glass roof, how do you provide shading?” and “with an overhanging balcony, how do you accommodate the load of structure underneath to support the floor that’s jutting out?”

Then the project was put on hold due to the global financial crisis. Yet Chester remained committed to his creative vision and his belief in the value his concept would bring to both d’Arenberg and the entire McLaren Vale region.

And so, five years later, the Design Team entered phase two of the
process.

Phase two

Sarah Constructions was engaged as the Managing Contractor to complete the construction. “Stage two involved workshopping the structure. The concrete walls, the shafts, the way in which we tied the building to the ground.
Significant design and coordination remained to be completed to bring the project to fruition.”

To manage this process, Sarah coordinated regular meetings for continual consultation with d’Arenberg, the consultant team and services subcontractors, to arrive at a design and construction methodology that would satisfy all parties.

The team worked tirelessly to ensure the visual features of the original design intent were carried through to the finished building envelope, including the “missing cube” on the Southern side of level three and the “fallen cube”.

Unsurprisingly, Chester Osborn was very involved in the design process himself. “Chester’s very structured in working out what he wants. He’d constantly ask the question ‘why?’ Then he’d go away, do his own research and come back to us saying, ‘here, I’ve seen this.’ It was a very collaborative relationship,” explains Sean.

Phase three

In late 2014, construction began. With Sarah’s help, Chester put a submission together for funding. The cultural and economic significance of the project was recognised and the grant successful. The Cube was to become a reality.

Sarah was engaged to construct the Cube and complete the installation of fire, mechanical and essential electrical services, leaving a platform for d’Arenberg to undertake their own personalised fitout.

“Chester was incredibly passionate about the sensory experiences inside,” recalls Sean. “He wanted the Cube to be a feast for all the senses, not just the eyes.”

Chester Osborn’s self-titled Alternate Reality Museum, filled with sensory experiences, included a “peep show” of people dining decadently, viewed through windows in an oven, a fridge and a cupboard, an entry soundscape and a staircase of mirrors.

“The Cube is a feast for all the senses, not just the eyes.”

Some people might not immediately understand the link between the Cube and wine making but, for Chester Osborn, the parallels are clear. “I came up with this concept because wine is a puzzle to work out.

“The Rubik’s Cube is the most iconic puzzle, so I thought I’d do that but a lot better. And a lot harder. It’d be much harder to do this one than the coloured one!”

Chester was clear from the start about how the Cube should make visitors feel. “Life is lived at the edges,” he says. “Art is the sugar and spice and all the things that make life really interesting.”

Both creative and experiential, the Cube is therefore a functioning centre of McLaren Vale hospitality, and a work of art. This is exactly how Chester envisaged it. “If you’re not involved in artistic expression, then you’re really just coasting along in life,” he says.

The team at Sarah Constructions couldn’t agree more. “We’ve built a South Australian icon and a lasting legacy for McLaren Vale,” says Sean Aplin with pride. “It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience and I’m very satisfied that
we’ve been able to deliver Chester’s vision.”

News

The Year That Was – CEO Update – Adrian Esplin

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Growth and development are words that are often used loosely in our industry to describe business improvement.  At Sarah we can stand by these statements following the sustainable growth of our business over the last 3 years due to the aligned personal development of our staff.  People who know me well understand my drive to continually simplify business and life, to understand the key ingredients that brought together and managed in the right way, create success.

For me, this is all about people; having the right people aligned with our values and sharing the same goals as our business.  I take my role as CEO very seriously – most importantly the trust placed by staff in ensuring their safety, livelihood, job satisfaction and career development can be met here at Sarah.  What drives me to continually develop and grow our business is to ensure we have the right projects, culture and values to deliver this outcome.

We should all be proud of the achievements delivered to our customers over the last 3 years at Sarah.  We have doubled in size, whilst delivering more than three times the annual work revenue when compared to 2014.  We have earned a reputation for great quality, industry recognised through being awarded MBA’s Commercial Builder for 2017, whilst producing many award winning projects including two national winning projects in 2016, and again in 2017 at the MBA national awards.  However the greatest recognition is the repeat business of our customers and most importantly our staff choosing to stay and develop their careers with Sarah.

The future is bright as we continue to build great relationships with our existing and also new customers.  Our future is strong as we continue to build long lasting relationships with each other at Sarah and the many associated industries including architects, cost managers, project managers and all design disciplines.

The challenges to our business will only continue, however with sound business strategy, continuing to develop great relationships across the industry and maintaining our strong values, I’m certain our success will continue for many years to come – after all, we are only 57 years young!

Awards, Careers, News

The NAWIC Awards for Excellence – Melisha Willington – Outstanding Achievement in Construction Award

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The NAWIC Awards for Excellence –

Outstanding Achievement in Construction Award

Melisha Willington, Sarah Constructions

Sarah Constructions would like to extend our congratulations to our Project Manager, Melisha Willington, on her National Association of Women in Construction Award for Outstanding Achievement in Construction!

Melisha is a great asset to our team; she exemplifies the intent of the award, which is to recognise women who have made a significant contribution to the construction of projects and accomplished outstanding achievements.

Melisha is an exceptional Project Manager who excels in all aspects of her role, this award stands as a well-deserved reflection of the outstanding level of service she continues to provide for our valued clients and their projects.

She is a self-motivated and results-driven professional who thrives in a stimulating environment. Melisha’s experience proves her ability to successfully manage works in complex and sensitive environments. She drives herself to continually learn and adapt to an evolving industry, whilst upholding the highest standard of integrity.

Melisha is paving the way for all young women working within or looking towards the construction industry and is a leader and an inspiration amongst her peers.

She is an inspiring, motivating and positive role model for all employees at Sarah Constructions, and her role as Mentor for the next generation of project personnel in Sarah is highly regarded.

Career Progression

Melisha has been working within the Construction Industry for 15 years, developing a commendable wealth of knowledge and experience in residential and commercial construction.

Melisha was awarded an Alumni Association Certificate for outstanding academic achievement whilst studying at University of South Australia. Her career started with Nevarc Constructions where she managed over 600 residential contracts, simultaneously coordinating up to 60 contracts.

Melisha transitioned into commercial construction with ISIS group where she progressed from Project Coordinator to Project Manager. During her tenure, Melisha was recognized within the top 15 percentile of Project Managers nationally for “Perfect Delivery” for projects consistently exceeding company targets. In 2014, Melisha was acknowledged with a commendation by the Master Builders Association. Her desire for continual evolvement saw her pursue an opportunity with Dig-it Landscapes to experience another perspective of commercial construction.

Melisha’s drive to continually develop saw her join us at Sarah Constructions in 2016, where she has prospered with every project she has managed. Melisha is currently participating in the 100 Women in Property Program for the Property Council of Australia and she was also selected for the 2017 Sarah Constructions Building Future Leaders Program which nurtures our organization’s highest achievers.

What’s it like on site with Melisha?

 

Melisha demonstrates a high-performance culture through continuous development and engagement. This culture is attained through collaboration, team cohesion, mutual trust, respect and the celebration of project successes. Melisha’s success is fostered by the relationships she develops, achieved through a customer focussed approach.

Communication is pivotal in the underlying accomplishments of the current Adelaide University Projects Melisha manages. Melisha encourages her team to take ownership of their areas of influence and promotes accountability and decision making to support delivery results. Melisha believes everyone plays a critical role in project delivery, valuing the importance of feedback and continual progression of her team.

Melisha’s project delivery success is fundamentally built on strong relationships,

collaboration with Subcontractors and Suppliers is highly valued as they are leaders in their professions, providing insight into the advancing building technologies, which Melisha regards as a vital asset.

Testimonials received by Clients have commended Melisha for her early communication about potential challenges, resulting in prompt management by the Client and avoiding any cost implications. Where budget is challenged Melisha sources alternative and cost-effective solutions in collaboration with the Subcontractors and Consultants. A recent example of this approach occurred on the ThincLab Project where Melisha worked with the Subcontractor and the Engineer to identify an alternative solution that generated a 30% cost saving for the Client.

“The ThincLab was a high priority project for the University and resulted in significant pressure to ensure the ThincLab was operational from early May 2017.

Construction commenced in January 2017 and from the commencement of her appointment Melisha set in place a high-performance culture with her assistant project manager, site supervisors and trade contractors, where collaboration was emphasised in order to achieve faster than normal timeframes for the procurement, shop drawing, manufacture and site installation.

Under Melisha’s management there was not one single HSW related issue and even more surprisingly there were no complaints received from building occupants despite the need for extensive internal demolition and unexpected and complicated floor preparation works within an occupied University building.

The project was delivered on time and on budget and the quality of workmanship was excellent as was evidenced in feedback from the end users and key stakeholders of the facility.”

Sean Carrick, Project Manager – Capital Projects Delivery, The University of Adelaide

Paul Marino Project Manager Sarah Constructions Winning Award
Careers

From Graduate To Project Manager In Under Five Years

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– by Paul Marino, Project Manager (pictured above right)

I’m very proud of my rapid career progression at Sarah Constructions. The journey has taken a lot of hard work but I’ve had plenty of support from the business, so if I can help just one reader on their journey to a top career in construction here at Sarah, then I’m happy to give something back.

My name is Paul Marino, I’m 28 years old and I’m a Project Manager at Sarah Constructions. Currently I’m working with Minda on one of Sarah’s biggest projects to date, but I only started with the business 5 years ago, after graduating from Uni SA with a degree in Construction Management and Economics.

I’ve achieved a great deal in a short space of time; I’ve been pretty lucky and had a lot of opportunities, but that came from a lot of hard work and having a clear vision of what I wanted.

How my career in construction began

I’ve been around construction my whole life; my father was a bricklayer who then started his own domestic construction company, so I was exposed to it at a young age, labouring with my old man, and developing a good appreciation for the evolution of a structure and the different facets of the building industry.

Not just building, but interacting with different types of people and seeing satisfaction in clients. I suppose that’s what drove me to follow this career path.

My career progression at Sarah

I started as a Project Assistant for the first couple of years at Sarah, then moved to a Project Administrator role, running smaller type projects on my own. After that, I became a Project Manager.

I was based on site with the Site Manager when I first arrived, learning the detail of how a structure actually goes together. Then I transitioned back into the office after 6-8 months and learned the admin side of project management; RFIs, variations, and client meetings, for example.

That first year was a solid foundation for me as a junior to absorb as much information and technical knowledge as I could.

Investing in and supporting people

My Project Manager back then saw that I had potential and that I really wanted to progress, so he invested a lot of time in me. Plus, receiving constant feedback from management gave me plenty of opportunity to prove myself.

I believe that it comes down to how much you want to succeed. If you want to go far, if you want to push yourself to be the best you can be, learn as much as you can, and develop as a person and a professional, then this is the place to do it.

“Sarah will invest as much time and money as they can in your development to ensure you get to where you want to go.”

 

For me, it’s not just a job at Sarah, there’s a career here. Friends of mine in the industry that work with different companies just don’t have the support that we do here. The business values mirror those that we have as individuals, which means that we’re all on the same page working together as a team.

Sarah is like a family. We’re all striving to be the best we can be, not only as individuals but as a business. I guess that’s why the business is growing so rapidly and constantly, because we all know what we need to do to achieve success.

Opportunities for Graduates

There are a lot of different career opportunities here; if not in Project Management, there are other areas, such as Estimating, Design Management, or Site Supervision. The Sarah Graduate Program is such a great initiative because it shows you what we’re about and the various areas of the business in which you can succeed. We’ve got so many good experienced people here, that Graduates gain terrific knowledge and exposure to what we do.

As a business we’re quite youthful; it shows that Sarah is investing in the future, bringing in the right people and training current staff to develop the younger recruits. It’s great for me because previously I’ve been investing in myself and increasing my own knowledge, but now I’m the one investing in juniors and helping to develop them, which allows me to grow professionally. Being selected to participate in the Sarah Future Leaders program last year, which is all about nurturing leadership skills within existing Sarah staff, was a big part of that.

My advice to you

On site I learned so much. Your university degree doesn’t provide you with the day-to-day work experience you need to understand what this industry is all about, so I highly recommend work experience to anyone. Even if it’s unpaid, get involved as much as you can.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you, if you’re lucky enough to come and work at Sarah, is to work hard. If you work hard, the technical and soft skills will follow. You just need to be patient on the journey because opportunities will arise here.

“The sky’s the limit here. There isn’t another builder within Adelaide that can provide what Sarah can to a Graduate.”

 

So much more than building

At the end of the day, a career in construction is so much more than building. With teamwork and collaboration, it’s trust that we build, not just buildings. Clients invest a lot of time and money into a product that we need to produce at a high quality, so we need to think like the client and their customers, as well as builders.

That’s why it’s so rewarding to be recognised within the industry. We recently won building excellence awards from the Master Builders Association and also the Australian Institute of Building, for our work on the Wilderness project. I get a huge sense of satisfaction from seeing my client happy; not just with a job well done, but also from having received external commendation for our work together. It’s especially rewarding to know that, because we won the category here in SA, we are also entered into the national award, which supports our position as industry leader nationwide.

Sarah Constructions is all about opportunity, reward, and work life balance. Whatever you’re going through in your life, they’ll be there for you to help you succeed. It’s a great place to work! All of us here count ourselves pretty lucky.