A Unanimous Decision For Development Of The Year: Urban Taskforce

The Urban Taskforce has unveiled its Development Excellence Awards 2017 winners over a range of categories across the property spectrum.

The main award for the Development of the Year has gone to Barangaroo with the Urban Taskforce heaping praise on the development as a "once in a generation development".

“2017 has been a vintage year for quality development across Australia and the best of the best is Lendlease’s Barangaroo South,” said Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson.

“The Urban Taskforce’s Development Excellence Awards measure developments across Australia that succeed in design, economic performance, environmental commitment & innovation and the Barangaroo project has been the stand out development project.

“Our awards specifically recognise the risk developers take to realise major projects and Barangaroo South has battled planning delays, campaigns against it, uncertain economic times, yet it has triumphed as the most significant addition to Sydney’s global economic status while being an incredibly vital people space loved by Sydney-siders.

"With tens of thousands of workers in the most up-to-date offices in the country as well as the incredible strip of waterfront restaurants that are always full, to the shopping precincts and the residential buildings, Barangaroo South has created a successful, dynamic precinct that lifts Sydney’s position as a global city.

“[It provides] a public domain accessible to all. The project has generated support from government with the Wynyard Walk that connects thousands of commuters to Wynyard as well as ferry wharves that connect to the West of the city and a new Metro station is planned.

“The architecture by international firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners along with a dozen local Sydney firms has the confidence of a major global city that is anchored in its local character.” Johnson said.

Chairman of the jury, NSW Government Architect, Peter Poulet said, “Giving the top award to Barangaroo was a unanimous decision. We all could see that this project was a once in a generation development that has changed Sydney forever. The city has a new front door, a new financial centre and a new recreation destination with waterfront eating all connected by ferries and trains to metropolitan Sydney. The developers, Lendlease, with their design team, have produced a remarkable result that sets a new international standard for urban renewal at a city scale.""This year has been a vintage year for our Development Excellence Awards with entries from Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney. As well as the Development of the Year there were another 14 awards for categories including Retail, Commercial Office, High-Rise Apartments, Mixed Use, Urban Renewal, Masterplanned Communities, Seniors Living, Affordable Housing and Adaptive Re-use.""The EY Centre by Mirvac won the Commercial Office City award for its state of the art environmental performance and its design reflecting Sydney's character.""Sienna in Willoughby, by Hyecorp Property Group won the Affordable Housing Development category with 43 of its 74 apartments being affordable. This project is a good model for how the property industry can contribute to housing affordability."
The Development Excellence Awards 2017 winners are:

Development of The Year
Winner: Barangaroo South
Developer: Lendlease

Retail Development
Winner: Woolworths Crows Nest
Developer: Woolworths Limited

Commercial Office City Development
Winner: EY Centre, 200 George Street
Developer: Mirvac

Commercial Office Metro Development
Winner: 1 Parramatta Square
Developer: Charter Hall

High- Rise City Apartments Development
Winner: Capitol- Bondi Junction
Developer: Legacy Property Group

High- Rise Metro Apartments Development
Winner: V by Crown Group
Developer: Crown Group

Medium Rise- Metro Apartments Development
Winner: Laurier, Cremorne
Developer: Helm Pty Limited

Mixed Uses Development
Winner: Clemton Park Village
Developer: Frasers Property Group

Urban Renewal Development
Winner: Royal Shores, Ermington
Developer: PAYCE & Sekisui House Australia

Masterplanned Community Development
Winner: Oran Park Town
Developer: Landcom and Greenfields Development Company

Seniors Living/ Retirement Development
Winner: The Residences at Cardinal Freeman
Developer: Stockland

Affordable Housing Development
Winner: Sienna, Willoughby
Developer: Hyecorp Property Group

Adaptive Re-Use Innovative Development
Winner: 100 Harris Street, Pyrmont
Developer: Citi- 100

High Density Development
Highly Commended: The Moreton, Bondi
Developer: Mirvac

Medium Density Development
Highly Commended: Ivory
Developer: EDG Capital Pty Ltd & Lane Cove Council