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The student accommodation sector has been transformed in the past decade, growing to about $240 million a year in revenue and that’s tipped to jump another 3.3 per cent this year.&nbsp;The pandemic has reshaped what residents expect from their homes, which is the subject of a report from technology provider StarRez, The Big Shift.The report explores how property managers can deliver the right experience today that puts resident well-being first, while improving their chances of winning market share.Bringing together information about the technology on offer with insights and experiences from industry leaders, the report tackles the subject in three sections.<h2>Health, safety and engagement&nbsp;</h2> The report details the importance of human interaction and, when that isn’t physically possible, the pivotal role technology can play to bring residents together.Within student accommodation, technology can carry out many functions—from student profiling and a platform for reporting well-being concerns to a way to book safe, shared spaces and report maintenance issues.Student accommodation provider Unilodge Australia used StarRez resident and property management solutions to improve staff efficiency and better engage students, which in turn has led to a greater market share.Some of the tools highlighted include an automated-booking engine, financial reporting function and resident engagement tracking.“We replaced multiple system instances with a single StarRez solution serving the entire business,” Unilodge Australia chief executive Tomas Johnsson said in the report.“This immediately shortened employee onboarding while allowing staff to use the same, familiar system as they moved around our properties. To further unify the system, we used the StarRez API to connect with various external providers and payment gateways to automate payments.<a href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fhXTGvw8iRFZIooPTh6Iw/3a95c98c2a0d03596469b182bc08046f/Starrez_TUD_Hero_June_21.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fhXTGvw8iRFZIooPTh6Iw/3a95c98c2a0d03596469b182bc08046f/Starrez_TUD_Hero_June_21.jpg"></a><div id="1eUr7emQFE56iIyO32kGus"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fhXTGvw8iRFZIooPTh6Iw/3a95c98c2a0d03596469b182bc08046f/Starrez_TUD_Hero_June_21.jpg" alt="StarRez student accommodation" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fhXTGvw8iRFZIooPTh6Iw/3a95c98c2a0d03596469b182bc08046f/Starrez_TUD_Hero_June_21.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Simplifying the process for providers and students is a big part of what delivers Starrez. </div></div>“For our students, offering connected systems has simplified their interactions with us.”<h2>Scalability </h2> As technology drives operational efficiencies, Internet of Things (IoT) devices are growing across the student property sector. In fact, IoT-supported student housing not only creates safer and smarter community-living environments for residents but such devices also free up staff time so they can focus on innovation and business growth.A lack of visibility into operations at Campus Living Centres in Canada was undermining the student accommodation provider’s ability to proactively manage facilities and improve the resident experience. StarRez’s reporting and analytics solution provided a clear dashboard and automatic system that positively impacted resident retention and satisfaction.<h2>The future of student housing </h2> While security has always been important, headlines over the past few years of high-profile data breaches have made this a greater concern. The report goes into the details of how a software platform must comply with privacy and security laws, as well as payment standards.&nbsp;Another growing subject for operators to tackle is sustainability.The report details how the Rochester Institute of Technology is not a centre for sustainability research but practises what it preaches across its campus. The institute’s aim is for carbon neutrality by 2030 and students are actively involved in sustainability initiatives.&nbsp;Deploying the right technology has made a huge difference to operators and residents during the pandemic and the report provides examples and tips throughout.Overall, it paints a view of how the world can move into a new normality, with technology that can tackle anything from health concerns to building maintenance.&nbsp; <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="https://hubs.la/Q01fj-8B0" href="https://hubs.la/Q01fj-8B0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">StarRez</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

The student accommodation sector has been transformed in the past decade, growing to about $240 million a year in revenue and that’s tipped to jump another 3.3 per cent this year. 


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Construction independent ADCO spends much of its time going toe-to-toe with publicly owned multinationals. But this billion-dollar family business founded in 1972 has never been one to take a backwards step.Judging by the strong outlook of ADCO senior management, together with a robust balance sheet and enviable project pipeline, it’s unlikely to do so any time soon.ADCO is strongly placed as it begins its second half-century. With forecast turnover of $1.5 billion in the 2023 financial year, the business has enjoyed sustained growth since the 2018 financial year.Balance-sheet growth has been equally impressive, with consistent operating profit of about 3.5 per cent a year. The 2022 financial year delivered record performance with work in hand of nearly $2 billion.It’s a significant performance that saw ADCO recognised as Deloitte Australia’s Best Managed Company in 2021.Looking beyond the bottom line, ADCO has worked hard to retain its long-held commitment to the health, wellbeing and career progression of its people—no simple task in the face of Covid.Diversity and inclusion also continue to be highly valued.The business’s vision was for a workplace that reflected the community and clients it served, ADCO managing director Neil Harding said.“A culture built on fairness, respect and diversity undoubtedly improves our business by attracting and retaining talent, while creating a more engaged workforce, which is critical to sustaining high performance.”The company also remains a leader in elevating the status and influence of women within Australia’s construction industry.Guided by the Women of ADCO program, set up more than 10 years ago, women today make up 21 per cent of ADCO’s workforce and the business is committed to achieve 25-plus per cent in the 2023 financial year.Harding is also a Workplace Gender Equality Agency pay equity ambassador, having taken the Pay Equity Pledge to close the gender pay gap at ADCO and advocate for change in the wider construction industry.Given its independent family origins, it’s no surprise community has always been a big part of the ADCO culture.The business continues to engage actively with charities, community groups and like-minded businesses across Australia.“Our community engagement is underpinned by the Brinsmead Hill Family Foundation with an independent board chaired by ADCO director Tom Hill,” Harding said.“In 2021 alone, the foundation saw around $600,000 and over 1000 hours of time dedicated to supporting local communities.”With its first 50 years complete, where to next for ADCO?ADCO owner and chair Judy Brinsmead said, “ADCO has grown to be one of Australia’s largest construction businesses. Yet for all our successes, it’s never been the projects that have defined us but, rather, the people and the partnerships we’ve built along the way.“Putting people first has shaped our story for more than five decades and it provides an outstanding foundation for the future.“We’re ambitious and excited to see where it takes us next.” <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a href="http://adcoconstruct.com.au/" data-mce-href="http://adcoconstruct.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADCO</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

Builder ADCO enters its second half-century balancing bold ambition with a people-first mindset.


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A simple palette of concrete, brick and steel has helped deliver a unique holiday home on an ‘unbuildable’ site at Pretty Beach, on the NSW Central Coast.<hr><h2>At A Glance </h2>Project: Pretty Beach House, NSWMain Concrete Elements:<ul><li>In-situ slab floors and ceilings</li><li>Off-floors walls (internal and retaining)</li></ul>Architect: lahznimmo architectsBuilder: BlairBuildPhotography:&nbsp;Brett Boardman<hr><h2>The Challenge </h2>It took architects Andrew Nimmo and Annabel Lahz seven years to overcome a raft of challenges in designing and building their bush retreat—not the least being a steeply sloping site in a bushfire-prone environment that also happens to be an Endangered Ecological Community.<h2>Solution, outcome </h2>The payoff has been worth the investment—an elegantly simple, low-maintenance house that is fully and sympathetically immersed in its pristine natural landscape of forest gums and fern gullys. The house has a narrow, linear footprint that runs with&nbsp;the contours across the steeply sloping (1:3) building&nbsp;envelope. When viewed from the road above, the house&nbsp;appears much bigger than it actually is. In fact, it’s little&nbsp;more than one-room deep. Building across, rather than down the slope, not only&nbsp;reduced costs by minimising excavation, it ensured the&nbsp;house could be ‘embedded’ into the landscape and take&nbsp;full advantage of the bush views above and below the&nbsp;envelope.The choice of materials—concrete, brick and steel—was as much about durability as it was aesthetics. “We made the decision very early to go down the path&nbsp;of totally non-combustible materials, including the roof,”&nbsp;Nimmo says.&nbsp; It meant we were able to retain the trees close to the house that otherwise would have had to be removed.“There’s no reason why this house won’t be standing in&nbsp;100 years.”The ground floor is a concrete slab on piers.On the downside of the slope, the edge of the slab wraps around exposed sandstone outcrops and kinks outwards at its northern end to create a large, open veranda space.&nbsp; (This kink is mirrored on the first-floor slab, creating a similar open space.)The corners of the slabs are rounded to soften their visual impact.The roof is also concrete—for the most part flat but in one particular section (over the central breezeway and adjoining enclosed spaces) folding upwards to mirror the angle of the ground slope.Taking full advantage of the extra ceiling height created by this sloping roof section, a narrow strip of glazing has been installed at the top of the adjoining wall to open up the bush views from within the living area.“It also helps with ventilation but really it’s about the&nbsp;view,” Nimmo says.“Our views are all about looking through the trees rather&nbsp;than over them. The idea of the sloping roof section was&nbsp;to expose the view behind us, which is probably the&nbsp;nicest.”The relationship between the building and its immediate environment is also reinforced by the exposed brick walling.All of the brickwork is non-loadbearing; the heavy-lifting is done by the exposed steel columns, supported by concrete blade walls for lateral stability. In contrast, Nimmo and Lahz have chosen to let the concrete speak for itself.For example, where the internal blade and external retaining walls are visible, the imprint left by the horizontally laid, sawn Oregon timber form boards is clearly visible. As are the ply form lines on the exposed concrete soffits.The understated simplicity of the design and its&nbsp;accompanying materials palette belies the meticulous&nbsp;and thoughtful approach taken by all involved in this&nbsp;project.Nimmo reserves special praise for builder Matt Blair,&nbsp;describing the collaboration as paramount in overcoming&nbsp;the unique set of challenges presented by the site.&nbsp; The proof is most certainly in the puddinga beautiful bushland escape that sets a standard for building on ecologically sensitive, bushfire-prone sites.<h3>Benefits of using concrete:</h3><ul><li>Ecologically sensitive</li><li>Durability in bushfire-prone environments</li><li>Low-maintenance</li></ul>

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Embracing digital transformation in civil engineering offers substantial benefits in an industry grappling with high risk and an acute need to increase efficiency and productivity.To analyse the steps and processes required for ‘going digital’, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) convened subject-matter experts in October 2021 for a roundtable debate to examine the evolution required.&nbsp;The debate included experts from industry and technology providers and was convened by the ICE Digital Community Advisory Board and Bluebeam, a developer of technology solutions for architecture, engineering and construction professionals worldwide.&nbsp;The panel looked at five key areas organisations should focus on to improve business outcomes and examined the potential impact on people, information, technology and process.&nbsp;Establish and track consistent data to enable target outcomesThe panel flagged the importance of ensuring broad stakeholder buy-in from the start.&nbsp;“Sometimes we forget to ask about data as part of the contract when we get so focused on the build,” said Transport for London head of commercial innovation Rikesh Shah, who co-chaired the debate.&nbsp;The panel noted that such a discussion should include baselines for the project definition and scope as well as consistent file formats and common data standards.&nbsp;To inform this, engineers should consider the information requirements for each stage of a project or asset’s lifecycle and the desired outcomes. This can be assisted by producing clear examples for asset data definition, and the structure and the level of detail required.&nbsp;Autodesk strategic engagement lead Ricardo Bittini Miret said, “That level of definition, with clear examples, will really help people to understand why you need the data and how to use it”.The panellists agreed that first reaching a clear understanding of what the data would be used for would better define what must be captured and avoid data overload.Aim for standardisation rather than bespokeThe panel recommended avoiding bespoke requirements and methodologies wherever possible, as this would hinder the founding and adoption of industry-wide standards.By the same token, certain NDA-private dataset hurdles can be overcome by standardising the ways that data can be shared, beyond standard security guidelines.&nbsp;Bluebeam regional director James Chambers said, “Democratise the data, make it available to everyone; getting clarity and transparency is one of the hardest things to do”.The panel agreed that a project should have the aspiration of opening any data sources that didn’t need to be closed for legal, security, privacy or competitive advantage reasons while noting that education was required for engineers to better understand these factors.&nbsp;The panel also underlined that employing data scientists and analysts in an industry where they were not traditionally found would improve the extent and quality of data mining and analytics.&nbsp;It was also felt that an industry that often silos success and lessons learnt within a single site or company would benefit as a whole by sharing data and making it accessible.<div id="60WpB7siWKBtyTFWRNxPSP"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3EELviht2teFrbla1X8Wpz/e29df330b614edfb83165a20be16c102/bluebeam-civil-engineering.jpg" alt="Bluebeam digitalisation for engineering" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3EELviht2teFrbla1X8Wpz/e29df330b614edfb83165a20be16c102/bluebeam-civil-engineering.jpg"></picture><div>▲ People and processes are just as important as technology, a roundtable of civil engineering subject-matter experts have agreed. </div></div>Ensure stakeholder buy-inThe best technology solutions will fail without sufficient buy-in from the intended users, so businesses must recognise that people and processes are just as important as the technology.&nbsp;The panel recommended organisations maximise their digital adoption gains by ensuring digitally proficient graduates work alongside experienced engineers.&nbsp;Helping staff to completely understand the desired outcomes and efficiency gains that can be made will also drive success.Create an efficient common data environmentMott MacDonald chief technical officer Mark Enzer, the roundtable co-chair, said there was a need to avoid positioning technology as a silver bullet that would eradicate civil engineering’s digital transformation issues.&nbsp;“There’s the people bit, the information bit, the process bit and the technology bit and we should intentionally put technology at the end,” said Enzer, who also heads the National Digital Twin Program at the Centre for Digital Built Britain.&nbsp;A common data environment (CDE) is a digital resource used to collect, manage and distribute documentation, the graphical model and other data for use across the whole project team and is a fundamental aspect of building information modelling (BIM).&nbsp;The panel made the point that it’s the stakeholders’ information requirements and desired outcomes that must define an efficient common data environment. Therefore, a project team should clearly identify what kind of environment was needed before choosing a CDE.&nbsp;With so many digital solutions for civil engineering available, those selected must allow a level of interoperability.&nbsp;Heba Bevan, founder at UtterBerry, which has developed artificially intelligent sensors that produce ‘big data’ sets,&nbsp; said the data format should be specified in a contract to ensure it was interchangeable between platforms.She said a CDE must be flexible enough to share data with anyone who might need it.Enzer said that, as an overarching consideration, digital solutions must be simplified and demystified to encourage broad industry adoption.Standardise digital practices for project efficiency gains and visibilityProject forecasting AI provider nPlan’s chief technology officer, Alan Mosca, said seamless integration would reduce the barriers to adoption and maintenance.&nbsp;Automation was key to this, rather than relying on manual processes such as uploading PDFs, he said.&nbsp;Only by breaking down and defining standard processes at each stage of a project-asset lifecycle can it be established what can be automated.But the panel noted that, in the absence of standard lists of repetitive processes, organisations relied on producing bespoke ones.&nbsp;To help with this, the panel recommended that engineers learn the lessons from big public sector projects.&nbsp;Jacobs vice-president James Roundtree said, “When HS2 (a high-speed rail line being built in England) was being established as an organisation, a lot of time went into defining the common data environments and how supply chains would be engaged”. Want to go digital? Bluebeam can help you take the next steps in your digital transformation.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluebeam.pro/3y8DP1N" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bluebeam.pro/3y8DP1N&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1656550789330000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1e13fKamo_4zxrl4xKxZAC" data-mce-href="https://bluebeam.pro/3y8DP1N">Download a free trial today.</a><hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a href="https://bluebeam.pro/3y8DP1N" data-mce-href="https://bluebeam.pro/3y8DP1N">Bluebeam</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

To analyse the steps and processes required for ‘going digital’, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) convened subject-matter experts in October 2021 for a roundtable debate to examine the evolution required.

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The cool climate region around Canberra might not be as well-known as other wine-making regions across Australia but one family in particular is doing its best to change that.<hr><h2> At a glance</h2> Project: Shaw Wines new cellar doorMain concrete elements: (1) Concrete slab-footings; (2) Off-form concrete vertical ‘spine’ wall and feature wallArchitect: Oztal Architects—Dean Kensit and Nick PelleBuilder: Oztal Architects—Dean Kensit and Nick PelleImages: Adrien Labutte—Evolve Timelapse<hr><h2> The challenge</h2> Shaw Wines recently opened a stunning cellar door at its Murrumbateman estate—a building that says as much about the family’s confidence in this still emerging wine-making region as it does about their business model.<h2>Solution and outcome</h2> The building was designed by Oztal Architects to take full advantage of the location and views, as well as make a bold architectural statement that would draw people to the estate.The clean, straight lines belie an attention to detail that marks this building as something special.It also contains elements of surprise and levity, exemplified by the sculptured window made from wine glasses in the cellar area.Visually and structurally, the design is dominated by a monolithic off-form concrete spine. Running east towest, this spine not only grounds the building into the landscape but effectively partitions the internal space and creates a circulation spine for visitors.On the southern side of this divide is a large, open tasting room and wine ‘lounge’—the perimeter of which is almost completely glass. Here, visitors can sit, sip and enjoy the elevated views across the vineyards to the distant Brindabella Ranges.The main entrance, private tasting room, office, wine storage and amenities is on the northern side of the spine.As you approach the building from the northern carpark, an off-form concrete blade wall reaches out through the glass-framed entranceway to greet and draw you inside, where you’re met by a display of award-winning wines.On the opposite side of this entranceway, kiln-dried timber wall cladding provides a softening, textural contrast to the concrete. The wedge-shaped roof sits lightly atop this solid structural base, the two elements separated by a narrow curtain of glass.As you walk through this main entrance you come to another section of concrete blade wall that creates something of a pinch-point, concentrating your view through the tasting room to the vineyard vista beyond.The off-form concrete elements of the building feature a Class 1 finish. (A concrete prototype was built to provide assurance for the owner that a high-quality finish was achievable.)The concrete pours for the spine were set up and scheduled in such a way as to distinguish the horizontal lines and minimise vertical lines. Notwithstanding, the finished forms don’t attempt to shy away from the essential characteristics of the raw material.“One of the beauties of concrete is that it shows up the differences created by the pours and joint lines,” says Dean Kensit, who, with Nick Pelle, designed the building.“That’s one of the reasons we wanted to use it. It’s consistent and homogenous and yet displays little inconsistencies that add to its character.”One of the things not immediately obvious about the spine, especially when viewed from ground level, is that it contains a void that houses air-conditioning units and other services.One of the aspects of the materials palette that appeals to the architectural team is the inevitability that time and the elements will leave their imprint on the building.In other words, it will mature and improve with age—much like the wines it showcases.<h2>Benefits of concrete: </h2><ul><li>Aesthetics</li><li>Durability and low maintenance </li></ul><hr> The Urban Developer&nbsp;is proud to partner with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ccaa.com.au/" data-mce-href="https://www.ccaa.com.au/">CCAA</a>&nbsp;to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

The cool climate region around Canberra might not be as well-known as other wine-making regions across Australia but one family in particular is doing its best to change that.


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While construction industry sentiment across Asia Pacific region remains remarkably strong, Australia is falling behind in technology adoption, a report from Procore has found.<a data-mce-href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial" href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How We Build Now: Tracking Technology in Construction 2022</a> is the third instalment in Procore’s series of independent reports designed to benchmark technology advancements across the industry.Procore commissioned research firm YouGov to take the pulse of 1138 construction leaders in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Singapore. While 91 per cent of respondents across the region are positive about the 12 months ahead, this falls to 85 per cent in Australia.Australia is also behind its regional peers in almost every area of technology adoption and investment, from artificial intelligence to advanced analytics, building information modelling to big data.One in five Australian construction businesses say they are “digital first” but 20 per cent have decreased their investment in technology in the wake of Covid and 11 per cent are not investing in technology at all.Why are Australian businesses lagging? Speaking at the launch of Procore’s report as part of a panel discussion, YouGov head of research Julie Harris said that it might be because “ASEAN businesses are younger and perhaps more likely to be born digital”.Meriton director of construction David Cremona said a generational shift was under way and the next wave of workers “born with the iPhones in their hands” would be the natural champions of digital technology.SafeWork NSW executive director of compliance and dispute resolution Matt Press said he expected the “rise of the digital worker”, automation and prefabrication to coalesce and take over “probably a third” of construction tasks over the next two decades.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wPeXTkpkEA" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wPeXTkpkEA"></iframe> Prefabrication, in particular, would deliver “far fewer touchpoints” and eliminate a lot of waste.Waste was a perennial problem for an industry operating on razor-thin margins, the panel observed. The average Australian construction company spends 12 per cent of its time on rework. One in five construction leaders admits digital technology would help them save money through fewer errors and less rework.Press made a connection between waste and rework. “People see rubbish as an environmental problem—but it’s a productivity problem. Everything that ends up in the bin can be a mistake.”According to How We Build Now, 27 per cent of Australian construction companies still use paper to capture, track and manage data across everything from quotes to safety audits to environmental reporting. This is not limited to small businesses. Some of the region's largest companies rely on analog systems in the digital age.Cremona said that, prior to adopting Procore, Meriton had “ample paper and data that we couldn’t really use”. Now everyone in Meriton’s team—including subcontractors—could access the same information.While 43 per cent of Australian construction companies accelerated their investment in digital technology in the wake of the pandemic, this is behind the 53 per cent regional average. If Covid’s global disruption and the pivot to digital working weren’t catalysts for digital transformation, what would be?Construction company Urban Core managing director Dominique Gill said Covid had been a “completely paralysing event” for smaller companies with tight budgets and fewer resources.Many construction leaders had taken a “wait and see” approach over the past two years and this was about to pay off. “We know it [digital transformation] needs to happen. We’ve seen what we need to do – and now we are doing it.” Download your copy of<a href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium%3DWeb-Referral%26utm_source%3DPartner%26utm_campaign%3DCS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report%26utm_term%3DHWBN%26utm_content%3DHWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1656377259985000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tU9T438VbObu_ET6UsiHC" data-mce-href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial">&nbsp;How We Build Now 2022</a>.<hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial" href="https://www.procore.com/en-au/ebooks/how-we-build-now?utm_medium=Web-Referral&amp;utm_source=Partner&amp;utm_campaign=CS-22-Q2-TheUrbanDeveloper-ANZ-HWBN-Report&amp;utm_term=HWBN&amp;utm_content=HWBN-Report-LP_The-Urban-Developer-Editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Procore</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.&nbsp;

While construction industry sentiment across Asia Pacific region remains remarkably strong, Australia is falling behind in technology adoption, a report from Procore has found.

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Sydney-based investment house Princeton is the financier of the new $98-million Villawood residential project One Place.&nbsp;One Place, in the heart of Sydney’s west at 1 Villawood Place, Villawood, comprises 161 residential apartments and ground-level retail.The suburb has undergone a huge transformation in recent years, rapidly becoming one of the west’s most sought-after housing markets due to its connectivity and affordability.&nbsp;Initially approved for 119 apartments at the time of settlement, the project’s sponsor, ABA Group, gained council approval during construction for 42 more apartments.&nbsp;Princeton founders George Gadallah and Craig Anderson said the project reflected the increasing demand for modern apartments in Villawood’s burgeoning housing market.&nbsp;“We are thrilled to have contributed to the revitalisation and transformation of Villawood, which is emerging as one of western Sydney’s quickest-growing and most-desirable suburbs to live in,” Gadallah said.&nbsp;“One Place is the crown jewel in a new wave of sleek modern apartments, including the previously Princeton-financed 888 Project in 2020, that has helped to reinvigorate interest&nbsp; and rejuvenate the area,” he said.&nbsp;A full Occupation Certificate was issued for One Place in April, 2022, denoting physical completion of all construction works. Settlement of presold apartments has begun.Princeton’s business model is supported by a Wholesale Funds Management platform. Princeton’s product offerings include financing the acquisition of development-approved sites and construction loans for residential development projects in the Sydney metropolitan area up to 200 dwellings. Princeton uses a custodian who holds investor funds and&nbsp; securities, external auditors, independent credit and compliance committees. <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="https://princetonmortgagefund.com.au" href="https://princetonmortgagefund.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Princeton</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

Sydney-based investment house Princeton is the financier of the new $98-million Villawood residential project, One Place...

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Family-owned Kaolin Tiles has opened the doors on its newly upscaled showroom, bring to life its range of products and their uses across a range of applications.Backed by 25 years of porcelain tile knowledge, craftsmanship, innovation, and engineering, Kaolin say they offer a product like no other.&nbsp;Their family-owned manufacturing plant is a state-of-the-art facility with industry-leading environmentally sustainable and ethical production practices.&nbsp;All of Kaolin’s products achieve a full Level A Certification recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), contributing to Green Star ratings.The new showroom has been designed in-house to showcase their large-format tiles, their Endless Vein, and the precision of a seamless join that only needs a 0.5mm grout joint.Custom-made sliders highlight size and veining. The space shows what is achievable and enhances the radiance and depth of each tile's uniqueness.<div id="295eKsOXY9MfswSdczQeCc"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7ufGeaimEgbt5jOa2Qkp5c/73fecca483522ed6bf3ededb4dbbbbe2/Kaolin_Mid_Article_June_17.jpg" alt="Kaolin Tiles bar" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7ufGeaimEgbt5jOa2Qkp5c/73fecca483522ed6bf3ededb4dbbbbe2/Kaolin_Mid_Article_June_17.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Kaolin’s Bar Sodalite brings the use of the distinctive Sodalite Blue to life. </div></div>A bar was installed to showcase Sodalite Blue, and the distinctive lighting used optimises the deep, mysterious cobalt tones that hold three arches of delicate Breche De Benou.The luxurious-looking bar hosts clients, talks, and other industry-related events but also serves to show the durability of porcelain, which is 10 times cheaper than natural stone.The concept areas showcase three different styles: modern contemporary, luxury minimalism and ambient art deco.The walls and floors have been chosen to balance aesthetically with the proximity of elements.For Saturday Indesign this year, Kaolin teamed with ARM Architecture to collaborate on The Project.ARM Architecture, who has been awarded the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall renewal, designed a conical anamorph that sits over a spherical tile mosaic.At a given point, a checkerboard is revealed with the word “Eternity” regenerated in the mirror cone. The installation is now a permanent feature of the Kaolin showroom.&nbsp;A sample library is available to anyone who wants to explore and create a mood board for themselves or clients. This library is stocked with books, materials and finishes needed to curate or play with ideas.An intimate tea ceremony area reflects the soul of Kaolin, where time is taken to be mindful, respectful, exchange meaningful conversation and self-reflect. The tranquillity of this space is framed by Royal Green Jade Endless Vein.“As you walk around the Kaolin showroom you can’t help but be inspired by colour, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have multiple shades of grey. Rather it tells you that global styles and trends have shifted to colour, texture and layering in design,” a spokesperson said.Kaolin’s team is a multicultural mix of people who are well-informed and passionate about making a difference in the tiling industry. <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="https://www.kaolin.com.au/" href="https://www.kaolin.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaolin Tiles</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

Family-owned Kaolin Tiles has upscaled their manufacturing plant to a state-of-the-art facility that leads the industry in environmentally sustainable and ethical production practices.

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Procuring suitable debt capital for real estate has never been more challenging for borrowers as the Australian market continues to suffer from inflationary pressures, ongoing pandemic risks and rising interest rates whilst operating through one of the toughest periods for the construction industry.However, it is often during times of uncertainty and increased market risks when non-bank lenders steadily remain active capital providers of commercial real estate. The ability to lend through market cycles and the asset-life stages is due to a sophisticated and astute understanding of both the supportive property fundamentals and the underlying risks.&nbsp;This allows experienced non-bank lenders to pivot very quickly to respond to changing conditions. When the industry started facing construction cost escalation, non-bank lenders lowered pre-sales hurdles for good quality projects and experienced borrowers to reduce holding costs and lock in construction costs, accelerating the project timeline.&nbsp;Non-bank lender YieldStack Capital Partners was established by experienced property professionals to provide borrowers with flexible, bespoke funding, sourced from a network of wholesale and institutional investors. Non-bank lenders provide value-added and unique debt capital solutions to borrowers, such as higher leverage, lower pre-sale hurdles, and the ability to take on planning risks.YieldStack has assisted developer Podia and their capital partner Centennial Property Group with a number of projects, most recently the financing of a 41-luxury serviced apartment project in Byron Bay.YieldStack v bank terms<table style="width: 100%; font-family: Panton-Bold, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); border: unset;" border="1" data-mce-style="width: 100%; font-family: Panton-Bold, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); border: unset;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;"> </td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">Bank</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">YieldStack</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Leverage</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">55%-70% (LTC) 40%-65% (LVR)</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">70%-95% (LTC) 50%-80% (LVR)</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Pre-sales debt cover</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">90%-120%</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">0%-80%</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Interest cover</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">Minimum 1.5x</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">Vacant possession, trade up acceptable</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Residual stock lend</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">No</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">Yes</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Land financing</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">No appetite or only DA approved</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">DA, non-DA and unzoned land</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.1631%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1631%;">Approval process</td><td style="width: 33.6721%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.6721%;">6-12 weeks</td><td style="width: 33.1646%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.1646%;">24 hours to credit decision</td></tr></tbody></table>Source: YieldStack. The bank terms are reflective of those observed by YieldStack in the current market environment. The YieldStack terms represent its lending terms in the current market environment. YieldStack chief executive and co-founder Adrian Lee said the current state of play was conducive for non-bank lenders to rise to the challenge and show how they could add value as market conditions changed. “For YieldStack, this means being a reliable and flexible capital partner of real estate who is very much invested in the success of the project or strategy.“Importantly, we take an agile, commercial and forward-thinking approach to solving our client’s capital requirements at any point of the cycle.”<div id="18vzD7zTueGwWFuoS1n2CM"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6h2346vfz7gVt7FBkkEHfz/690c8951cedeafd5b65a410beeef45f4/Yieldstack_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg" alt="The Barbotine Byron Bay Podia YieldStack" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6h2346vfz7gVt7FBkkEHfz/690c8951cedeafd5b65a410beeef45f4/Yieldstack_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Podia's The Barbotine at Byron Bay in NSW. </div></div>Podia co-founder and director Michael Grassi said YieldStack had assisted them with multiple transactions and they were their trusted adviser in raising and managing their debt facilities. The facility arranged by YieldStack allowed Podia to settle on the land with flexible funding terms and provided ample time to meet conditions to trigger construction funding, something that would not be achievable with a bank.&nbsp;In an environment of heightened risks, it can make all the difference for a borrower to establish a capital partnership with an experienced non-bank lender to gain access to flexible alternative debt solutions and to mitigate the risk of procuring debt capital. <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="http://www.yieldstack.com" href="http://www.yieldstack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YieldStack</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

In an environment of heightened risks, it can make all the difference for a borrower to establish a capital partnership with an experienced non-bank lender to gain access to flexible alternative debt solutions and to mitigate the risk of procuring debt capital...

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Y Suites offers purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across multiple cities in Australia. The company’s focus is on well-being and creating a lifestyle for study, friendships and fun. They go out of their way to deliver.&nbsp;With student experience and welfare top of mind, it was key that these multi-site developments had a robust, operationally efficient and integrated electronic-access-control system, or EAC. The goal: ensure students’ safety in a way that enhanced the students’ experience (seamless, convenient), and benefitted the company (reduced operational costs, increased efficiency, oversight and security).<h2>Why so sweet?</h2>Y Suites is developed and owned by Wee Hur Capital of Singapore, with the key mission to “provide a home away from home for our students”.The facilities at Y Suites are impressive, including&nbsp; shared kitchens and lounge rooms, meeting rooms, sky lounge, music and dance studios, gym and yoga facilities and more. Y Suites ensures all the amenities that a student could dream of are at their fingertips.&nbsp;The challenge Y Suites faced, then, was to find an electronic-access-control technology that could meet a swathe of operational, integration and safety requirements.<div id="3WnyOTXGnLh5CKbanbuGTH"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3Cu2R6NaeOQHE6Ciwt9UTm/090dd10e15416ed03f288c4c98828a96/SALTO_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg" alt="SALTO access for students" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3Cu2R6NaeOQHE6Ciwt9UTm/090dd10e15416ed03f288c4c98828a96/SALTO_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg"></picture><div>▲ SALTO’s access-control technology has helped Y Suites to provide an outstanding level of security and quality of life for its students. </div></div>Ultimately, the SALTO solution was selected, as Development Manager Wing Fai said: “In order to fulfil our duty of care, we have to be able to monitor and control the way that the buildings, individual rooms and shared facilities are being accessed. We need a system that gives our students easy access, whilst at the same time enabling us to ensure their safety and security.“The system has to allow us to automate processes and manage facilities remotely in order to control costs without compromising on quality of service. We’re very environmentally conscious and so also need to manage energy consumption and reduce the environmental footprint of our buildings.“All of which means that we need an EAC partner with innovative technology, the ability to integrate with our PMS (property management system) and a national and international presence. That’s what led us to choose SALTO.”SALTO’s Living Spaces Manager for Oceania Cedric Duigou describes the solution that SALTO designed for Y Suites: “We used a range of different SALTO technology elements, incorporated into a single, easy-to-manage system that controls access to the base building and all the shared and individual spaces, via a combination of wireless and hard-wired access points.“The system is fully integrated with RMS, (the PMS). This integration streamlines the student registration, with student details captured once and shared between RMS and SALTO.”<div id="31G629g3KP19RtUDKrWCgK"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4tvDpRJlQyWJRbm6tngf4Y/52541fb2fc97e36ba18f1940d85c2d1d/2_SALTO_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg" alt="SALTO student accommodation access control" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4tvDpRJlQyWJRbm6tngf4Y/52541fb2fc97e36ba18f1940d85c2d1d/2_SALTO_Mid_Article_June_9.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Y Suites uses a range of different SALTO technology elements, incorporated into a single, easy-to-manage system. </div></div>Wing Fai said SALTO has made significant contributionsto the building and promotion of the Y Suites brand in Australia"We wanted our facilities to focus primarily on student wellbeing and experience, and SALTO’s innovative access-control technology has helped us to provide an outstanding level of security and quality of life for our students.“Of course, we also needed to be able to operate our properties efficiently and SALTO’s online operations, monitoring and control, battery-operated locks, mobile keys and PMS integration all contribute to reducing our management overheads and energy expenditure.” <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to partner with <a data-mce-href="https://saltosystems.com/en-au/" href="https://saltosystems.com/en-au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SALTO</a> to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.

SALTO’s innovative access-control technology has helped Y Suites to provide an outstanding level of security and quality of life for students in accommodation.