THE controversial The Icon apartment tower, dubbed the “Lego building”, has defied critics with developer Pace picking up a gong at the 2016 Australia Property Institute’s Excellence in Property Awards.
At the same time, Westfield spinoff the Scentre Group won the prestigious Joe Curlewis Property Trust Industry Award, for its strong performance in the REIT sector.
Y2 Architecture swoop up two prizes and was only dual-award winner at the 2016 API EIPA.
The University of Tasmania’s Inversek Student Apartments gave it the honour of being the only dual Tasmanian category award winners for 2016.
Y2 Architecture was awarded the Opteon Property Group Environmental Development Award (Vic) for its Montagne Centre at Bendigo’s Marist College.
“Y2 Architecture have embraced a partially flood-prone, environmentally degraded site and created not only an enhanced natural environment, but also a learning tool to demonstrate the whole of cycle water management,” API Victoria President Tony Kelly said.
The firm also won the Australian Property Journal Heritage Property Award for Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo , which Kelly said was for transforming a relic of the Victorian era into a vibrant and essential part of the artistic and cultural fabric of the city.
“The judges have recognised the respect demonstrated for the heritage of the building and the place and the design excellence to incorporate modern functionality within the heritage fabric,” he said.
The University of Tasmania won the Opteon Property Group Environmental Property Award (Tas), as well as the Places Victoria Property Industry Award (Tas).
“A past winner in this category, the University has again demonstrated a genuine commitment to sustainable design and construction and a desire to provide environmental leadership in thought, word and deed,” Kelly said of University’s Environmental Property Award.
The Places Victoria Property Industry Award (Vic) was won by Robert Nichol & Sons Travel Zone @ The Alfred for its genuine commitment to changing attitudes away from car dependency and towards a healthy lifestyle in a way that can be measured and challenge their peers.
The surprise winner of the night was Pace Development Group, which won the CBRE Property Development Award for The Icon development in St Kilda.
“The judges seek to reward risk taking and delivering on a bold vision. Pace Development Group exemplified those characteristics having recognised the potential of a challenging site, pushed the envelope for collaborative design creativity and established a genuine inner city landmark,” Kelly said.
The City of Stonnington won the Land Victoria Local Government Property Award for the Civic Precinct Project and the API President’s Award was won by Sand Hill Road Garden State Hotel.
Meanwhile CBRE’s Ryan Korda took out the ISPT Young Achiever of the Year, awarded in Honour of Peter Power.
“Ryan’s leadership abilities were recognised and fostered from an early age and has demonstrated a passion for the industry, and for mentoring of younger staff,” Kelly said.
The other Tasmanian category winners were S Group (Tas), winning the Australian Property Journal Heritage Property Award (Tas) for its Substation House, and Cumulus Studio for its Devil’s Corner took out the CBRE Property Development Award.
Australian Property Journal
