Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

FBIS26 will be held in Melbourne this August. (Image: A. Frank/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com) On 10 to 11 August 2026, the Future Building and Infrastructure Summit (FBIS26) will bring construction leaders together in Melbourne. Representatives from government, contracting, consultancy and academia will examine how the industry can improve productivity, project delivery and workforce conditions. Australia’s construction productivity challenge is well understood. Projects are becoming larger and more complex, while delivery teams operate across fragmented organisational boundaries. Persistent delays, rework, commercial tension and workforce pressure continue to affect project outcomes and the people responsible for delivering them. Hosted by Lean Construction Australia and New Zealand, FBIS26 aims to move the conversation from recognising these problems to identifying possible solutions. This year’s summit is built around a clear proposition: productivity cannot be improved by as...

BESIX Watpac is progressing the internal fit-out and façade installation. (Image: SKYview Aerial Photography) Construction of the new eight-storey Shellharbour Hospital has reached its highest point, with a traditional topping-out ceremony held to mark the milestone. The hospital forms part of the $828.9 million New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project , jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments. BESIX Watpac is delivering the hospital as principal contractor in partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Work is now progressing on the internal fit-out and installation of the building’s façade, with construction scheduled for completion in late 2027. Related stories: Muswellbrook Hospital redevelopment reaches milestone Multiplex completes new John Hunter Hospital building First look at Canterbury Hospital redevelopment The new hospital will include an expanded emergency department, specialised elective surgery facilities, ...

Artist’s impression: Once complete, the stadium is expected to bring more visitors, investment and major events to Hobart. (Images: MPDC) Preparatory works have commenced at the Macquarie Point Stadium site in Hobart, with Hazell Bros appointed to undertake the bulk earthworks. The Tasmanian contractor secured the package through a competitive procurement process and will carry out works until mid-2027. The program includes the excavation of about 100,000 cubic metres of soil, site preparation and archaeological investigations ahead of major stadium construction. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the start of works marks another milestone for the project. “The diggers have arrived, the builders are here, and we are getting on with the job,” said Rockliff. “These critical works are being delivered by Hazell Bros, a highly respected Tasmanian company with decades of experience delivering major infrastructure projects across our state.” Related stories: Bennett Construction c...

The refurbishment forms part of a targeted repositioning of the 50,000-square-metre Sydney CBD asset. (Images: Mirvac) Mirvac and M&G Real Estate have unveiled the refurbished lobby and new amenities at 400 George Street in Sydney’s CBD. The works form part of a targeted repositioning of the 30-storey, 50,000-square-metre office building to improve the customer experience, connectivity and workplace amenity. The refurbishment includes a reimagined ground-floor lobby with concierge services, a new café and an expanded food and beverage offering. A new through-site link improves pedestrian movement between George Street, Sydney Arcade and Pitt Street Mall, while shared meeting spaces, a wellness facility and upgraded end-of-trip amenities support tenant flexibility and wellbeing. Mirvac chief asset management officer Victoria Tavendale said the works represent an investment in the experience offered throughout the building. “400 George Street is a strong example of how we’re in...

Ellie Hannon’s mural Water Ways. (Images: NSW Government) Construction has been completed on a new Community Health space at Muswellbrook Hospital as part of the NSW Government’s $45 million Stage 3 redevelopment. The new area includes consultation and treatment spaces for nursing care, child and family health care and allied health services. Located within the hospital, the facility is intended to improve access to services and strengthen referral pathways between Community Health and other hospital services. Local artists have played an important role in bringing the new area to life, with a range of artworks commissioned to create welcoming and calming spaces for patients, visitors and staff. Ellie Hannon’s mural Water Ways has been installed adjacent to the new Community Health area, providing a calming visual outlook and contributing to a therapeutic healthcare environment. Related stories: Multiplex completes new John Hunter Hospital building First look at Canterbury Ho...

Spatial intelligence turns BIM models and site-capture data into working data assets. (Image: Halfpoint/stock.adobe.com) Spatial intelligence is changing how construction data can be captured, connected and used across project delivery and asset management. The construction industry has never had more data. Yet on many projects, critical decisions are still made using incomplete, outdated or disconnected information. As project complexity grows, clients demand greater transparency and governments tighten expectations around sustainability and reporting, an accurate view of what is happening on site is becoming increasingly important to project delivery. Cupix’s latest Constructing Reality report examines how spatial intelligence is being used across the design, delivery and operation of assets in the Asia-Pacific region. Drawing on perspectives from leaders across construction, digital engineering, infrastructure delivery and asset management, the report argues that the industry’...

Artist’s impression: The Stanley is Sarazin’s third development in Woolloongabba. (Image: Sarazin) Construction has commenced on Sarazin’s 35-storey The Stanley apartment development in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. A sod-turning ceremony attended by project partners, consultants and stakeholders marked the start of works following the project’s approval by Economic Development Queensland. The Stanley forms part of the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area and will be constructed by Hutchinson Builders. GroupGSA designed the tower. Located at 8 Trafalgar Street, near The Gabba and about two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, the development will comprise 234 apartments. Plans include a two-storey rooftop amenity precinct featuring an infinity pool, steam rooms, saunas, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, private dining room, cinema, games lounge, golf simulator, boardroom, work-from-home spaces, a wine cellar and residents’ wine lounge. Related stories: DT Infrastructure awarded Queensland Rai...

TBH says enabling infrastructure will be critical to Canberra’s digital growth. (Image: Darkdriver/stock.adobe.com) Electricity supply is one of the challenges standing between Canberra and its data centre ambitions, according to a new report from project delivery consultancy TBH. The report, The Infrastructure Behind Canberra’s Digital Future , finds that the ACT has limited local generation capacity and depends on interconnected eastern grid infrastructure, while land, water and approval pressures compound the problem. It argues that decisions made now about land, power and enabling infrastructure will be important to Canberra’s ability to strengthen its role as Australia’s sovereign digital infrastructure capital and build an AI-ready infrastructure base. According to the report, Canberra is home to Australian Government agencies, Defence and intelligence functions. TBH says that, unlike Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra’s data centre market is shaped by sovereign government require...

Artist’s impression: The completed redevelopment will increase Melbourne Central’s retail footprint from 55,000 to about 63,000 square metres. (Images: GPT) Construction has commenced on GPT Group’s $170 million transformation of Melbourne Central, which will introduce new retail, dining and entertainment offerings to the CBD centre. GPT has appointed Maben to deliver about 7,800 square metres of additional retail space across levels three and four, with ARM Architects leading the design. Once complete, the centre will contain about 63,000 square metres of retail space. The expansion will include Melbourne’s first Books Kinokuniya store, a large-format entertainment hub, new dining areas and more than 10 food retailers. Books Kinokuniya Australia managing director Satoshi Yada said Melbourne was a natural next step for the retailer. “As a UNESCO City of Literature, we believe Melbourne’s creative and literary culture aligns deeply with Kinokuniya’s identity,” said Yada. “As we exp...

Coates offers trench shoring systems for a range of excavation conditions. (Image: Coates) Trenches can collapse quickly and without warning. Once excavation begins, conditions can change rapidly, especially in unstable ground or near existing structures. The trench shoring system should therefore be selected early based on the site conditions, excavation geometry and installation method. This guide by Coates outlines the key factors that influence trench shoring system selection. 1. Excavation risk should come before equipment category A common mistake is to start with product availability or preference instead of the excavation conditions. System selection should begin with: Trench depth and width; soil type and stability; groundwater conditions; nearby structures and services; surcharge loads from plant or traffic; and vibration from surrounding activity. Two trenches with the same dimensions can require different solutions depending on these factors. Excavations deeper...

Artist’s impression: Bradfield City is being developed as a centre for advanced manufacturing and innovation. (Images: NSW Government) Construction has started on Bradfield City’s Second Building as a $1 billion industrial estate receives planning approval in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The purpose-designed, 7,000-square-metre Second Building will house Australia’s first commercial Semiconductor Advanced Packaging Facility. The facility will give local businesses access to semiconductor packaging, microelectronics and precision manufacturing capabilities to support the commercialisation of Australian-developed technology. It will feature ISO 5 cleanroom laboratories supported by advanced microscopy, electronics, taping and dicing capabilities. The facility is intended to support developments in quantum computing, photonics, sensing, communications and medical technology. The new building will also include a second advanced manufacturing hall to expand the capabilities of the i...

Australia’s data centre boom is gathering pace. (Image: TechNova Graphics/stock.adobe.com) The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the Federal Government’s recent announcement on AI , particularly its focus on greater national coordination of data centre development. The institute’s national president, David Wagner, said data centres require strategic planning from the outset because of their effects on energy networks, water supplies and surrounding communities. “If we get the planning right now, data centres can support economic growth while balancing the needs of communities, infrastructure and the environment,” said Wagner. Related stories: Data centre boom strains construction workforce Australia sets expectations for data centres and AI infrastructure Delivering high-performance data centres “We welcome the Federal Government’s acknowledgement that this needs a solid strategic framework and national coordination, and we look forward to working with the new O...

Atlassian Central was designed by SHoP Architects and BVN Architecture. (Image: Dexus) Atlassian Central has reached its full structural height of more than 180 metres in Sydney, with its project partners describing it as the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower. The 39-storey development uses a hybrid structural system combining mass timber, steel and concrete. According to the project team, the tower is about 100 metres taller than Milwaukee’s 25-storey Ascent building – the previous record holder. Timber reduces the weight and embodied carbon of the structure, while steel and concrete provide strength and stability. The building also incorporates a four-storey ‘habitat’ structure, featuring natural materials, daylight, ventilation and spaces designed for work and collaboration. The project is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in upfront embodied carbon across its structure compared with a conventional premium commercial office tower. It is also targeting a 50 per cent improvement...

The proposed network would connect major cities along Australia’s east coast. (Image: Chalabala/stock.adobe.com) Bechtel has been appointed delivery partner for the development phase of the proposed Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail. The company will work with the High Speed Rail Authority as planning progresses for the project, which forms the first stage of a potential high-speed rail network connecting major cities along Australia’s east coast. According to the authority’s business case submission, the Newcastle to Sydney project could contribute $250 billion to the national economy and create up to 99,000 jobs. It is also expected to support housing development and improve access to employment and economic opportunities. Bechtel managing director of public infrastructure in Australia Dr Richard Freer said the company was proud to partner with the High Speed Rail Authority on the project. Related stories: Seven tenders released for High Speed Rail Newcastle to Sydney What ...

Interspan specialises in post-tensioning systems for buildings, bridges and civil structures. (Image: Mario Marques) DYWIDAG Group has finalised its acquisition of Sydney-headquartered Interspan, including Slabtec, expanding its post-tensioning, concrete repair and structural strengthening operations. Interspan founders Don Fraser and James Laws will remain with the business and oversee its next phase of growth. The acquisition combines Interspan’s Australian workforce and project delivery capabilities with DYWIDAG’s international operations. A €50 million bond issued by DYWIDAG supported the transaction and the group’s broader growth plans. DYWIDAG chief executive officer Hugh Pelham said the acquisition would reinforce the group’s position across several specialist engineering markets. “Interspan is an exceptional business with a strong track record of customer satisfaction and financial performance,” said Pelham. “The combination of Interspan and DYWIDAG reinforces our position...

Brisbane is forecast to become a construction hotspot ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Image: asab974/stock.adobe.com) Rapid growth in AI infrastructure and data centre development is intensifying labour shortages across Australia and New Zealand’s construction sector, according to a new Turner & Townsend report. Now in its 17th year, Turner & Townsend’s Global Construction Market Intelligence report analyses the global construction industry using data gathered from 112 markets across 44 countries. The report finds that increased demand from data centre construction and health and defence projects, together with preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is creating competition for skilled workers and driving the adoption of new delivery approaches. According to the report, AI adoption and the push for data sovereignty have made data centres one of the fastest-growing sectors across Australia and New Zealand. The data indicates the reg...

The program will give Curtin students hands-on experience using BIM software. Image: Andrey Popov/stock.adobe.com Octave Intelligence, an industrial software company, has launched a new initiative to equip students with practical skills for critical industries. The Octave NextGen Builders Program will prepare students to make decisions across the design, construction, operation and protection of assets, with Curtin University confirmed as the inaugural partner. Fabio Yada, vice president for Asia Pacific at Octave. Image: Octave Across Australia, demand for skills in construction, infrastructure and engineering continues to exceed supply. Similar pressures are evident across the Asia-Pacific region, where major infrastructure, data centre and energy-transition projects are increasing demand for workers with technical and digital capabilities. The Octave NextGen Builders Program has been created to help address this gap by giving students hands-on experience with how data and intell...