Master Builders Australia (MBA) have announced Lend Lease and Touchstone Construction Services as Australia’s best builders for 2014 by awarding them the two top prizes at the National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards (NEBC).

Chosen from over 1,000 construction companies, Lend Lease and Touchstone received the top commercial and residential prizes, taking the National Commercial Master Builder of the Year and the National Residential Master Builder of the Year, respectively.

Lend Lease’s construction of the Gold Coast University Hospital was the project that earned the industry giant this year’s top commercial title and the new $1.76 billion, 750-bed tertiary project, designed by PDT Architects, Silver Thomas Hanley and HASSELL joint venture, was called a worthy winner by the MBA.

While smaller in scale, Touchstone’s 'Freedman House'- a four storey, five bedroom mixed material house -equally impressed the judges. “Faultless and exciting” were the words used to describe the residential mansion designed by Walter Barda Design which earned Touchstone the title as Australia’s Residential Master Builder of the Year.

Above: The Gold Coast University Hospital by Lend Lease and designed by joint venture PDT Architects, Silver Thomas Hanley and HASSELL architects.
Below: Touchstone’s 'Freedman House' features a myriad of materials and geometric shapes.

The NEBCs were divided into two main segments; ‘houses and ‘commercial/industrial’ projects, from which over 40 sub category prizes were awarded based on the cost, size and the type of project.

Over 5,000 projects were entered in this year’s event and the winners include everything from budget display homes to sustainable commercial projects.

The awards are judged by an independent committee which assess factors including: the quality of finished construction, degree of difficulty, materials used, environmental and safety protocols, outcomes achieved for the client and the benefit to the community.

The best young builder and apprentice builder were also awarded, as were Australia’s best national exports, The Buchan Group (services) and Starena/Jayline Australia (products and manufacturing).

Full list of awards and project below:

  • National Commercial Master Builder of the Year, Lend Lease Building Pty Ltd, Queensland - Gold Coast University Hospital
  • National Residential Master Builder of the Year, Touchstone Construction Services Pty Ltd, New South Wales

  • National Specialist Contractor of the Year, Melbourne Facades, Victoria – Monash University, New Horizon Building 82
  • National President’s Award, Brookfield Multiplex Construction, Western Australia - Fiona Stanley Hospital (Image: Brookfield)

  • National Apprentice of the Year, Martin Lewis, New South Wales
  • Department of Social Services National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award – Purpose Built Detached Dwelling, Nash Bros Constructions Pty Ltd, New South Wales – The Grange (Image: The Daily Advertiser)

  • Department of Social Services National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award – Multi Unit Development, Cockram Construction Limited, Queensland – Azure Blue Carina
  • National Export Award - Building and Construction Services, The Buchan Group
  • National Export Award - Products and Manufacturing, Starena Australia and Jayline Australia
  • Wood Solutions National Young Builder of the Year, Serena Giudice, Western Australia
  • National Environment and Energy Efficiency Residential Building Award, Matt Jolley Builder, New South Wales
  • National Environment and Energy Efficiency Commercial Building Award, ADCO Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd, Victoria – Melton Library and Learning Hub (image: Trevor Mein)

  • National Alterations/Additions Award – under $150,000, Aspire Constructions, New South Wales
  • National Alterations/Additions Award – $150,000 to $350,000, Barbaro Homes, Western Australia
  • National Alteration/Additions Award – $350,000 to $500,000, Elite Homes (Melb) Pty Ltd, Victoria
  • National Luxury Alterations/Additions Award – over $500,000, Beebo Constructions Pty Ltd, New South Wales
  • National Display Home – under $250,000, New Generation Homes – The Gateway, Western Australia

  • National Display Home – $250,000 to $350,000, Rawson Homes Pty Limited, The Huntley 30, New South Wales
  • Toyota National Display Home – $350,000 to $500,000, Kurmond Homes, The Glenleigh 44.5, New South Wales
  • Toyota National Display Home – over $500,000, Mayfair Homes, The Curzon, Australian Capital Territory
  • Assa Abloy Lockwood National Project Home – under $350,000, Scott Salisbury Homes, South Australia
  • Assa Abloy Lockwood National Project Home – $350,000 to $500,000, Exterior Dimensions Pty Ltd, South Australia
  • Assa Abloy Lockwood National Project Home – $500,000 to $1 million, Bakker Homes, Newcastle

  • National Luxury Project Home – $1 million to $2 million, Christopher R Smith, Queensland
  • National Luxury Project Home – over $2 million, Touchstone Construction Services Pty Ltd, New South Wales
  • Cbus National Medium Density – 2 to 5 Dwellings, Lyden Builders Pty Ltd, Tasmania
  • Cbus National Medium Density – over 5 Dwellings, PTM Group Pty Ltd, Northern Territory
  • Cbus National High Rise Apartment Building, Ceerose Pty Ltd, New South Wales
  • National Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Award, Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd, Tasmania – Cat & Fiddle Arcade Stage 6
  • National Commercial Historical Restoration/Renovation Award, Carfax Commercial Constructions Pty Ltd, New South Wales – Graythwaite Estate
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – under $5 million, Fairbrother Pty Ltd, Tasmania – St Patrick’s College

  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – $5 million to $10 million, Built Qld Pty Limited, Queensland – Sheraton Noosa Resort
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – $10 million to $20 million, Vos Construction and Joinery Pty Ltd, Tasmania – Devonport Aquatic Centre
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – $20 million to $50 million, Manteena, Australian Capital Territory – Garangula Gallery
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – $50 million to $100 million, John Holland Fairbrother Joint Venture, Tasmania – Medical Science 2
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – over $100 million, Hindmarsh Construction, South Australia – SA Health and Mediacl Research Institute
  • Toyota National Civil/Infrastructure Award – under $25 million, Advance Civil Engineering, Northern Territory – Cullen Bay Pontoon & Gangway
  • Toyota National Civil/Infrastructure Award – over $25 million, Bulk Water Alliance, Australian Capital Territory – Cotter Dam Project
  • National Public Buildings Award – under $5 million, Hansen Yuncken, Newcastle – Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club (Image: EJE Architecture)

  • National Public Buildings Award – $5 million to $10 million, Romaldi Constructions Pty Ltd, South Australia- Marryatville learning Centre
  • National Public Buildings Award – $10 million to $50 million, Adco Constructions Pty Ltd, Queensland – Bond University Adedeian School of Architecture
  • National Public Buildings Award – over $50 million, Lend Lease Building Pty Ltd, Queensland – Gold Coast University Hospital