Kane Constructions took out the top gong in this year’s Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards. Photo: Ned Meldrum.
Collaboration, resilience and a commitment to people and community were winning elements at the Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards, proving there’s more to the sector than bricks and mortar.
Over 1200 industry guests gathered at the National Convention Centre to watch as 58 individual, commercial, civil and residential awards were presented to hard hitters at the Territory’s premier construction industry awards.
The 2025 House of the Year was awarded to Ewer Constructions for the unique timber-clad ‘Batten House’ in Curtin, while the prestigious 2025 Project of the Year was awarded to Kane Constructions for their refurbishment of the Australian War Memorial.
“This project was an outstanding collaboration between Kane Construction and partners and suppliers from around the world, as well as local ACT companies,” Master Builders ACT CEO Anna Neelagama said.
In fact, numerous winning projects were highlighted not as single-company triumphs but as joint efforts with builders, consultants, contractors and communities working together.
Huon Contractors, Egis Consulting and Riverview Projects claimed the Civil Subdivision (more than $30 million) for their delivery of part of Macnamara, laying groundwork for the new suburb which is a sub development within the larger Ginninderry master-planned community.
The project involved the construction of five stages comprising 383 residential dwellings, including a multi-unit site, a Sewer Pump Station to service all stages and the extension of a key major road into the development with a dual carriageway.
“We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition for Excellence in Civil Subdivision, in partnership with Huon and Egis,” Ginninderry project operations director Imran Khan said.
“This award is a testament to the strong collaboration between our teams and our shared commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable communities.
“At Ginninderry, we’re focused on creating places that balance innovation, liveability and respect for the natural environment – and this achievement is a great reflection of that vision.”
Applause wasn’t just for projects themselves — it was for perseverance in the face of adversity.
Sunny Homes took home the award for the “Display Home less than $500,000” category, for its innovative family-forward hexagonal design focused on family connection, and light-capturing techniques that lived up to the name ‘Sunny Homes’.
Director Sunny Malhotra said competition was fierce, but it was heartening to see the industry rise up to meet challenging conditions.
“The industry is going through tough times; we’ve all felt it, but this recognition has shown us that hard work pays off,” he said. “It was also great to see the industry come out in force and lift each other up.”
Numerous categories also underscored the MBA’s focus on sustainability, liveability and safety — for people living within the Territory’s buildings, and the people who construct them.
Vince Whiteside, CEO at Village Building Co, said he was very pleased to receive the Master Builders ACT WHS Residential Excellence Award for South Jerrabomberra at Tralee.
“The health and safety of our staff, contractors, consultants, and the public is of the highest priority at The Village Building Company, and so it is gratifying that the policies and procedures that we have put in place have been acknowledged by the Judging Panel at the MBA,” he said.
Joint entrants Prof Homes, Loft Studio Canberra and Architects Ring and Associates won both the Kitchen Project, more than $100,000 and the Bathroom under $50,000 awards. Loft Studio’s Kiara Shah said, “It is an honour to be recognised by the industry, the collaboration with Prof Homes and Ring and Associates worked so well.
“These awards are a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication from everyone, including the support from the suppliers.”
Ms Neelagama also acknowledged the winners of the individual categories.
“Recognising the individuals who are making outstanding contributions to their businesses, clients, and community is a critical part of our awards. It is especially important to recognise the efforts of individuals during industry downturns where everyone is feeling the effects,” she said.
“I’d like to offer a huge congratulations to all of our valued Master Builders ACT members who took home an award.”
Winners from 37 categories will go on to compete on a national stage at the Master Builders Australia 2025 National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards in November.
The full list of winners at the 2025 Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards was as follows:
- 2025 House of the Year – Ewer Constructions, Curtin
- 2025 Project of the Year – Kane Constructions, Australian War Memorial, Southern Entrance
- Young Builder of the Year – Jake Casey, Casey Projects
- Construction Woman of the Year and Project Manager of the Year – Jemma Butt, Hindmarsh Construction Australia
- Onsite Construction Manager of the Year – Isaac Hamad, Fore Group
- Professional of the Year – Dean Kensit, Oztal Architects
- Apartments and Units 4 storeys and above – Hindmarsh Construction Australia, Marigal Gardens Stage 2
- Apartments and Units Highrise Living – Milin Builders, Phillip
- Bathroom Project less than $50,000 – Prof Homes, Loft Studio Canberra and Architects Ring and Associates, Bruce
- Bathroom Project more than $50,000 – NEWR, Jerrabomberra
- Best Use of Material in a Commercial Project – Eifer, Australian War Memorial, Southern Entrance
- Best Use of Material in a Residential Project – Nikias Diamond and DNA Architects, Forrest
- Civil Bridgeworks – RAM Constructions, Denman Village Park Pedestrian Bridge
- Civil Hydraulic – Complex Co, John Gorton Building Hydraulic and Intersection Works
- Civil Other – Guideline ACT, Molonglo Valley Interceptor Sewer (MVIS) Odour Mitigation Project Design & Construction of Four Odour Control Units
- Civil Roadworks – Guideline ACT, Braddon Public Realm Upgrade
- Civil Subdivision less than $30 million – BMD Group, Jacka Estate 2 Stage 1A Civil and Landscape Works
- Civil Subdivision more than $30 million – Huon Contractors, Egis Consulting and Riverview Projects, Macnamara EDP 1 Package 1
- Commercial Construction $20 million to $50 million – Construction Control, LDK Amberfield – Stage 1
- Commercial Construction $50 million to $100 million – Kane Constructions, Australian War Memorial, Southern Entrance
- Commercial Construction $5 million to $20 million – Projex Building Group and CK Architecture (Aust), Gugan Gulwan
- Commercial Construction less than $5 million – RAM Constructions, Denman Village Park Amenities Building
- Commercial Construction more than $100 million – Multiplex Constructions, Canberra Hospital Expansion Project
- Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration $1 million to $5 million – Shaw Building Group, Red Hill Lunetta Restaurant and Trattoria Refurbishment
- Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration $5 million to $10 million – FDC Construction & Fitout (ACT), Department of Health and Aged Care – Stage 1
- Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration less than $1 million – Yara Co, National Gallery of Australia Boardroom Refurbishment and Hydraulic Jacking Works
- Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration more than $10 million – Fore Group, West Block
- Commercial Subcontractor of the Year – ACT Steelworks, ACT Steelworks
- Custom Built/Project Home $1 million to $2 million – Casey Projects, Lyons
- Custom Built/Project Home $2 million to $4 million – Ewer Constructions, Curtin
- Custom Built/Project Home $350,000 to $500,000 – Prof Homes and Jast Design, Whitlam 25/84
- Custom Built/Project Home $500,000 to $750,000 – Prof Homes, Whitlam
- Custom Built/Project Home $750,000 to $1 million – Megaflora and MyMyMy Architecture, Sutton
- Custom Built/Project Home more than $4 million – Manteena, Deakin
- Display Home less than $500,000 – Sunny Homes ACT, Googong
- Display Home more than $750,000 – Prof Homes, Architects Ring and Associates and Dept of Design, Denman Prospect
- Kitchen Project $50,000 to $100,000 – Creative Contractors, Pearce
- Kitchen Project less than $50,000 – NEWR, Jerrabomberra
- Kitchen Project more than $100,000 – Prof Homes, Loft Studio Canberra and Architects Ring and Associates, Bruce
- Landscape Design and Construction Commercial – RAM Constructions, Denman Village Park
- Landscape Design and Construction Residential – ACT Landscape Construction and ACT Decks, Jerrabomberra
- Medium Density Dual Occupancy/Habitable Suite – Classic Constructions (Aust) and DNA Architects, Yarralumla
- Medium Density Townhouses and Villas – REP Building, Studio Black Interiors and Oztal Architects, Dickson
- Project Displaying Technical Difficulty or Innovation – Details By Ned, Australian War Memorial – Timber Staircases
- Renovation/Extension $1million to $2.5 million – Creative Contractors, Pearce
- Renovation/Extension $250,000 to $450,000 – Build Professional, Gleneagles
- Renovation/Extension $450,000 to $1 million – Drewaire Constructions and The Mill Architecture and Design, Forrest
- Renovation/Extension less than $250,000 – Elite Renovations ACT, Chapman
- Renovation/Extension more than $2.5 million – Brother Projects, Griffith
- Special Purpose/Adaptable Commercial Project – Construction Control, Red Shed
- Special Purpose/Adaptable Dwelling – Projex Building Group, Whitlam
- Supplier of the Year – Rivoland Tiles
- Sustainable Civil Project – Complex Co, Jacka Subdivision Stage 2
- Sustainable Residential Project – Edward Robert Builders and Neighbourhood Architecture, O’Connor
- WHS Commercial – Hindmarsh Construction Australia, Aunty Agnes Shea High School
- WHS Residential – The Village Building Company, South Jerrabomberra at Tralee
- WHS Targeted Risk Management System – Complex Co, Scrivener Dam – WHS Targeted Risk Management System.
