The Magazine | Australian National Construction Review | The Grande
Co-ordinating Complexity in Mixed-Use Urban Projects
Geocon’s The Grande delivers a landmark mixed-use precinct in Canberra’s CBD, comprising three towers with 332 apartments, premium penthouses, and active street-level retail. Integrated amenities, complex shared podium construction, and refined detailing demonstrate Geocon’s capability to deliver high-density urban living through coordinated design, engineering, and construction excellence.
Geocon’s latest project, The Grande, brings a bold new vision of luxury urban living to the heart of Canberra’s CBD. Designed to integrate residential, commercial, and lifestyle elements within one cohesive precinct, the development reflects Geocon’s hallmark approach, combining architectural ambition with construction precision to shape the evolving Canberra skyline.
“The Grande is a project that brings a luxury mixed-use precinct into Canberra’s CBD,” said Ned Pattinson, Director of Operations (Construction), Geocon. “The vision was to create a place that looks impressive yet also functions efficiently for residents. From the outset, we set out to combine residential, retail, and lifestyle spaces in one precinct, demonstrating how construction innovation and good design can come together.”
The Grande comprises three towers built over a shared basement and podium, containing 332 apartments in a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom layouts, along with three premium penthouses. At street level, three commercial tenancies connect the precinct seamlessly to London Circuit, enhancing pedestrian activity and neighbourhood vibrancy.
“We wanted to create spaces that extend the experience of home,” Ned explained. The development includes a rooftop pool and pavilion, a gym and yoga studio, cinema, co-working lounge, dog-wash area, library, and landscaped terraces. Delivering such a range of high-traffic communal spaces required meticulous planning to ensure structural capacity, waterproofing integrity, and seamless integration of building services, while maintaining a consistently premium finish throughout.
From a construction perspective, the rooftop pool and pavilion required complex engineering to ensure waterproofing and
load-bearing performance without compromising aesthetics. Inside, Geocon’s team paid equal attention to acoustic treatment and finishing quality in the gym, yoga studio, and cinema, ensuring that amenity areas met the same standard of craftsmanship as the residential spaces.
“The shared spaces such as the co-working lounge and landscaped terraces really highlight how construction quality and detailing can elevate amenity outcomes,” Ned said. “It’s about delivering spaces that look great and perform well long-term for the residents who live there.”
Building three towers concurrently within a dense CBD site demanded precise logistics and co-ordination. “Access and material movement were major constraints, so we implemented a detailed materials-handling strategy that allowed simultaneous vertical progress across the buildings while minimising disruption to surrounding roads,” explained Ned.
Close collaboration between design, engineering, and on-site teams ensured smooth sequencing and adherence to the program, despite tight working conditions. Geocon’s integrated project delivery model allowed agile decision-making and consistent oversight, keeping the build on schedule and to specification.
In line with Canberra’s growing focus on environmental performance, The Grande incorporates a range of sustainability features. The façade blends double-glazed window systems, aluminium panels, terracotta cladding, and feature columns, balancing durability, energy efficiency, and architectural sophistication. Passive design principles maximise natural light while maintaining thermal comfort, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and heating.
Geocon’s emphasis on integrated urban precincts also supports long-term sustainability by reducing car dependency and promoting connected, walkable communities. The building’s mixed-use character encourages active street life and ensures its longevity as a vibrant urban hub.
“From a construction perspective, we’re proud of how efficiently the program was delivered, given the scale and complexity of the site,” Ned said. “The project stands as another example of Geocon’s capability to deliver large mixed-use builds on time and to a high standard, strengthening the city’s skyline and setting a benchmark for future urban projects in Canberra.”
With its combination of bold architecture, refined interiors, and resort-style amenities, The Grande exemplifies Geocon’s enduring mission: to design and construct places where people can live, work, and thrive within the heart of the capital.
For more information contact Geocon, Level 6, 82 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon ACT 2612, phone 02 6255 0430, website www.geocon.com.au
Factbox
Developer: GEOCON
Architect: Fender Katsalidis
Flexbrick® Brings Strength, Speed, and Sustainability to an Urban Landmark
Case StudiesThe new Ringwood Carpark for Maroondah City Council showcases how architecture, sustainability, and efficient construction can come together in a single cohesive design.
Supplied by Lohas Australia, the Flexbrick® Terracotta Mesh System wraps the 1,890m² façade in a warm gradient of tones, creating a monolithic and visually distinctive exterior.
Lightweight and durable, Flexbrick® allowed rapid installation using 197 prefabricated panels, typically achieving 10–15 panels or 150–200m² per day. Panels arrived pre-assembled on pallets,
lifted into place with a forklift and winch, and fixed directly to the subframe.
The carpark’s curved façades and shifting levels required a system capable of adapting to complex geometry. Flexbrick®’s flexible textile structure provided smooth transitions around corners and changes in elevation. “Flexbrick allowed us to softly curve around corners as the façade wraps the building,” IBC notes.
Lohas Australia delivered flexible, prefabricated Flexbrick® façades enabling rapid installation and seamless curvature across complex geometry.
Façade System: Flexbrick®
Installer: Tensile
Products Used: Flexbrick® – Terracotta Colours: Blanco, Tenere, Venecia, Salmon, Rojo
Project Size: 1,890m² façade coverage
Sustainability is embedded in every stage. Flexbrick®’s creamic tiles are manufactured using biogas as the main fuel source, preventing CO2 emissions. Lightweight, compact shipments reduce transport impact, and the dry-joined system allows full recyclability and straightforward replacement of individual tiles.
Lohas Australia supported the project with shop drawings, panel modulation, installer training, and early onsite supervision. Working with CO.OP Studio, Lohas also developed the five-colour gradient façade that blends from Blanco to Rojo, reflecting the site’s urban character.
With its speed, sustainability and sculptural presence, the Ringwood Carpark stands as a benchmark project demonstrating the architectural and environmental advantages of Flexbrick® in modern urban design.
For more information contact Lohas Australia, phone 02 7259 1054, email info@lohasau.com, website www.lohasau.com
High-Impact Wayfinding Combines Functionality and Style
Case StudiesEffective signage is essential in high-traffic carparks, helping visitors navigate safely while enhancing the precinct’s visual identity.
For the Ringwood Activity Centre, Vinage Customs Signs combined precision, creativity, and high-end craftsmanship to deliver a complete signage solution that balances functionality with striking aesthetics.
“We completed all the external illuminated signage and all the internal wayfinding and statutory signage,” said Managing Director, Vincent Truda.
The bold identifiers make the carpark easily recognisable within the Ringwood precinct, while the internal signage ensures smooth navigation for thousands of daily users.
Vinage’s team applied specialist expertise in illumination, materials selection, and installation techniques to deliver durable, visually impactful signage that meets operational and safety requirements. Each element was customised to the site, demonstrating the company’s ability to provide tailored solutions for complex, high-use environments.
Trusted by builders, developers, and councils, Vinage continues to expand its portfolio across Victoria, with Ringwood standing as a testament to their reputation for quality and detail.
For more information contact Vinage Custom Signs, 28 Garden Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3043, phone 03 9077 7759, website www.vinagecustoms.com
Smarter Carpark Guidance: Balancing Efficiency, Safety and User Satisfaction
Case StudiesPark Agility delivered smart parking guidance at Ringwood Activity Centre Carpark, enhancing safety, efficiency, and user experience.
The carpark is often the first point of contact for visitors, and is by extension part of the overall user experience, shaping perceptions of accessibility, efficiency, and amenity. At the Ringwood Activity Centre Carpark, Park Agility leveraged their technology to transform the carpark into a streamlined, user-friendly gateway for commuters and visitors.
“Our scope on this project was the full parking guidance and signage solutions,” explained Brad Burrows, General Manager. “That included area counting of vehicles plus speciality bay sensor and indicator lights to guide drivers quickly to available spaces.”
By combining real-time counting with bay-by-bay sensor technology, Park Agility’s system improves traffic flow, reduces congestion, and enhances safety within the 6-level, 503-bay carpark.
“We used our core, well-established products on this job. Proven, mature technology that we know delivers accuracy and reliability,” Brad said. “In addition, we provided custom-designed signage tailored to the unique requirements of the Ringwood site.”
As an Australian-owned and founded business, Park Agility takes pride in its local footprint and supply chain. “Around 75-80% of the content in our solutions is Australian,” Burrows noted. “We also have sites in most major cities across the country, which allows us to support projects nationally.”
The Ringwood project adds to Park Agility’s growing portfolio of high-profile work, which includes Sydney International Convention Centre, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Canberra Airport, and Kananook Car Park, among many others. Each project benefits from the company’s focus on quality, scalability, and user-friendly design.
Reflecting on the outcome, Brad emphasised Park Agility’s ability to integrate technology seamlessly into urban infrastructure. “This project demonstrates how our parking guidance systems can support both efficiency and community convenience. Drivers can find a park faster, and the council can ensure the facility is operating at its full potential.”
For more information contact Park Agility, Unit 1, 87 Reserve Road, Artarmon NSW 2064, phone 02 8488 3333, website
www.parkagility.com
Ringwood Activity Centre Car Park
January 2026, linktreeThe Ringwood Activity Centre Carpark project, delivered through a partnership between Maroondah City Council and the Australian Government, provides 324 parking spaces across six levels.