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Hempcrete in Action: Delivering Sustainable, High-Performance Interiors

X-Hemp, Hannan Build and Australian Hemp Masonry Company delivered Australia’s largest hempcrete installations at UTAS The Forest project.

X-Hemp, Hannan Build and the Australian Hemp Masonry Company

The University of Tasmania’s The Forest building is a bold testament to the potential of bio-based construction — and at its heart lies a remarkable collaboration between X-Hemp, Hannan Build, and the Australian Hemp Masonry Company. Together, these innovators brought the hempcrete vision to life across 28 teaching and learning spaces and a liftwell, marking one of Australia’s largest and most complex hempcrete installations to date.

“There was continuous communication between the three companies from the outset through to completion,” said Klara Marosszeky, Managing Director of Australian Hemp Masonry Company. “We were all committed to ensuring it was a positive experience and outcome for UTAS, Woods Bagot, and Hansen Yuncken. The project is a great opportunity to showcase the possibilities of hempcrete construction.”

Australian Hemp Masonry Company developed the hempcrete product, supplying a proprietary lime binder manufactured in Sydney and consulting on every phase of the project. They also worked closely with architects Woods Bagot from the early design stages, delivering educational sessions for their team.

Their Tasmanian partner, Andi Lucas and X-Hemp, provided the locally processed hemp hurd, ensuring the build met the university’s sustainability goals — including low embodied energy, carbon storage, and superior thermal, acoustic, and air quality performance.

Hannan Build – Shane Hannan and Tully Dunn, brought over a decade of installation expertise to the table. “This project is all about feature walls,” Klara explained. “While hempcrete is traditionally rendered, the off-form walls allowed Shane and his team to play with colour and tone — each batch of hemp bringing natural variation that’s beautifully showcased in the finished design.”

Despite the challenges of working on a multi-storey adaptive reuse site alongside hundreds of trades, the team’s collaboration and commitment ensured seamless delivery. “It’s a beautifully executed showcase project,” Klara says. “Together, we’ve demonstrated that sustainable, bio-based construction can be both beautiful and viable — and that it’s the future of Australian building.”


X-Hemp

0413 388 470
www.xhemp.au

Hannan Build

0429 658 886

Australian Hemp Masonry Company


0422 750 612
www.hempmasonry.com.au

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Function and Form: Custom Lift Solutions for High-Performance Buildings

Access Solutions delivered bespoke, timber-finished lifts at the University of Tasmania – The Forest, combining technical precision with design integration.

Access Solutions

As buildings increasingly prioritise bespoke design and integrated architectural expression, vertical transport is no longer just functional. Access Solutions provided bespoke vertical transport solutions that aligned seamlessly with The Forest’s architectural and thematic vision.

“We installed six lifts into the University of Tasmania – The Forest project ranging from 400kg, 1150kg to 2500kg capacity,” says Sean Sutton, General Manager at Access Solutions. The scope included one heavy-duty cargo lift, which was prioritised early in the programme to support site logistics, followed by five custom passenger lifts.

The project demanded seamless scheduling and flexible delivery, with several lift installations occurring over the holiday period when labour resources were limited. Despite these seasonal constraints, Access Solutions maintained momentum across a nine-month installation period, with two to three teams on-site at any given time.

A defining feature of this project was the highly customised interiors that reflected The Forest’s timber-rich aesthetic. “Five of the lifts are custom made with a special interior fitout in keeping with the Forestry themes—timber wall linings, Tas oak handrails, indirect lighting and custom laid floor tiling,” Sean explained. The company collaborated with its sister business, Access Property, to deliver the bespoke lift car finishes.

“The interior design process was comprehensive,” said Sean. “We trialled over five lighting systems before we were satisfied with the indirect lighting, and sourcing the right Tas oak panelling took time.”

System integration also called for rigorous co-ordination. “Lift installation required intensive collaboration with the builder and other trades for shaft preparation and materials handling, all while maintaining a focus on safety.”

Proudly Tasmanian-owned and backed by 30 years of lift industry experience, Access Solutions views this project as a standout achievement. “Our teams can be proud of their work, and we’re proud to be part of this exciting project,” Sutton concludes.

For more information contact Access Solutions, 223 Harrington Street, Hobart TAS 7000, phone 03 6229 2476, email info@access-solutions.com.au, website www.access-solutions.com.au

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Complex Geometries, Flawless Execution: Tiling with High-Performance Materials

Tas Tiling Contractors delivered precision tiling solutions supporting architectural intent, durability, and performance at UTAS The Forest.

Tas Tiling Contractors

Tas Tiling Contractors completed a highly detailed tiling package that reflects the newly redeveloped University of Tasmania -The Forest project’s natural aesthetic and refined architectural vision.

The company was engaged to carry out tiling works across Level 2, including floors and walls of the Bridge area, along with approximately 300m² of flooring and 300m² of paving in the Level 1 car park. Works commenced in June 2024 and were completed in October 2025.

“The project involved working with detailed architectural layouts and various surface transitions, particularly around the Bridge and curved wall areas,” said Jiho Choi, Director, Tas Tiling Contractors. “Maintaining consistency in grout lines and tile alignment across complex geometries required close co-ordination with other trades and careful planning.”

One of the most technically demanding challenges was the installation of the thin brick tiles, which were cut down from full Brickworks Daniel Robertson bricks to just 20mm thick.

The project used an equal mix of three colour selections—Cambridge, Black and Buff—across the tiling surfaces. “Working with three different colours and slightly inconsistent brick sizes demanded precision and patience to ensure a uniform and high-quality finish,” Jiho explained.

Substrate preparation, levelling, and the selection of high-performance adhesives and grout systems were essential to achieving durability and performance in high-traffic areas. Tas Tiling Contractors undertook careful inspection and quality checks at each stage to ensure alignment with the design intent and long-term functional needs of the space.

“We’re proud of delivering high-quality finishes that align with the project’s natural aesthetic and architectural intent,” Jiho said. “It was a rewarding experience to contribute to such a significant Tasmanian project that combines design excellence with sustainability.”

“I’d like to thank our team for their hard work and Hansen Yuncken for their support throughout the project. We’re proud of what we achieved together,” said Jiho.

For more information contact Tas Tiling Contractors, U2 14A Main Road, Moonah TAS 7009, phone 0499 996 424, email
choi@tastiling.com

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Building Performance Through Communications Infrastructure

ILEC delivered large-scale communications infrastructure, supporting reliable digital performance across UTAS’s complex Forest redevelopment.

ILEC

As universities invest in digitally enabled learning environments, communications infrastructure has become a critical layer of building performance rather than a background service. On the University of Tasmania’s The Forest redevelopment, ILEC Pty Ltd delivered large-scale structured cabling and fibre optic systems that demanded precision, coordination, and long-term reliability across a complex, highly visible campus environment.

Over a two-and-a-half-year delivery period, the Tasmanian-based electrical and communications specialist was responsible for designing and installing the project’s communications infrastructure.

“We handled all the communications infrastructure, including the structured cabling and fibre optic cabling on the project,” said James Rand, Project Manager at ILEC. “It was one of the larger projects we’ve been involved in, with around 2,400 data outlets and significant fibre infrastructure between the multiple communications rooms.”

The project’s scale and visibility made the installation particularly challenging. “There is over 100km of Cat6A cables installed throughout the building,” James explained. “A lot of it’s on display, so it all had to look good, which meant a lot of planning and attention to detail.”

Working within a live construction site, co-ordination with multiple trades was essential. “There were so many parties involved; AV, electrical, and other services,” James said. “Some of the AV packages required early handover of our cabling, so timing and sequencing were key. It was a real team effort to make sure everyone had what they needed, when they needed it.”

For James, the standout achievement was the quality of the final result. “I’m really proud of how well the team performed and how the finish came together,” he reflected. “A lot of work went into the early documentation to make sure every cable had its place, and it shows in the result.”

ILEC worked hand-in-hand with FIP Electrical Tasmania and the builders Hansen Yuncken, maintaining close collaboration from start to finish. “It’s been a long project but a great experience,” James concluded. “Everyone’s worked together really well, and we’re proud to have helped deliver something of this scale and quality for UTAS.”

For more information contact ILEC Pty Ltd, Unit 6, 2 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge TAS 7170, phone 03 6248 4255, website www.ilec.net.au

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Growing the Vision: SLS Brings The Forest at UTAS to Life

SLS Landscape Group crafted a technically precise, immersive forest landscape, bringing tranquillity and natural beauty to the University of Tasmania – The Forest.

SLS Landscape Group

On projects where landscape is embedded within the building fabric, success requires construction discipline and experience in interpreting architectural intent with innovative, build-able solutions.

At the University of Tasmania’s The Forest redevelopment, SLS Landscape Group delivered a transformative living internal and external landscape that required careful sequencing, technical coordination, and a nuanced understanding of the project’s design vision.

Drawing on extensive experience delivering complex urban landscapes, SLS executed works across multiple zones, creating a cohesive forest-like environment that now sits at the heart of the campus.

“In the Atrium area, we constructed all the garden areas and planting, including the installation of the Stratavault system and forest pool,” explains Dean Harris, General Manager. “We also handled boulder placement, the timber boardwalk, irrigation including the misting system, paving base works, gravel pavement, and concrete footings for the light poles and fallen tree.”

Their detailed craftsmanship extended into the laneway, where SLS delivered garden construction, irrigation and planting, boulder placement, sandstone retaining walls, and additional forest pool installations. In the carpark precinct, they constructed the garden areas, irrigation, planting, timber handrails, and further sandstone retaining structures.

“Working in a relatively small workspace around other trades with limited access provided some challenges,” Dean said. “Sourcing suitable material for the forest pools to ensure they held water was another hurdle. And with the architect aiming to recreate a dense forest environment, fitting in all the specified plants within the space was challenging.”

Designed by Realm Architecture, the landscape intent was deeply integrated with the building’s form and the university’s sustainability-led vision. “What we were undertaking had already been designed to fit in with the overall environment. Realm has done an amazing job,” Dean explained.

For more information contact SLS Landscape Group, 14 -16 Hale Street, Derwent Park TAS 7009, phone 03 6273 0075, website www.slslandscapegroup.com.au

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