A new report by BIS Oxford Economics brings good news to Australia’s building industry, especially in the non-residential construction market.

Titled ‘Building in Australia 2018 – 2033’, the report forecasts sustained growth for Australia’s building activities in the long term, with increasingly profitable opportunities for builders, architects, engineers and contractors.

In the five years leading up to 2017/18, building activity throughout Australia increased steadily. This growth is expected to gain further momentum, with the report projecting a 10 per cent increase over the 2029 – 2033 period.

Demand in the non-residential sector is forecast to be the strongest: In 2017/18, non-residential building starts surged 20 per cent to a record $46.38 billion. With a number of major projects cued to break ground, further growth is expected in 2019/20, reaching an estimated $48.69 billion. These projects are forecast to deliver elevated levels of non-residential building activity for at least the next five years.

The rise in demand for non-residential construction is driven by the need for more office, retail, warehouse, educational, healthcare and aged care spaces, resulting from Australia’s current economic conditions and evolving communities. Over the next two years, office, retail and warehouse projects are projected to reach high levels of turnover due to economic growth, improving employment conditions and wages.

The evolution of Australia’s communities is similarly fuelling the growth spurt in non-residential needs. With the number of people in the 65+ years’ age group increasing, there is a corresponding rise in the demand for health and aged care services. Simultaneously, Australia’s growing demographic of under-25-year-olds is pursuing formal education more than ever before. Underpinned by increases in foreign students requiring accommodation, and middle age re-enrolment, these trends have caused education construction projects to surge.

With these factors fuelling continued and long-term growth, non-residential building is a rare source of untapped potential with a highly profitable outlook. CSR Gyprock has become an ally for architects, specifiers and design professionals over the years, with its outstanding offerings including DesignLINK, which aims to support the demand for quality construction.

DesignLINK is a team of professionals comprising of builders, engineers, designers and architects, partnering with clients to support the specification of Gyprock products in projects across Australia. DesignLINK helps their clients work out complex design issues, provide value engineering, rationalise system specifications and deliver better building performance. The team assists with the selection of the right wall, ceiling and flooring system solutions, backed by fire and acoustic reports and opinions, in accordance with the Building Code of Australia and other relevant Australian Standards.

A range of services from technical support for architects and designers, to installation guidance for builders and contractors, is available through DesignLINK via the newly redesigned Gyprock website.

The DesignLINK suite of tools to support estimating and specification includes:

The Red Book 

The plasterboard industry’s most widely recognised design guide, with 442 pages of best-in-class performance detail and technical guidance for selecting fire, acoustic and thermal wall, ceiling, column and beam systems.

System Selector 

A digital database of wall and ceiling systems, searchable by specific project guidelines, via the Red Book Companion: This tool matches users with the perfect system based on their unique project, and recommends alternative options selected for performance criteria.

Test Reports

Available on request to back up the performance statistics of CSR Gyprock systems.

Specification Templates

A library of templates that streamline the process for specifying plasterboard wall and ceiling products, customised to wall type and material.

DWG and Revit Files

Time-saving and original resources enabling designers and architects to generate building models with unprecedented levels of detail.

eConcepts

A quarterly architectural digital newsletter with news and information for architects, engineers, and other design professionals, featuring five-minute reads on current industry topics and the latest industry advancements.

Case Studies 

Articles detailing Gyprock’s capabilities in servicing major projects.

Estimating and Design Tools

An extensive assortment of estimation and design resources including design calculators, installation guides, how-to videos, datasheets, and an acoustic predictor for wall systems.

Equipped to support the total process of construction, from initial planning, drafting and product selection through to building, DesignLINK by CSR Gyprock is an essential resource for architects, engineers and builders.