Last night Arup celebrated the 15-year anniversary of the opening of its Cairns office.
Nearly 100 guests – clients, friends and staff members joined Cairns Mayor, Cr Val Schier, and Robert Care, CEO of Arup Australasia, in a celebration at Whitfield House in Edge Hill.
Opening the event, Arup’s Cairns office leader Robert Donnan thanked the firm’s clients for their support over the past 15 years.
“We are fortunate to enjoy a strong presence in this beautiful part of the world working closely with our clients and partners on some truly iconic projects,” Robert said.
“These include well known landmarks such as the Cairns Yacht Club, the Convention Centre, the Centre of Contemporary Arts, the Pier Marketplace Upgrade and the spectacular award-winning Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway.
“Our legacy in North Queensland is working with the community to improve its building and infrastructure with well-designed, sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
“Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our valued clients. I would like to sincerely thank all of our collaborators around the region for their enthusiasm and vision, and for their contribution to our success.”
Robert Care also addressed guests and expressed his gratitude to the Cairns office for their role in shaping Cairns and wider regions of North Queensland.
“Arup continues to thrive in Cairns and the region, despite the difficult times facing us all. Locally, we are currently involved in a number of key projects including the redevelopment of Cairns Base Hospital, due for completion by 2012, and the Cairns Government Offices Stage 2, which is aiming for a 5 Star Green Star Office rating for both design and as-built. This will be a first for Northern Australia,” Robert said.
“While I wouldn’t dare to predict the future, I do know that these difficult economic times will pass, as they always do, and we will continue to work closely with our clients and partners to weather the storm.
“In Arup we strongly believe that designing and building solid foundations will position our clients, our partners and ourselves well ahead when the good times return.”
Arup came to Australia in 1963 to build the unbuildable, the Sydney Opera House, a magnificent building which has become an internationally recognised icon.
The Cairns office was officially opened in 1993 and has grown from three people providing project management services to an office of 30 providing structural, civil, water and sustainability engineering services and project management to a diverse range of clients in the region.