BESIX Watpac celebrates national recognition for Adelaide Marriott Hotel project

Following its success at the South Australian awards, BESIX Watpac’s GPO Hotel project — the new Adelaide Marriott Hotel — has received two prestigious accolades at the National Australian Institute of Building Awards:

• Professional Excellence Award – Commercial Construction over $60M
• High Commendation – Adaptive Use over $2M

These awards recognise the outstanding work of the BESIX Watpac team, alongside our valued delivery partners.

Delivering the 16-level, five-star luxury hotel required careful planning and innovation, particularly in managing the site’s Commonwealth Heritage status. Key achievements included:

• During the initial phase, the team meticulously planned the separation and demolition of a 1920s building while preserving the adjacent 1890s GPO Building.
• BESIX Watpac’s site team and in-house engineers reengineered the theoretical design to improve buildability and minimise delays.
• 3D point cloud surveys were integrated into the model to eliminate tolerance issues within the heritage structure, enabling steel design with 1mm accuracy around heritage fabric and temporary works.
• 3D heat mapping was used to align the existing floor with the new structure, ensuring seamless integration.

Over 600,000 hours were worked on the project, with safety performance remaining exceptional throughout. What truly set this project apart was the collaborative spirit shared between all stakeholders — a testament to what can be achieved when we build the best together.