The 2026 AIB Professional Excellence Awards recognised arete Australia with several honours.

We thank our people, delivery partners, and clients for their continued collaboration and commitment to delivering construction excellence that creates positive social outcomes, strengthens communities, and leaves a lasting legacy.

David Purcell received the Australian Institute of Building Victorian Professional Excellence Award for his leadership on Swinburne University Building 27J Latelab. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the project retained and transformed the existing structure through carefully staged adaptive re-use, introducing new light wells, a feature stair, façade upgrades and complete services renewal while the surrounding campus remained operational. 

David's ability to deliver a technically complex refurbishment while significantly reducing embodied carbon was a defining achievement of the project.

Gabriel Faris received the Australian Institute of Building Victorian Professional Excellence Award in the Interior Construction category for his leadership on the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne Lobby Refurbishment. A defining feature of the project was the delivery of bespoke architectural interiors, including curved elements, custom joinery and high-quality finishes, all constructed to meet the strict infection control, acoustic and performance requirements of a fully operational healthcare facility. 

Combined with the careful staging of works and construction of a new public entry within one of Melbourne's busiest inner-city precincts, Gabriel successfully delivered a technically complex project while maintaining uninterrupted hospital operations.