McNab has taken out the Queensland Sustainability Award (over $2 million category) at the prestigious 2025 Australian Institute of Building Awards, recognised for its work on the Electrolux Group Queensland Distribution and Experience Centre at the Port of Brisbane.
The accolade positions the 21,255sqm facility as one of Queensland’s most sustainable buildings, highlighting its standout environmental performance and setting a new benchmark for industrial developments nationwide.
The award underscores McNab and Port of Brisbane’s leadership in advancing sustainable construction practices.
McNab CEO Kunjan Ganatra described the win as a significant achievement for Queensland’s building sector, particularly as the state prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
He credited the project’s success to strong partnerships, stating: “This award is a testament to the strength of our partnership with long-term client Port of Brisbane and with the Electrolux Group.
Ganatra described the project as both ambitious and complex, noting that from the outset, all partners were dedicated to exceeding expectations.
He explained that participating in an international study tour to observe leading sustainability practices was instrumental in shaping the team’s approach.
By leveraging global expertise and working collaboratively, they were able to redefine what is possible in sustainable industrial design.
Ganatra said the result is a new benchmark for industrial developments in Australia and credited the entire team for their commitment to innovation, openness to new ideas, and readiness to challenge conventional methods to achieve outstanding results.
The project was designed and constructed by McNab and commissioned by the Port of Brisbane, on behalf of Electrolux Group — a global leader selling over 60 million household and professional products annually — delivering a key distribution hub for operations across Queensland and beyond.
Port of Brisbane Head of Property Brett Wilson praised the collaborative partnership with McNab, spanning 18 projects over five years: “In the pursuit of a 6-Star GBCA rating, this was a project that pushed the delivery team, spear-headed and expertly coordinated by McNab, to work with industry to find innovative and practical solutions to complex problems, customer requirements and traditional building techniques.”
“It allowed us to implement sustainability initiatives that we’d previously trialled with McNab, on a broader scale and the partnership allowed us to jointly design and deliver our first mass-timber structure — in the process setting a global benchmark for Electrolux’s Experience Centres.”
The facility, located on a 42,965 sqm lot, incorporates a range of advanced sustainability features:
- Full-height vertical tilt panels for the main office
- Loading docks, logistics and inventory warehouse, repair workshop
- Low carbon concrete for all external elements, reducing CO2 emissions by 63 per cent
- Advanced Building Management System (BMS) for real-time water and electricity monitoring
- 1.1MW rooftop solar system, generating enough energy to power the building and feed excess energy into the Port’s embedded network
- Water recycling system that captures rainfall for reuse in toilets, urinals, internal planter boxes, and product testing
A standout element is the Glu-Laminated & Cross-Laminated Timber (GLT/CLT) office and showroom structure, rarely seen elsewhere in Australia.
Ganatra noted: “This material not only stores carbon rather than emitting it, reducing the building’s overall embodied carbon, but is also made from timber — a renewable resource from certified sustainable forests in Austria and Italy.”
The Experience Centre includes a purpose-built event space, demonstration kitchens, and outdoor terraces designed to enhance employee wellbeing and customer engagement, taking full advantage of the riverfront location.
McNab’s success with the Electrolux Group project cements its reputation as a leader in sustainable industrial construction across Queensland and Australia.
The company continues to champion innovative, environmentally responsible building practices, supporting a greener future for the industry.
