AIB History - Construction House

Construction House - AIB National Office
217 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra, Australia

Logic would seem to dictate that the headquarters of the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) would be in the nation’s capital. Besides being the centre of Government, the planned city has always been a showcase for the building and construction industry. Industry, universities and Government were cognisant of the importance of the industry to Australia . When the idea of relocating the office from Sydney to Canberra was being canvassed in the late 1960s inventions, ideas and projects were emanating from government instrumentalities and many firms allied with the building industry were establishing their headquarters in the city.

AIB's national office under construction - 1972

The move of AIB’s national office to Canberra from Sydney was not without its critics and detractors. Canberra , in the 1970s, was purely seen as a seat of Government with little commercial merit. It was seen as a cold, inaccessible, and little better than a country town and remote from all but a small component of the Institute’s membership.

A building of appropriate design and construction was planned for a central position along Northbourne Avenue , the city’s entrance boulevard. Standing four floors, and encompassing 3500 square meters, Construction House followed the austere lines of many of Canberr's buildings from this era. The foundation stone was laid on 6 May 1971 by the then Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck, with the Institute’s Past President, Sir Albert Jennings, assisting. The building was officially opened in April 1972 by the Prime Minister of the time, the Hon. William McMahon MP. The final cost of the building in 1972 was $1,122,000 (Approximately $9,100,000 in 2007 values) joining the parades of prestigious and innovative buildings along the length of Northbourne Avenue .

Construction House - today

In 1973 the institute’s new Executive Director, Hugh Gordon, took up office in Construction house along with support staff. Programs of seminars and meetings were introduced and tenants were soon filling Construction House to produce surplus income. Canberra was soon on the Institute’s map.

In 1973 the Institute’s technical library was established in Construction House. Whilst it is an informal system without recognised cataloguing rules it has been a useful reference facility. The collection is being updated and added to, keeping pace with the evolution of the science of building. A project initiated by the current General Manager, Troy Williams, is seeing this vast resource being placed online, accessible from the members-only section of the website.

Construction House - CEO's Office

By the end of the 1970s the Institute was in a sound financial position. This vindicated the move to Canberra as well as the advantages of being placed in the nation’s only totally planned city and seat of Government. In the following years the advantages were made apparent as more large building firms, allied professional institutes and trade associates made Canberra their home.

An extensive renovation project was completed in late 2005 by the current owners.  At a cost of $1.9million this renovation sees Construction House retaining its impact on one of Canberra ’s main thoroughfares.

Over the years the Institute has gradually reduced its ownership stake in Construction House in order to diversify its investments thus providing greater financial stability. Having sold its remaining interest in 2002, the proceeds were invested in shares and other securities that continue to provide revenue for the Institute, ensuring AIB's long term viability.

The placement of Canberra is now accepted and the dividends that are derived from ready access to Ministers and senior public servants are evident in the many changes in Government policy that the Institute is able to secure.

	The Australian Institute of Building Incorporated by Royal Charter
	Mail: E-mail:	GPO Box 1467,  Canberra,  ACT,  2601 ausbuild@aib.org.au