McNab has claimed one of the state’s top construction honours at the 2026 Queensland Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards, winning the Commercial/Industrial Building ($10 million to $25 million) award for the Novus Precast Manufacturing Facility in Toowoomba.
Built for Novus Precast Solutions, the $13.75 million manufacturing facility at Wellcamp combines the engineering demands of heavy industrial production with an architectural finish that showcases Novus’ own precast concrete capabilities.
Completing the facility on schedule was critical to keeping production on track for the new Toowoomba Hospital, with Novus relying on their new factory to manufacture large precast elements for the project.
McNab Toowoomba Construction Manager Tom Mason said this deadline shaped the team’s approach from day one.
“Our handover date was directly connected to Novus’ production commitments, so every decision about design, procurement and construction had to support that deadline,” Mr Mason said.
“We ordered the structural steel early, staged the building approvals and drew on our internal trades teams to keep work moving.
“Seeing the finished facility recognised among Queensland’s best is a proud moment for the team, particularly knowing the role it plays in supplying important projects here on the Darling Downs.”
Novus Precast Solutions Director Steven Prowse said the facility needed to showcase the company’s capabilities while meeting a firm operational deadline.
“This project was designed to showcase some of the precast capabilities of our Aptus and Novus brands,” Mr Prowse said.
“We also had a strict timeline to have the project ‘operationally ready’ for the delivery of precast elements to the new Toowoomba Hospital.
“McNab provided us with absolute certainty of delivery alongside the flexibility that allowed us to incorporate our unique ‘concrete signature’ on the project.
“Their professional approach to safety, quality and budget accountability delivered an excellent result that we are extremely proud of.”
Designed by Green Lion Design, the building features textured concrete panels cast using specially crafted timber moulds, creating a natural wood-grain finish. Sculptural precast columns frame the office frontage, while an exposed concrete staircase and American oak timber elements feature inside.
The 5,864 square metre facility occupies a 35,700 square metre site and includes a manufacturing warehouse with 12.5-metre-high ceilings, multiple overhead gantry cranes and a two-storey office overlooking the production floor.
Supporting those operations required more than 600 tonnes of structural steel and 75 large concrete piles, some reaching nine metres deep, to accommodate the substantial loads generated by manufacturing equipment and cranes.
Alongside those heavy-duty requirements, the project offered an opportunity to demonstrate the architectural possibilities of precast concrete.
“Novus has supplied precast elements for many of our projects, so it was fitting to showcase their products as the defining feature of their own building,” Mr Mason said.
“We pride ourselves on our longstanding relationships at McNab, and this is a great example. Our connection goes back more than 40 years to our founder Michael McNab’s early days in construction, when he worked alongside Steven Prowse for Steven’s father, Norman.
“That shared history gave us a strong understanding of Novus’ expectations and the trust to work through a demanding program together. To see a project built on that relationship recognised among Queensland’s best makes this award especially meaningful for our team and I want to thank everyone who contributed to such a great result.”
The award capped a successful evening for McNab, with the Sunshine Coast’s Maroochy Private Hospital winning the Best Health Facility over $20 million award and Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Gold Coast Headquarters taking out Commercial/Industrial Building from $3 million to $10 million.
The three Queensland category winners will compete for national honours at the National Master Builders Awards at The Star in Brisbane on Friday 27 November.
For more information, visit www.mcnab.net.au.
ABOUT MCNAB GROUP
McNab Group is one of Australia’s largest and most trusted privately-owned construction and property groups, generating over $1 billion annually. With long-term industry relationships and a vertically integrated model that includes award-winning construction, property developments, building revitalisation, building materials, energy, construction hire, and skilled trades and labour, McNab Group is uniquely positioned to deliver certainty and quality in an ever-changing environment. McNab Group has an established funding relationship with Ray White Capital, most recently delivering the award-winning White Main Beach Apartments and Elements Budds Beach through a funding partnership with corporate partners including Mitsubishi Estate Asia and Ray White Capital.
