Project Overview
FDC Construction is thrilled to lead the delivery of Iglu’s visionary student accommodation precinct at UNSW’s Anzac Parade — a landmark development set to redefine student living in Sydney.
Rising above a vibrant new public plaza and bustling Eat Street, this landmark development features five architecturally distinct towers — from boutique low-rise buildings to 16-storey icons — all seamlessly connected by landscaped laneways and communal spaces. The project will deliver 859 rooms and 943 beds, meeting urgent demand for high-quality student housing while creating a dynamic new destination for the university and local community.
The site’s intricate transport and utility overlays, plus a basement built below the water table, showcase FDC’s expertise in managing challenging D&C projects. Our team is working closely with Iglu (the developer, owner, and operator) and UNSW to deliver a best-in-class precinct — on time, on budget, and with the community at its heart.
This is more than accommodation — it’s a vibrant new hub for students, staff, and the wider UNSW community.
Highlights
- Five towers:
- Building A: 16 storeys, 442 rooms, rooftop terraces, and a three-level podium with retail, communal, and university spaces
- Building B: 15 storeys, 287 rooms, retail, and green roof terraces
- Building C: 7 storeys, 58 rooms, rooftop PV panels
- Buildings D & E: 4 storeys each, 72 rooms, with communal terraces and bike storage
- Two-level basement: 250 car spaces (with EV charging), end-of-trip facilities, and a new ramp from Day Avenue
- Public domain: A new civic plaza, lush landscaping, and activated ground plane with food, beverage, and retail outlets, and extensive communal spaces for wellbeing and connection
- Sustainability: Green roofs, rooftop solar, recycled water for irrigation and landscaping, and targeting a 5-Star Greenstar sustainability rating
Project Update — 3 July 2026
Timeline
Progress
CFA piling has continued onsite with over 65% of the CFA piles completed to date. Piling activities anticipated to be completed by mid-August. Detailed excavation works are also underway, commencing with footing excavations and service trenches as the project progresses into the foundations phase.
Detailed excavation works involve preparing the ground for key structural elements of the building, including reinforced foundation areas, pile caps that support the building’s foundations, and the bases for the tower cranes that will be used during construction.
Works to Western Campus Drive have commenced, with activities including detailed excavation and CFA piling. These works are expected to continue for approximately six months.
Upcoming Works
The first of the project’s three tower cranes is currently targeted for erection in late July. This crane will be the largest of the three and will support the delivery and erection of the following two cranes. Appropriate traffic management and safety controls will be implemented during the crane installation process to minimise impacts on the surrounding community.
Following the completion of the detailed excavation works across the site, concrete blinding slabs will be poured. These concrete slabs provide a clean, level working surface and form the base for the installation of the basement waterproofing system.
Once the waterproofing works have been completed and inspected, construction of the permanent Basement Level 2 structural slab will commence.
Potential Impacts
FDC remains committed to maintaining pedestrian safety throughout the duration of the works. Pedestrian boom gates have been installed along Anzac Parade at key locations to assist with managing construction vehicle movements and ensure the safety of pedestrians accessing the footpath and nearby bus stops.
The UNSW Bus stop on Anzac Parade will be temporarily closed from 7pm Friday the 24th of July to 5am Monday the 27th of July to facilitate road closures required for installation of the Tower Crane. Signage will be provided closer to commencement.
Additional construction vehicle movements are expected to Day Avenue as excavation, piling and service installation activities commence for the Western Campus Drive regrading works.
