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 — 19 June 2026

Timeline

Progress

CFA piling has continued onsite with over 140 CFA piles completed to date (approx. 110 remaining). 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.

CFA piles are formed by drilling a hollow-stemmed auger to the required depth and pumping concrete through it as the auger is withdrawn. On this project, pile depths generally range between 16 and 21 metres. This method is vibration-free and ideal for unstable or water-bearing soils.

Stormwater upgrade works along Day Avenue will be completed and re-opened to the public by Friday 26^th June. Temporary fencing, along with pedestrian and cycle path diversions, will be removed following the completion of these works.

Upcoming Works

Works to Western Campus Drive are scheduled to commence at the end of June, with activities including detailed excavation and CFA piling. These works are expected to continue for approximately six months.

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.

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.

UNSW Bus stop on Anzac Parade will be temporarily closed from 7pm Friday the 24^th of July to 5am Monday the 27^th of July to facilitate road closures required for installation of the Tower Crane. Signage will be provided closer to commencement.

As part of the detailed excavation, sheet piling works will be undertaken over three weeks from Tuesday 23^rd of June centrally within the basement.  Disruption from these works is anticipated to be lower than what was experienced during the initial sheet piling phase at the beginning of the project in late 2025 and early this year, due to smaller sheets required and significantly smaller plant required for install.

Additional construction vehicle movements are expected to Day Avenue as excavation, piling and service installation activities commence for the Western Campus Drive regrading works.