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 August 2026

Timeline

Progress

CFA piling is nearing completion, with works expected to be finished in the first week of August. The piling rig is scheduled to be removed within a few days of completion, requiring an Out of Hours pick-up due to the size of the equipment.

The first of the project’s three tower cranes has now been erected, commissioned and is operating on site. This crane will support the delivery and erection of the remaining two tower cranes anticipated in early September and December 2026.

Detailed excavation works are continuing across the site, including excavation for pile caps, service trenches, and concrete blinding slabs. Blinding slabs provide a stable base for the application of waterproofing membrane required for tanking the basement and the future construction of Basement 2 slabs.

The above works will continue through August.

Works along Western Campus Drive are ongoing and include detailed excavation and CFA piling to the perimeter shoring walls. These activities are expected to continue until the end of the year.

Upcoming Works

The second tower crane is scheduled for delivery and erection by the end of August / early September. Unlike Tower Crane 1, the works can be facikitated from within the site and not require any road / busd closures and can be completed during normal working hours.

Tower Crane 1 is also scheduled to be self-climbed to its final height by mid-August. This process involves using a hydraulic climbing frame that lifts the crane upward so additional mast sections can be inserted beneath it, allowing the crane to increase its height without being dismantled. The crane will be extended by an additional 30m.

Following the completion of the detailed excavation works across the site, construction of the Basement Level 2 hydrostatic structure will commence. The basement will be built in eight stages, with each stage involving concrete blinding, waterproofing (tanking), reinforced concrete slabs and columns, and the construction of the perimeter shoring walls along with commencement of each of the 5 buildings verticial core strucutres. These works are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

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.

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