When Figurehead was founded in 2007, Joe Grasso's goal was to bring tier-one discipline to projects where relationships, trust, and craft matter as much as timelines and budgets. Seventeen years and more than 90 builds later, that philosophy still drives every decision we make.
116 Rokeby is the clearest reflection of that journey so far. Designed by Carr, delivered by our team, and now home to our headquarters, it’s a building that demanded our absolute best. Which is why winning Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $20M–$30M at the 2025 Master Builders Victoria Awards means so much to us.
The Structure is the Finish
From the outset, 116 Rokeby was designed to leave nowhere to hide. This 11-storey commercial office on a compact 615m² Collingwood site draws on the minimalist, brutalist lines of Harvard’s Carpenter Center. Every element you see is the structure itself: off-form concrete columns, precast panels, and galvanised steel framing all left exposed.
That meant every tolerance mattered, with standards demanding 2–5mm accuracy: far tighter than the industry’s typical 20mm allowance.
The double-skin “chimney” façade, designed in collaboration with Arup, is function and form in equal measure. It uses natural stack ventilation to draw cooler air upwards and expel warm air through the top of the building, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. Automated blinds and operable windows respond in real time to temperature, UV, and wind conditions via an advanced Building Management System.
From low-VOC paints and responsibly sourced materials to recycled newspaper acoustic insulation, sustainability was embedded from day one. Add in an all-electric, carbon-neutral commitment, plus targets of Platinum WELL Certification and a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating, and the sustainability intent is clear.
Cultural respect is also cast into the concrete: Reflections of a Breathing Space — an Indigenous artwork created with Wurundjeri elders by artists Lowell Hunter and Gerard Black — stands as a nod to collaboration, history, and shared knowledge.
Overcoming the Challenges
On a tight urban footprint, our team navigated a Design & Construct contract from 60% drawings, demolition while bracing neighbouring buildings, and a two-level hydrostatic basement below the water table. We battled clay, basalt, and groundwater with dewatering solutions, craned panels via a custom-built gantry over a one-way street, and at peak, had 100 workers on site including 20 apprentices.
Through off-site fabrication, 3D BIM modelling, Procore defect management via QR codes, and smart value engineering, we delivered significant cost savings while achieving a 24-month program.
"Both an opportunity and a burden, delivering Figurehead's future office required a sharpening of perspective.
The minimalist design presented little margin for error and required careful consideration and management through design, procurement & delivery.
Looking back, it’s rewarding to have contributed and collaborated in delivering a space that is proudly anchored by design and construction fundamentals”
—Will Bernard, Senior Project Manager, Figurehead
More Than Just a Building
But this project was never just about technical execution. It’s about impact—what happens inside and how it connects to the Collingwood community.
"It's special to share with the project team who built a space we’re proud to walk into every day.
We had a lot of belief in the 116 Rokeby team, but they were more than up for the challenge.
The office was delivered with precision, integrity, and our signature passion and hunger.”
—Joe Grasso, Founder & Managing Director, Figurehead
For our this group: including Project Manager Will Bernard, Site Manager Trevor Parry Jones, Project Coordinator Adam Pratt, supported by Construction Manager Daniel Dottori and our extended 'family' of subcontractors and consultants and suppliers: it was a career-defining challenge. Their relentless coordination, leadership, and attention to detail across demolition, structure, façade, and fitout are why this award now sits with us. It's cohesive teamwork at its best: trust, open communication, and shared goals making us resilient through every phase.
“I recently spoke with the lead architect, Stephen McGarry from Carr, and we both agreed: this project was career-defining.
We joked that if we got it wrong, it might’ve been the end for us. But that’s also the best part about it. Mediocrity was never an option. For any of our team.
When you’re in it, absorbed in millimetre-perfect finishes and tolerances, you wonder if anyone else will notice.”—Trevor Parry Jones, Site Manager, Figurehead
Master Builders Victoria CEO Michaela Lihou summed it up:
“These awards continue to be one of the most powerful ways we acknowledge and celebrate our members. And as we mark our 150th anniversary, these awards also speak to a legacy that spans generations before us and shine a light on the emerging leaders who will carry our industry forward. Our members have once again delivered work that is ambitious, thoughtful and genuinely connected to the communities they serve. Congratulations to all our winners.”
MBV President Geoff Purcell added:
“It feels especially fitting to shine a light on the individuals, teams, and members whose work continues to promote what excellence in our industry looks like. This year’s nominees and winners have continued to raise the bar in an ever-increasing complex and challenging environment.”
But 116 Rokeby is more than its structure and systems. The ground floor is anchored by The Local Drop wine bar and café — a place for tenants and locals to connect over coffee in the morning or wine at night. The upper floors are home to businesses that share our values: design-focused, sustainable, and purpose-driven.
To our team, partners, consultants, and subcontractors — thank you. 116 Rokeby is proof that when you build with intent, discipline, and heart, you don’t just deliver a project. You deliver a legacy.
