At the 2025 Property Council of Australia (PCA) Innovation & Excellence Awards in Sydney, ADP Consulting client Aria Property Group achieved the highest possible commendation, taking home the prize for Australian Development of the Year for their innovative Upper House project.

The project’s success was further cemented by category wins for Best Residential Development and Best Public Art Project.

Having worked on the project as the Green Star Accredited Professional, the victory is a direct testament to the quality and depth of ADP Consulting’s sustainability expertise.

The PCA Innovation & Excellence awards program is one of the most prestigious property awards programs in the country. Now in its 43^rd year, the program serves as the definitive platform for celebrating groundbreaking developments, projects, and services that demonstrate creative solutions to industry challenges.

Engineering the benchmark for sustainable development

Upper House is a high end, 36-storey tower in the heart of Brisbane, and much more than a simple architectural achievement. Designed by Koichi Takada Architects, the development presented significant complexity in achieving its ambitious environmental targets.

Engaged by Aria Property Group as the formal Green Star Accredited Professional, ADP Consulting played a critical, non-negotiable role in translating sustainability targets into certifiable, operational realities. Our industry-leading consultants ensured the project’s performance not only met, but significantly exceeded industry standards, setting a new benchmark for high-rise residential construction in Australia.

Our delivery involved a comprehensive, forensic approach, including ESD design reviews, advanced thermal comfort modelling, climate adaptation analysis, and detailed GHG and peak demand analysis. The rigorous process demonstrated our capability to manage and mitigate complex environmental risks on large-scale developments.

ADP Consulting’s involvement in the project delivered two market-defining performance ratings:

• Green Star: Upper House was the first residential building in Queensland to receive a 5-Star Green Star As-Built rating, confirming the verified, in-use performance and efficiency of the final asset.
• NatHERS: The project achieved an exceptional 8 Star NatHERS Rating. For a large-scale tower of this typology in Queensland, this is a strategic milestone that signals world-class thermal performance, energy reduction, and long-term climate resilience.

Innovation on a global scale

The accolades reflect the $111 million Koichi Takada-designed residential complex’s exceptional design and Aria Property Group’s commitment to sustainability- a commitment ADP Consulting is immensely proud to have supported.

The Group’s multiple wins at this year’s PCA Innovation & Excellence Awards underscores true innovation and future-focused design in the Australian property sector.

As Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas stated, the industry impact is profound:

“Upper House boldly addresses our future, prioritising efficiency and low emissions, and it further advances Australia’s leadership in sustainability, It truly sets a new benchmark for environmentally conscious residential design.”

For ADP Consulting, our involvement in the planning, design and construction of Upper House reaffirms our mission to integrate high-performance sustainability outcomes into complex, large-scale developments.

Our expertise as the Green Star Accredited Professional ensured that the ambitious environmental goals for Upper House were not just conceptual but fully realised in the final, operational build, benefitting the residents and delivering long-term asset value for the client.

For more information about ADP Consulting’s involvement in the project, please click here.