Day 20: RMIT and L.U. Simon

Today was the first day of our site visits in Melbourne. We started the day off by visiting the RMIT campus several blocks from out dormitories. RMIT is a very large and well respected university and has a very highly regarded school of property and construction management. The professors and administrators from the college will be accompanying us on our site visits over the next two days.

The site that we visited today was in a gentrified area of Melbourne known as "The Docklands." We were on the Lacrosse condominium and retail development by L.U. Simon Builders. The project is 21 floors with several floors of parking as well. I was impressed with the project managers knowledge of his project and several others in the area. He seemed to keep a very well run site. Safety regulations here seem less stringent, despite Australia having a considerably better reputation for accident prevention that the United States. I think this can be credited to a more aware safety culture and general attitude towards performing construction activities.

After our site visit, we came back to the RMIT Village where we are staying for a bite to eat and to change for the night activity: The Australian Open. While I have never been much of a tennis fan, I was particularly excited about this event just because of the fame of the tournament. It didn't hurt that we saw Roger Federer play, as well as Caroline Wozniacki. We had a good time strolling around outside Rod Laver Arena and shopping around the store before the match took place. Once we the match began, Federer dominated in typical fashion.

Andrew looking awesome

See, Dad? I promise I am being somewhat productive.

After the Federer match

Me by an Australian Open sign

The Lacrosse Docklands development

Tomorrow is another site visit to and L.U. Simon project probably followed by some thesis work in the afternoon.