The Latest in Unit & High-Rise Apartment Design – Current Trends, Key Considerations

Thanks to a range of factors – including population growth, the housing crisis and environmental concerns associated with urban sprawl – Australian cities are in a process of transformation. With the traditional quarter-acre block now beyond the means of most first home buyers, we are seeing more and more high-density residential developments, particularly around transport corridors.

In this context, this session of CPD Live focuses on the latest in high-rise apartment design.Beginning by considering the key trends associated with these developments – including sustainability, the incorporation of community space, Smart Home integration, security, and privacy – our speakers will also touch on flexibility in design, multi-functionality, open plan trends, and more.

Focussing on ceiling and walls, they will identify the types of materials and finishes best suited to homes of this type; and the design options we can expect to see more of as our cities continue to grow and change.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Outline the current trends in high rise apartment design
• Explain the affect these trends have on wall and ceiling specification
• Explain how the need for sustainability is affecting high rise apartment design
• Identify the wall and ceiling product options for developments of this type

(PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PC28, DETAILED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION PC39, PC41, PC56)

Speakers

Aidan Brisbane, Technical Solutions Manager, CSR

Aidan is an experienced Technical & Compliance Manager with over 25 years in the building industry, and he is highly skilled and qualified in Design Management and Materials / Building Compliance. During his time as the Queensland State Technical Manager, Aidan has worked extensively with Regulators, Certifiers, Architects, Building Designers, Engineers, Builders and Contractors providing technical assistance for a variety or CSR’s brands, including Cemintel, Gyprock, Hebel, AFS and Himmel, across products and systems. Working with numerous and complex systems, Aidan helps to educate diverse stakeholder groups from a wide range of perspectives including fire, acoustics, thermal, structural, NCC compliance and general product information.

Alex Lee, Senior Specification Engineer, Rondo 

Alex Lee is a Senior Specification Engineer at Rondo Building Services, specialising in cold-formed steel framing design, detailing, and construction solutions. With over a decade of experience, he has provided engineered designs for a wide range of projects across the UK and New Zealand earlier in his career, and now across Australia, ensuring compliance with AS/NZS standards and the National Construction Code. Alex leads and mentors engineering teams, collaborates closely with architects and builders from early project stages, and develops tools to streamline design processes. His expertise bridges design and constructability, helping architects achieve efficient, practical, and code-compliant building solutions.