There is still some space on the award wall at Cooroy’s Ritek Building Solutions. But it is getting full. And another award may be on the way if architect Allen Jack and Cottier pick one up at the 2008 Royal Australian Institute of Architects Awards because the architect insisted on the use of Ritek’s Eco-Roof for a $1.3 million Berry Recreational Hall in NSW.

The award up for grabs is the prestigious Suliman Medal, given to the most outstanding project entered into the NSW architecture awards.

“It will be an indirect win (if it happens),” Ritek chief executive officer and managing director Gayne Emblin said.

“It is part of the overall process of the building.

“The architect was quite specific about using our product.”

Ritek was well known in the southern states, WA and Northern Territory for its innovative roof and wall products and pre-fabricated buildings, Mr Emblin said.

“About 70 per cent of our wall business is now in WA, NT and Victoria,” he said.

“In the roof business we are still predominantly in south-east Queensland but we’ve got large activity in Victoria and NSW and we are getting calls to go into the west.”

The company has won contracts for pre-fabricated buildings for indigenous communities and requests to redevelop military bases.

“We are developing accommodation for new recruits. The government is spending a lot on upgrading,” Mr Emblin said.

And he said the energy savings were attractive when extrapolated during a 25-year period.

But the current “big thing” for Ritek is housing for remote areas.

“We are right in the midst of developing totally new opportunities with indigenous communities (using the pre-fabs),” Mr Emblin said.

“Maintaining tradies on site is a challenge: one, because you can’t get them and two, the cost of getting them to a remote area.

“Now (with prefabricated units made at Ritek), four or five people can go up with a truck and do the job.”

The company is also building massive railway-station roofs.

Staff levels are at 140 at Cooroy with another building on the drawing board and a likely increase to 220 staff.

Mr Emblin said the next “big thing” would be announced in about six months.

He’s not saying much yet but he promises it will “absolutely change the face of certain segments of the construction industry globally”.

“It’s that good,” he said.

Watch this space.

Meanwhile, the RAIA awards will be announced in about four weeks, so watch the Ritek award-wall space, too.