The judges chose Lendlease’s International House Sydney for the Innovation Award because it challenges the status quo for the construction of new buildings in Australia. It showcases dynamic solutions to issues such as resource scarcity, climate change, health and wellbeing, increasing costs and falling productivity. Its innovative success is far-reaching, and it offers important lessons on the way the industry approaches urban renewal.  The use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and glulam in such a high-profile project has encouraged industry interest in timber as a building material. It offers similar structural outcomes as traditional concrete and steel, but at a fraction of the weight. It can be erected rapidly, resulting in significant savings and significant reductions in safety risks during construction. The design of the timber beams was modified by Lendlease to incorporate reinforcing with a product called Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL). Four prototypes were developed in collaboration with Stuttgart University in Germany. Today, International House showcases the world’s first LVL-reinforced glulam beams.