Forty bricklayers, 250,000 hand-laid bricks, and a façade that revives a lost landmark, Multiplex’s Market Square project is proof that traditional skill and modern innovation can build something truly timeless.
The Craft at the Core
In a city skyline filled with glass and steel, the new Market Square project between Grote and Gouger Streets stands out not just for its scale, but for its craftsmanship.
Delivered by global contractor Multiplex and developed by ICD Property in partnership with the City of Adelaide, the $600 million mixed-use precinct is one of the largest commercial property projects ever undertaken in South Australia. Yet it’s the bricklayers who are stealing the spotlight.
Designed by Woods Bagot, the project features more than 250,000 hand-laid bricks, forming a façade that echoes the site’s original heritage structure, demolished in the 1960s. Every course is laid in a traditional stretcher bond and colour-matched to the adjacent Federal Hall, with high-level pier corbelling to recreate the character of the old market frontage.
Brick by Brick: Forty Tradespeople, Forty Stories
Up to 40 bricklayers have been working on site, many from local subcontractor Ranieri Bricklaying, who also collaborated with Multiplex on the award-winning 83 Pirie Street project.
Together, they’ve constructed 42 external brick archways and a three-storey internal atrium featuring eight more arches with bullnose and header courses in stack bond, intricate work requiring absolute precision.
“Recreating the original brick façade isn’t just aesthetic, it’s an act of respect,” says ICD Property CEO Matt Khoo. “It honours the site’s history while bringing it into a modern context that will serve South Australians for generations to come.”
Where Heritage Meets High-Rise
Market Square blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge construction methodology. While the bricklayers worked meticulously on the façade and archways, Multiplex advanced the 13-storey office tower, 40-storey hotel and apartment tower, and podium retail spaces in parallel, a coordinated effort that balanced time efficiency with artisanal quality.
Andrew Warren, Multiplex’s State Manager for South Australia, says it’s this synergy between trades and technology that makes the project stand out.
“Market Square has required specialised labour and a strategic approach. Our success so far is testament to the hard work of our Multiplex team and trade partners, and our ability to collaborate for outstanding outcomes on highly complex projects.”
The Bricklayer’s Role in Modern Construction
Far from being a throwback, the brickwork on Market Square represents how traditional trades continue to adapt within a rapidly evolving industry.
In today’s construction landscape where prefabrication, modular systems and digital tools are redefining how projects are delivered craftsmanship remains a vital complement. Projects like Market Square show that heritage detailing and skilled labour can sit comfortably alongside advanced construction techniques.
The result? A façade that connects Adelaide’s past with its future, built by bricklayers whose work will define the city’s most ambitious development in decades.
More Than Just a Building
When complete, Market Square will feature:
- 234 luxury residences
- A 248-room hotel
- Childcare, supermarket, and retail spaces
- An elevated 3,000sqm public garden
- And a doubled Adelaide Central Market trading floor
For the City of Adelaide, it’s a once-in-a-generation renewal project that strengthens both the economy and the city’s cultural fabric.
“It’s wonderful to see Multiplex advancing works on this iconic project, which will drive tourism and boost the local economy while allowing the Central Market to thrive and expand,” said Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.
A Tribute to the Trade
For the forty bricklayers shaping Market Square, this isn’t just another job, it’s legacy work. Each archway, each corbelled pier, carries the precision and pride of a trade that continues to underpin Australian construction.
At The Good Builder, we see this as a story of balance between efficiency and artistry, between progress and preservation. Market Square is more than a development; it’s proof that the future of construction is strongest when it values both innovation and craftsmanship.
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