Sydney University students John van Rooyen and Marko Stankovic last week won the People’s Choice Award in the inaugural National Icons Roadshow.
The competition finalist submissions have been exhibited around the country for six weeks canvassing votes from members of the public.
The aspiring engineers’ winning submission revisits the Anzac Bridge, one of seven iconic Aussie landmarks built by Baulderstone — the competition sponsor.
The winning submission suggested adding two additional outer lanes to the main deck of the Anzac Bridge, one for light rail and the other for pedestrians, allowing more cyclists to use the existing space.
QUT student, James Ryan, has also been congratulated for receiving the Judges’ Award, for his submission that redesigned Brisbane’s Story Bridge.
The Sydney Opera House and Anzac Bridge in NSW, Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Brisbane’s Story Bridge, the Treasury Building in Canberra, Perth’s Graham Farmer Freeway and the Adelaide Convention Centre were updated by some of Australia’s most-promising engineering students and showcased the best of home-grown Aussie talent.
The icons on display to the public stood almost 2.5m high and up to 7m wide.
Mr van Rooyen said he took part in the competition for the experience of recreating one of Australia’s greatest icons: “I've always liked the Anzac Bridge and I think it really fits in well with the surrounding area so I wanted to try to reproduce it in an environmentally-friendly design.
Marko and I are completely surprised by our win and are flattered that Australians across the country voted for our submission,” he said.
