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Wearing culture with pride at Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park
At Building Engineering, we believe every project is an opportunity to leave a legacy beyond the built environment. At the Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park (GSEP), that commitment is reflected in the custom-designed high-visibility vests worn by our site team.
As part of Building Engineering’s commitment to meaningful cultural engagement and reconciliation, every high-visibility vest worn on site features a bespoke artwork created by verified local Gunaikurnai artist Alan Solomon, developed in collaboration with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC).
The custom-designed vests have become a distinctive feature of the project, embedding cultural storytelling into the everyday life of the site while acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which the project is being delivered.
Alan’s artwork reflects the deep cultural significance of Gunaikurnai Country through a series of meaningful symbols. Diamond motifs represent men, while oval shapes represent women. The blue wren and emu wren totems acknowledge male and female roles, while the flowing Gunaikurnai markings connect the five clan groups. Handprints symbolise belonging to Country, and the curved forms represent the people of the five Gunaikurnai regions, creating a visual story that celebrates identity, connection and the enduring relationship between people and place.
Building Engineering is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Assembled Threads, a Social Traders-certified social enterprise that provides employment and training opportunities for people from refugee, migrant and disadvantaged backgrounds. Having previously collaborated on our PPE Re-Thread program to recycle and upcycle end-of-life workwear, Assembled Threads ethically manufactured the custom high-visibility vests for the GSEP project, bringing together Indigenous-designed artwork with social enterprise manufacturing. Building Engineering has also worked alongside Alan Solomon to support his registration with Supply Nation, helping strengthen opportunities for Indigenous business participation and creating pathways for future projects.
The custom vests are a visible reminder that construction can leave a legacy extending well beyond the built environment. Every person who steps onto the site becomes part of a project that celebrates local culture, supports inclusive procurement and recognises the significance of the land on which we are building.
