Australian building products manufacturer James Hardie has officially opened a new People Centre at its Carole Park manufacturing site in Ipswich, Queensland, coinciding with the facility's 50th anniversary of operations. The investment reflects the company's continued commitment to its Australian manufacturing footprint and workforce infrastructure at what is now its largest manufacturing site in the country.

As reported by Architecture & Design, the single-storey facility was delivered by FDC Construction & Fitout Queensland and designed by Ink Duck Architects. It features upgraded open-plan workspaces, versatile meeting rooms, improved employee amenities and a large indoor dining area, providing a central hub for collaboration, wellbeing and daily operations.

The People Centre was constructed on the site of former administration and amenities buildings, with demolition completed ahead of the build. Construction commenced following a groundbreaking ceremony in June 2025, attended by Charis Mullen MP, member for Jordan, and Councillor Pye Augustine from Ipswich City Council.

The opening of the completed facility was attended by Queensland Minister Dale Last and Mayor of Ipswich Teresa Harding, who joined James Hardie's APAC president John Arneil to officially inaugurate the centre.

The building prominently features products from the Hardie Architectural Collection on both the exterior and interior, demonstrating the application of the company's fibre cement solutions in a commercial setting, covering exterior cladding and internal linings.

The Carole Park site, which opened in 1976, currently employs more than 300 people, with over 80% living in the surrounding area. More than 80% of the raw materials used at the site are sourced within 150 kilometres of the facility. The site produces fibre cement products distributed across Australia and New Zealand.

James Hardie manufactures fibre cement at two Australian locations, Carole Park in Queensland and Rosehill in New South Wales, with its research and development operations based at Rosehill. The company is headquartered in Chicago following its 2025 acquisition of US company AZEK and trades on both the New York Stock Exchange and the ASX.

Simon Hawkins, general manager of FDC Construction & Fitout Queensland, said the project reflected shared values between the two companies, noting FDC's Australian ownership, its 35 years of national experience and its strong commitment to local trades in the region.