Harris HMC History
When Arthur Kennedy joined Stan Harris in business in 1983, the Harris HMC heritage was already two years old. It was a small enterprise with a big commitment to providing Melbourne maintenance and fitout clients with excellent service delivery. Arthur and Stan shared a vision for their company and set about achieving it, working hard and smart to grow their reputation and their portfolio of successful projects. The values of customer service, dedication and ownership were an important framework for that growth.
Harris Office Environments (now known as Harris HMC Interiors) commenced in 1986 and in 1988 Arthur and Stan added an Electrics division. In 1990 they secured a landmark $9 million project for BHP. Successful completion proved the business capability and saw it emerge as a one of Melbourne’s leading fit out contractors.
After Stan retired in 1992, Arthur continued to evolve the business, accommodating the expanding Harris HMC team in larger North Melbourne premises and incorporating a Construction division. Arthur and his management team led a steady and mindful expansion program, building a strong internal culture and investing in a solid financial base.
Today, Harris HMC continues to evolve, now under the leadership of Arthur’s son, Dale Kennedy, and a committed board of management. The Harris HMC group delivers in excess of $50 million in projects per annum and is represented by 80 staff.
Those same values that inspired Arthur and Stan almost three decades ago remain embedded in the culture and the work practices of Harris HMC: customer satisfaction, dedication, teamwork, learning, safety and ownership.
The steadiness of family tradition is balanced by the reality of competitive project delivery in a contemporary marketplace, creating strength and confidence for Harris HMC, its people and, most importantly, its clients.
Twelve Harris HMC team members recently joined 30,000 entrants in “Run for the Kids” – a multi-course community fund-raiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
A couple of months into the building program, the Harris HMC Construction team has the four-storey student accommodation complex at John Street, Box Hill on target, with vertical pre-cast panels making a visual statement on the large suburban block.
Harris HMC Construction Project Manager Simon Hooker reports that the slab has been poured for the new 33-apartment building under construction at John Street, Preston.
The high-profile project is valued at over $5.8M and will completely rejuvenate the ground floor, incorporating a new entrance, staff zones and significant services works. Underway since February, the 6-month project sets some real challenges, including working around a busy occupied environment and an irreplaceable glass artwork. They’re just the sort of challenges the Harris HMC team thrives on! 
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