Curtin – Building 501 Refurbishment
Awards
2015 Australian Institute of Building National Professional Excellence Award – Finalist
2015 Master Builders Best Refurbishment or Renovation under $20million
2015 Australian Institute of Building Western Australia Certificate of High Commendation Award – Commercial Construction $10million to $50million
2015 Australian Institute of Building Western Australia Certificate of Commendation Award – Waste Management Award for adopting and implementing Best Practice in Waste Management
Over the course of 2014, Building 501 has undergone an extensive refurbishment. Over $20,000,000.00 have been invested by Curtin University of Technology to bring this building, built in 1975, up to current standards for the Faculty of Planning Design and Building services.
Following the principles of the Curtin master plan, the building has been re-organised to provide learning and student spaces on the 2 lower levels and the School of Education offices and open plan work areas on levels 3 and 4.
The demolition phase of the building resulted in a complete strip out of existing services and finishes, back to the bare structure and the decanting of the existing Data hub, servicing over 20 buildings on the campus. All communication services to the affected building had to be rerouted without interruption and were upgraded to the latest Cat 6 and fibre optic technology.
A complete new fit out commenced after the demolition phase, including new aluminium windows and doors, new walls, floor finishes, ceilings and ultra modern finishes including workstations and loose furniture.
Level 1 provides an upgraded Abacus Lab with a help desk that is open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Level 1 further consists of collaborative learning spaces, group study rooms and informal learning areas. There are also outdoor learning areas on striking timber decks located in the beautiful gardens adjacent to the building.
Level 2 provides further collaborative learning spaces, group study rooms and informal learning spaces, as well as school of education learning spaces. The teaching spaces are divided by impressive glass operable walls that also act as white boards to write on.
The School of education workplace accommodation is located on levels 3 and 4, providing a comfortable workplace for the faculties’ personnel, with the main reception and student meeting area on level 3. Meeting, counselling and quiet rooms are located throughout these levels.
The technology incorporated in the building includes the latest in Cat 6 and Fibre optic data connections. High speed wireless connection is available to all areas and state of the art Audio Visual rich collaborative classrooms to facilitate an engaging and immersive student experience. The refurbishment of building 501 is a pilot project for the re-use of a significant existing building at the Bentley campus.
The re-design reflects new teaching, learning and workplace design strategies and improved infrastructure will contribute to providing a more sustainable future for the Campus.
Further additions to the existing building include 2 new plant rooms to the East and the West of building and a complete new fit out to the Level 5 roof space plant room, providing a home for the Mechanical plant of the building. The external Plant rooms include an ultra modern design making use of aluminium composite cladding to bring the 40 year old building in line with the current trends.
“This Project is a compliment to the PS Structures team, and I look forward to working with them again someday.
Rob Schmidt – Senior Project Manager, Aria Project Developments Pty Ltd
CLIENT:
CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
ARCHITECT:
JOHN FLOWER ARCHITECT