Building services for the refurbishment of a 40-year-old building on campus

Macquarie University Art Precinct

The Macquarie University art programme needed more academic offices and teaching spaces, and the museum needed upgrading in the existing building. They were also looking to provide more modern infrastructure with heating and cooling for the comfort of academic staff.

Our team was engaged to help with the refurbishment of the 40-year-old W6A&B building to create the new WW25 MQU Art Precinct. We provided all services for the refurbishment project which had complex installation due to very low floor to ceiling depths. We executed the electrical, mechanical, hydraulics, sustainability, fire engineering and protection, and vertical transportation services within the pre-existing building. This proved a challenge as new services were being run within a building that was already the minimum standard height—our mechanical duct work had to run outside the building beneath a new façade. The refurbished building would also have a 100KW photovoltaic system installed to offset the electrical power consumption of the building.

This purpose-built Arts Precinct now offers flexible open classroom spaces, better air quality and comfort control, and space to showcase the strengths of the art faculty that also enriches collaboration and creativity.