Multiplex has reached a major construction milestone on the UNSW Biological Sciences Building, topping out the new $125 million addition to the campus.
Located at the Kensington campus in Botany Street, Randwick, the project spans 21,730 square metres and includes the new nine-storey Biological Sciences Building that complements the existing building.
Multiplex NSW Regional Managing Director David Ghannoum FIEAust said that the large project was running on time as a result of Multiplex’s experience in working in live environments.
“We are delighted to have topped out the new Biological Sciences Building on schedule,” Mr Ghannoum said. “We have been able to draw on our specialist expertise in delivering high-quality research and educational facilities within live campus environments.”
The new Biological Sciences Building represents the third stage of the regeneration and expansion of the Biomedical Precinct at UNSW, addressing the long-term accommodation needs of the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the School of Biotechnology and Bimolecular Sciences, as well as the functional needs of the wider precinct.
Once complete, the new Biological Sciences Building will provide students and researchers with a contemporary research and teaching environment, including new mixed-use wet and dry laboratories.
UNSW’s Acting Dean of Science Peter Loviband said that the university is looking forward to the project’s completion so that staff, students and researchers can benefit from the new cutting edge facilities.
“We congratulate Multiplex on reaching their construction milestone on schedule and look forward to the completion of the new Biological Sciences Building next year,” Professor Loviband said. “It will provide state-of-the-art facilities for teaching the scientists of the future and for carrying out our world-class research in a range of exciting areas.”
Challenges faced during construction include the footprint of the building being wedged between three operating buildings, with minimal storage areas and difficult access for deliveries.
To date, a total of 9,250 cubic metres of concrete has been poured during construction, along with 960 tonnes of reinforcement and post tensioning cables cast within the slab adhering to very strict vibration criteria for specialist laboratories.
A total of 1,860 people have worked onsite to date and completion of the new Biological Sciences Building is scheduled for June 2017.
Article by Multiplex. Image: UNSW Biological Sciences building being topped out. Courtesy Multiplex.