Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has a renewed home at 12 Wally’s Walk on the North Ryde Campus. The ‘E7A’ building has undergone a major refurbishment and expansion, with a new glass atrium connecting the E7A and E7B buildings.
The project aimed to adapt and re-use as much of the existing building structure as possible. It created additional space for the building’s services and maximised office, teaching and learning areas. The new glass atrium offers break-out spaces on the ground and mezzanine floors to study and collaborate and it connects the existing buildings through bridge walkways and galleries.
Buildcorp was involved from an early stage to develop the best way to build the new facility. Through collaboration, the team re-engineered the materials and structure of the glass atrium, implementing a tried and tested quality glass facade system, all while keeping the original design intent. This solution saved $1 million and took eight weeks off the program.
Buildcorp’s buildability advice also devised the most time and cost effective demolition and strip-out program for the E7A building. An integrated propping and bracing system for the building structure reduced the initial two stage core demolition program down to just one stage.
The design options, construction methodologies and team collaboration all helped to optimise the program and the renewed facility was open in time for the students’ first semester in early 2017.