Contract awarded for final stage of heritage works

A major development milestone has been reached at Lot Fourteen with a contract awarded to refurbish the last of six heritage listed buildings and create surrounding outdoor public areas.

Completed in 1927, the four-storey Bice Building was the first of several multi-storey buildings built as part of the 1921 masterplan for the former Royal Adelaide Hospital. It originally comprised, accommodation for doctors and medical officers, wards with open-air balconies and administration offices.

The contract to refurbish the Bice Building has been awarded to Hansen Yuncken by Renewal SA on behalf of the state government after an open public tender process.

The work will include a courtyard canopy connecting the Bice and McEwin Buildings that will offer year-round weather protection for precinct events and visitors to the Australian Space Discovery Centre.

The Bice building will get a contemporary fit out to complement its key heritage attributes and create 2,000sqm of modern adaptive workspace to attract tenants from sectors including defence and space, hi-tech and creative technologies.

Works will include a complete façade restoration, structural and seismic upgrades, all new services including lifts, mechanical, hydraulics, electrical, communications, and modern contemporary finishes and fixtures. A major focus for the project will be environmentally sustainable design as part of Lot Fourteen’s commitment to achieving 6 Star Green Star certification.

Hansen and Yuncken estimate the project will create work for approximately 700 subcontractors and consulting partners during construction, with a peak of about 130 people on site per day.

Lot Fourteen State Project Lead Diane Dixon said it was exciting to start the final stage of the heritage refurbishment program.

“This is a major milestone as we continue to shape Lot Fourteen as a global business location to drive economic growth and create high value jobs in South Australia, as well as an exciting destination for visitors,” said Ms Dixon.

“We’ve already seen a number of heritage buildings at Lot Fourteen turned into vibrant, contemporary spaces.

“For example, the McEwin Building now houses the Australian Space Agency and is set to become the home of the state-of-the-art Mission Control Centre and the interactive and educational Australian Space Discovery Centre, which will become a major tourism drawcard for Adelaide.”

The University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning was opened in the former Women’s Health Building in February this year, whilst the neighbouring Allied Health Building is home to a start-up hub operated by Stone & Chalk and powered by FIXE.

Hansen Yuncken State Manager, Mark Rosenboom said the company was looking forward to further contributing to the value that Lot Fourteen is bringing to South Australia.

“The Hansen Yuncken team are excited to be able to bring their expertise to this project and the important Bice Building,” he said.

The Bice refurbishment and fit out will begin this month and is due for completion in June 2021.

The Design Project team comprised Hassell Architects, Purcell, WSP Engineering, Rider Levett Bucknall, D2 and Oxigen (public realm).