April 30, 2025 in News
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Integrated Technical Management (ITM), an A.G. Coombs Group company, is proud to partner with Guide Dogs Victoria, providing technical facilities main...
National Museum of Australia Roof Replacement
Based in Canberra, the National Museum of Australia brings to life the rich and diverse stories of Australia through compelling objects, ideas and events. It is a facility that is open to the public 364 days a year
A major hailstorm occurred through Canberra with wind gusts of up to 116km/h recorded at the Canberra Airport. Hail stones as large as golf balls fell on the National Museum of Australia (NMA) resulting in significant damage to all exposed parts of the building structure, roof and iconic architectural loop structure.
Role of A.G. Coombs
Integrated Technical Management (ITM) had been the facility management services provider to the NMA for seven years and thanks to their strong relationship with the client, ITM was invited to tender for the works. Following a competitive tender process, ITM was successful and appointed as the head contractor and project manager for the project.
All roofs across the museum precinct, including above both permanent and temporary gallery spaces, as well as the panels of the architectural loop were replaced. This extensive undertaking spanned over 2 years, ensuring that each area was meticulously addressed and upgraded.
Challenges
A project of such scale in both a very public and live facility was always going to have its challenges and logistical hurdles. Some of these challenges included:
- Working in an environment where the public is present and the facility is operational 7 days a week presents unique challenges. It requires maintaining high safety standards to protect both workers and the public, without interfering with the day-to-day operations of the Museum.
- A significant amount of the labour involved required operating at elevated heights. Some of the Museum roofs featured architectural shapes and designs, adding complexity to the tasks. Managing these activities was further complicated by challenging weather conditions, including rain and morning frosts.
- Overseeing the operation of multiple crane lifts for each building required meticulous planning and coordination.
- Some of the buildings housed priceless exhibitions, requiring extra care and precision.
- No existing working drawings for the architectural loop panels existed.
Approach and Methodology
ITM worked closely with Capital Maintenance Solutions, a local contractor in Canberra, on a proposal encompassing 7 zones across the site. The project involved progressively replacing all roof sheeting, gutters, capping and flashings, as well as installing a new roof safety system. This was done while carefully managing the disconnection and reconnection of existing services on the roofs, ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining operational integrity throughout the process. In addition to these tasks, each of the 129 panels mounted to the architectural loop structure were required to be refabricated and replaced.
Key Outcomes
- The project was successfully completed within the agreed timeframe and budget.
- No disruptions or downtime to the museum or its displays. This ensured the Museum remained fully operational and accessible to the public throughout the duration of the project.
- Successfully managed and coordinated with several other large projects taking place onsite.
- Architectural loop panels were reverse engineered into engineering shop drawings for NMA records.
- Careful planning and adherence to safety protocols ensured the wellbeing of the workers and the integrity of the work.
