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Long recognised for its collection that spans history, technology, science and design, the Powerhouse is set to take its place alongside some of the world’s great cultural institutions with the addition of a flagship museum at Parramatta.
Since 2017, A.G. Coombs has provided preventative mechanical services maintenance at the Powerhouse and adjacent Harwood building in Ultimo, as well as the Sydney Observatory – also part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.
This experience helped inform the design of the mechanical services systems that will serve the seven exhibition spaces at Powerhouse Parramatta, and ensure the museum’s world-class collection can be enjoyed for decades to come.
One of Australia’s oldest and most important cultural institutions, the Powerhouse has occupied the converted electric tram power station in Ultimo (from which it gets its current name) since 1988.
Following a decision by the New South Wales Government to build an new flagship to complement the heritage-listed Ultimo site, work has commenced on what will be the first major NSW cultural institution to be established in Western Sydney.
Located on the city’s riverbank, Powerhouse Parramatta is the largest investment in cultural infrastructure by the NSW Government since the Sydney Opera House. It is also one of the most architecturally complex projects under construction in the country.
Lendlease is building the Moreau Kusunoki and Genton designed museum, which will feature 18,000m² of exhibition and public space. Exhibition Space 1 is of monumental scale and will be the largest column-free exhibition space in Australia.
The column-free design is achieved via three different types of steel lattice forming an intricate exoskeleton with transparent glazed façade. Following a competitive tender process, A.G. Coombs was awarded the mechanical services design and construct (D&C) contract by Lendlease in late-2021.
As well as collaborating with the project team and local architect Genton, A.G. Coombs has lent on the expertise of the Group to value-engineer a mechanical services design that will achieve the strict indoor environment parameters required for the seven exhibition spaces while allowing services to be exposed.
This work included the removal of trench heaters on the glazed façade, the fire engineering of ductwork associated with the smoke exhaust and the reconfiguration of air handling units (AHUs) to reduce the amount of plant and equipment required.
The all-electric thermal energy plant on the rooftop will feature new 4-pipe chiller technology that can operate in air cooled mode or provide heat recovery to deliver energy efficient simultaneous heating and cooling.
The museums studio apartments – part of the Lang Walker Family Academy that will support high school students to stay on site and engage with education programs – are conditioned via individual fan coil units (FCU). As part of its role as services lead on this highly complex project, A.G. Coombs has employed cloud-based online building information modelling (BIM) as well as Revizto+ for clash detection and coordination.
These technologies will enable offsite prefabrication as part of the mechanical services construction methodology, including prefabricated risers, pump skids, fan coil modules and AHUs. A.G. Coombs will also pre-join as much metal ductwork as possible offsite to ensure a high quality finish.
Construction of Powerhouse Parramatta commenced in 2022, with
A.G. Coombs on site in 2023.
This article originally appeared in BE – Building Efficiency 2022-2023 magazine.
The new Moreau Kusunoki and Genton designed museum will feature 18,000m² of exhibition and public space. Exhibition Space 1 is of monumental scale and will be the largest column-free exhibition space in Australia.
Image: Moreau Kusunoki and Genton
The building will feature all-electric thermal energy plant on the rooftop including new 4-pipe chiller technology that can operate in air cooled mode or provide heat recovery to deliver energy efficient simultaneous heating and cooling.
