October 13, 2025 in Our Experience
101 Collins Street — Electrifying an Icon
101 Collins Street is a Melbourne landmark attracting some of Australia’s blue-chip corporations to occupy its prestigious location. In an age of gr...
Presbyterian ladies' College — Electrical Services
The Joan Montgomery Centre is a new state of the art sports, aquatic and learning facility at Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) in Burwood.
Role of Butler Electrical
The Joan Montgomery Centre at PLC was built by ADCO Constructions with Butler Electrical* engaged to provide electrical, data and communications services for the project.
Challenges
- Identifying cost-saving opportunities through strategic value
- The project team worked under tight deadlines to ensure the facility was ready for the College’s official
- Incorporating Safety in Design considerations to support long term, cost effective, safe maintenance, repair and lifecycle replacement of assets over the life of the facility.
- Operating adjacent to and within a live school environment, requiring careful planning and
- Managing works at height on the roof and within complex indoor spaces such as the large pool hall, indoor court area and gymnastics
- Coordinating with other trades to ensure high level fit-off was completed prior to tiling and timber flooring being installed, while mitigating.
Approach & Methodology
As a greenfield construction project, the facility required a new electrical supply to meet its scale and energy demands.
The Butler Electrical team developed a detailed methodology and program that underpinned the successful delivery of these complex works. This approach was supported by weekly progress meetings and real-time updates via Butler Electrical’s custom project management tools.
Collaboration with the builder, client and suppliers enabled identification of cost-saving opportunities – balancing financial, functional, operational and lifecycle benefits. Safety in Design also remained a key focus, ensuring safe operation and maintenance of the facility.
To support modern teaching needs, Butler Electrical installed a robust CAT6A CommScope system and a fibre optic network linking the new facility to the existing school infrastructure. Instead of the originally proposed starwired design, a more resilient “diverse ring” architecture was implemented, providing redundant pathways and improved network reliability.
A substantial redesign was also undertaken to enhance system performance, resilience, Safety in Design, constructability, and maintainability – while reducing both upfront project costs and long-term operational expenses.
Butler Electrical worked closely with the builder, client, consultant and architect to identify value engineering opportunities that offered alternative technologies and innovations including:
- An alternative LED lighting solution
- Revised electrical reticulation
- Alternative data and communications design, including a complete, fibre optic ring main architecture with full redundant fibre optic pathways.
- An engineered light mounting arrangement for the lights over the swimming.
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the project’s delivery. A standout feature was the installation of a substantial 700 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, delivered in partnership with specialist contractor Energy Aware, representing one of the largest educational solar installations in the region.
Three 22 kW electric vehicle (EV) charging stations were also installed and commissioned, with provision for three additional stations.
Beyond technology, the team worked with suppliers to reduce on-site waste through precise material ordering and cut transport carbon emissions via consolidated deliveries.
Key Outcomes
- Transparent communication with the client ensured clarity on key contractual items around project
- Butler Electrical worked closely with the client, builder, architect, consultants and trades to deliver seamless installation of the complete electrical solutions
- Over 14,000 hours of onsite works were completed incident and injury
- The project was delivered on time, allowing the school to use the new facility for their 150-year anniversary
- Achieved significant waste reduction through streamlined processes and improved material
- Butler Electrical’s strong and effective approach to quality management ensured the electrical project works were delivered without defects.