February 11, 2026 in News
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In the heart of Sydney's emerging tech precinct at Central Station, a revolutionary project is reshaping the future of commercial building design. Atl...
April 1, 2026
When the founders of the Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) welcomed the first cohort of 60 students to their East Melbourne school in 1875, they could never have imagined that 150 years later, the college would host a world-class sports and aquatic centre at its campus home in Burwood.
Completed in March 2025 after a compressed 18-month project timeline, Presbyterian Ladies’ College’s new sports, aquatic and fitness facility, the Joan Montgomery Centre, was built by ADCO Constructions with Butler Electrical engaged to provide electrical, data and communications services for the project.
As a greenfield construction project, the facility required a new, dedicated electrical supply from the network – reflecting the project’s substantial footprint and energy requirements.
“The scale and size of the facility meant that a dedicated, electrical incoming service supply was necessary,” explains Darren Blake, Business Development Manager at Butler Electrical, part of the A.G. Coombs Group.
“Early site works involved installing a new, high-voltage transformer and freestanding main switchboard positioned over 150m from the new building, with the addition of hundreds of metres of underground services and electrical infrastructure to support external and landscape lighting, fire and security systems cabling and the data and communications network.”
From underground, all the way to the heart of the facility, the project’s technical complexity demanded innovative solutions that went beyond a conventional electrical installation.
Human-centred design
Butler Electrical reviewed the original specifications, transforming conceptual plans into practical, maintainable systems that prioritised performance, user experience and long-term operational efficiency.
Careful consideration was given to ensure LED lighting installed met the highest standards of quality, safety, performance and function. The functional use of each space was assessed, and lighting chosen to enhance the space, whilst ensuring the comfort of occupants and users.
In the main pool hall, lighting was strategically positioned to avoid direct glare issues for swimmers performing backstroke in the eight-lane, 50m swimming pool. The multi-sports indoor complex, a space designed to cater for a range of activities including basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton, also presented bespoke lighting requirements.
“Careful lighting design was critical to the use of this space, with each sport requiring different lighting characteristics,” says Darren. “The large ceiling sweep fans, motorised backboards and motorised nets in this multi-use space also influenced the selection and placement of the lighting.”
Branching out the network & staying connected
One of the project’s most significant technical achievements was reimagining the school’s communications infrastructure.
“Working in collaboration with the college’s ICT department, we re-engineered PLC’s communication network with a redundant and diverse pathway arrangement,” Darren explains. “This star network with a ring main redundant pathway required the Butler Electrical team to recable parts of the existing campus while coordinating with PLC’s ICT department to maintain operations in a live school environment.”
The end result provides unprecedented resilience for the school’s critical communications infrastructure.
Sustainable project management
Sustainability considerations were incorporated throughout every aspect of the project’s technical execution. The installation of a substantial 700 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, delivered in partnership with specialist contractor Energy Aware, represents one of the largest educational solar installations in the region.
Butler Electrical installed three 22 kW electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (with provision for three additional future charging stations) and commissioned a charging billing system for payment processing.
The team’s approach to sustainability extended beyond technology to operational practices, working closely with suppliers to minimise on-site waste through careful material ordering and reduced transport carbon emissions via consolidated site deliveries.
The project maintained an enviable safety record, with no reportable incidents throughout the entire construction period. This achievement was facilitated by the A.G. Coombs Group Management System, along with comprehensive site safety management planning and detailed task-specific safe work method statements.
“Butler Electrical’s onsite leadership worked closely with the ADCO Constructions’ site team to ensure that works were completed safely in a high-risk live school environment, with zero incidents,” says Don Sherwood, Senior Project Manager at ADCO Constructions.
Collaboration, completion & recognition
The project team faced significant pressure to complete the facility in time for the college’s official opening in March 2025. This deadline demanded close coordination between Butler Electrical, ADCO Constructions and numerous trades and stakeholders.
According to Nick Shashkoff, Project Manager, PLC Joan Montgomery Centre, the Butler Electrical team “expertly solved complex problems that arose during the delivery phase… providing alternative solutions which were financially viable and/or sustainable from a long-term operational focus.”
Leading educational institutions demand sophisticated, sustainable and future ready infrastructure – where cutting-edge innovation meets educational purpose.
The Joan Montgomery Centre provides PLC with a world-class environment that is transforming the way students engage with sports and physical education.
Award winning
Butler Electrical was the winner at the 2025 National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Victoria Awards for the PLC Joan Montgomery Centre project in the Medium Commercial Project category for technical excellence, innovation and outcomes achieved in the landmark project.
This article originally appeared in BE – Building Efficiency 2025-2026 magazine.
