Peter Doherty Institute

The Peter Doherty Institute (The Doherty) is a partnership between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, and is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

The world-class facility combines research into infectious disease and immunity with teaching excellence, laboratory diagnostic services, and clinical services.

A.G. Coombs Projects delivered mechanical services to the building, which incorporates everything from complex and highly-specialised containment laboratories and support spaces through to integrated teaching spaces. The team’s integrated prefabrication methodologies benefitted system design, coordination and performance improvements, and have provided easy and safe access provisions for ongoing operation and maintenance.

The complexity and specialist requirements of this facility brought about several key challenges, including the high containment laboratories with their very stringent construction and operational requirements and their need to comply with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Everything was made one hundred percent air tight with all services connections tightly sealed, and all systems were carefully commissioned and tested to exacting standards. Steam plant was installed to assist with air conditioning humidification and medical equipment, and the Doherty’s new HVAC systems are ensuring that temperature and humidity levels are closely set to support critical areas.