DOME RENOVATIONS

In September 1999 Gutteridge, Haskins and Davey (GHD) were appointed to undertake the design, documentation and construction supervision of the Dome refurbishment works. A Project Committee was established with Professor Ross Taylor (Chairman), Professor David Curtis and Professor Bill Levick.

The design and documentation work was completed in early 2000, together with the pre-qualification of select tenderers. Tenders were called in April 2000. The successful tenderer, Project Coordination (Australia) Pty Ltd, was appointed and construction commenced in May 2000. Progress was good, notwithstanding some wet weather and construction works were completed in February 2001.

A new external engineering services plant room was constructed to the southeast of the Dome. It is buried into the sloping site so that its roof line is at about the same level as the ground floor of the Dome. The plant room houses a new main switchboard, air-conditioning chiller and moat filtration equipment, all linked into the existing Dome basement by a secure connecting tunnel under the moat.