Octa provided project management services to the University of Otago for the redevelopment of the University’s Science Building. Extensive refurbishment and upgrading was undertaken to address building code compliance issues and to provide modern and flexible teaching and research facilities. All areas of this 6,500sqm building, including the exterior, were upgraded in the $55m construction contract.
The interior was extensively remodelled and refurbished to meet current teaching scientific and research needs. This included the provision of a “super-lab” on the ground floor to provide a flexible teaching space for a number of science disciplines. In addition, specialist PC1 and PC2 labs and areas associated with teaching and support areas have been provided in the re-planned building.
Minimising the impact on current students was one of the significant challenges with the project, with the University requiring as far as practical, continued use of this building. Octa refined the staging strategy for the refurbishment works which included the provision of temporary laboratory facilities. This approach reduced the disruption to the teaching and research programme and enabled continued use of the building during construction. The first of three stages was completed February 2018 with the final stage completed in December 2018, ahead of the start to the 2019 academic year.
Working in and around a live campus and minimising the impact on the University’s teaching and research needs was a significant project issue. Octa was instrumental in determining and then managing a staged programme that enabled the continued use of the building.
