Australian Opal Centre
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The Australian Opal Centre (AOC) is an extraordinary not-for-profit museum, multi-purpose facility and visitor attraction being developed in the outback opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. The centre is being developed across several stages. Once all stages are complete, it will be the world’s leading provider of opal-related knowledge, education, training, scientific research, creativity and industry development, serving as a catalyst for regional economic and cultural invigoration. The new AOC will preserve, display and research the greatest ever public collection of Australian opals, opalised fossils and the natural and cultural heritage of the Australian opal fields and will offer experiences and programs for diverse audiences.
Project Overview
The building, designed by architect Wendy Lewin working with Dunn Hillam, based on an original design by Wendy Lewin and Glenn Murcutt, is funded in partnership between community and three levels of government. It will be an energy-efficient, two storey, partly underground structure recessed into, and insulated by, the thermal mass of the earth. Utilising the natural attributes of the site, the building is set to be off-grid and self-providing for power and water, with a focus on re-use of rain and ground water, renewable energy design including a photovoltaic farm, and passive ventilation systems. The AOC will be an exemplar project delivering world’s best practice in sustainable green infrastructure, particularly for projects in semi-arid outback and regional locations.
Our Role
RP Infrastructure (RPI) was engaged by the AOC to provide project management services including design management, procurement, contract administration, stakeholder engagement, and Government grant reporting for Stage 1. RPI is working closely with the AOC to help facilitate opportunities for the region through local employment and training, with an emphasis on maximising indigenous participation. RPI has been responsible for the management of procurement for the Exhibition Design & Construct contract. This will progress to client-side project management of the successful contractor for Day One Exhibition concept development, curation and installation.
The image featured is an architectural render and a representation of the future completed Australian Opal Centre only.