RP Infrastructure

From 2018 RP Infrastructure (RPI) worked with RMIT University to develop, upgrade and fitout a range of medical and research laboratories across their City and Bundoora campuses.

Project Overview

The projects delivered significant upgrades to the finishes, fittings and equipment of RMIT’s laboratories and enhance the University’s research capabilities.

Projects included in this program:

1. Chemical Laboratories: Redevelopment and conversion to PC2 of office and laboratory facilities for Medical Research.
2. Medical Radiation Learning Environment: Reconfiguration of existing facilities, including 3 new x-ray suites, to simulate hospital standards.
3. Dry Electronic Laboratory: Conversion of two rooms to laboratory spaces for Functional Materials and Microsystems.
4. ECP Laboratory: Conversion of existing facilities into PC2 laboratories for medical research.
5. Catalysis Laboratory: Redevelopment works creating a world leading laboratory cluster for Catalysis research.
6. E-Beam Laboratory: Redevelopment works for the installation of an Electron Beam Lithography for the Micro Nano Research Facility.
7. LP-CVD Furnace: Redevelopment works for the installation of an LP-CVD furnace to enable deposition of nitride and oxide layers.

Our Role

RPI was engaged by RMIT to project manage and superintend the projects covering almost 2000 sqm of facilities.

RPI managed the projects through design and construction, including managing the tender process, contract administration, stakeholder management, defects liability and, in most cases, the design management. The projects were completed under Managing Contractor or Minor Works contracts with a significant number of trade packages developed reviewed and recommended during site works.

Regular meetings were held throughout to ensure quality compliance and address issues and queries, with weekly reviews undertaken to monitor Contractor performance.

Key Challenge

Construction programs were managed to tight deadlines while maintaining University operations and coordinating works around sensitive research programs.

Several projects required the integration of highly technical scientific equipment. It was vital to ensure the contractors’ quality standards were sufficient to enable third party certification at the conclusion of the projects.