The University of Queensland’s Chemistry Building has new research and teaching space and improved fire safety after a $14.5 million refit.
It’s the first step in a major overhaul which will bring the 35-year-old building up to Australian fire and safety regulations.
Level 2 now has a 65-seat lecture theatre and a modern laboratory for 120 first-year students.
Level 11 has been refurbished for organic chemists and the glass blowing equipment, such as furnaces and lathes from Level 10, has been moved to Level 1.
There is new lab space for the Centre for Computational Molecular Science, Centre for Biomaterials and Nanotechnology, Brisbane Surface Analysis Facility, and Queensland’s headquarters for the Future Materials program.
The University’s project manager Jeff Arnold said the PVC pipes which run up the sides of the building and resemble pipe organs, are the flues for the building’s 80 fume cupboards.
Mr Arnold said the refit had been difficult because the building was occupied and full of chemicals and specialised equipment that could not be easily moved.
“The building has been overdue for refurbishment for some time,” Mr Arnold said.
“This stage of the work has set a blue print for future renovations of the individual floors.
“The installation of stair pressurisation and the progressive installation of fire sprinklers and modern fire detection will greatly increase safety.”
He said the builders, John Holland Group, had fixed leaks and corroded windows and built a 100,000-litre water storage tank that would boost the supply of fire fighting water.
A scaffold was built on the roof to raise many of the telecommunication dishes and antennae above the range of the builder’s cranes.
This avoided transmission interruptions from the dishes which serve UQ and much of Queensland.
A concrete slab was also poured on the roof to extend Level 12 and make space for a plant room.
Professor John de Jersey, Head of the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, said the research and teaching space in the first-year laboratory was the highlight of the upgrade.
“The innovative layout provides five modules, each able to accommodate 24 students and each integrating wet and dry laboratory space,” Professor de Jersey said.
“The design has already drawn praise from students, staff and visitors.”
Work is scheduled to end by June 24.
But another $4.8 million upgrade is also planned to refit Level 5, Level 4 and build a covered area on the Level 3 podium.
Professor de Jersey said he hoped this work would start in November.
For more information contact Mr Arnold (phone: 3365 3061, email: j.arnold@pf.uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (phone: 3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au)
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