Woodhead have recently completed the Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre (AFFRIC) at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus, Victoria.
A collaborative project between Deakin University, CSIRO and the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM), the two buildings in the development were specifically designed to house both organisations.
Coming in at $103 million, Woodhead designed and delivered the new facility as part of the Geelong Technology Precinct (GTP).
The development was supported by both the Federal and Victorian Governments and included a $37 million grant from the Australian Government’s Education Investment Fund.
Included in the project was the development of the Australian Carbon Fibre Research Facility (ACFRF), extensive renovations to the GTP, and the relocation of CSIRO from its Belmont location.
With the ability to accommodate up to 300 staff and students, the AFFRIC will increase the capacity of partner organisations to service the fibre, textile, composite, automotive and aerospace industries, as well as assist in translating research to end-user applications.
Included in this is the $34 million ACFRF ‘Carbon Nexus’ project, which, within the AFFRIC, will house a carbon fibre pilot line capable of producing 20 tonnes of aerospace quality fibre annually.
The entire project undertaken by Woodhead involved the design and development of new research facilities, the co-location of the materials and fibres research group from CSIRO, the expansion of Deakin’s Centre for Materials and Fibre Innovation, and the construction of a carbon fibre research pilot plant.
