Carlton’s distinctive 1968 George Thompson building is set for a $13.8 million makeover to boost practical, advanced manufacturing skills training, an industry directly employing 326,000 Victorians.
The Advanced Manufacturing Precinct is being redeveloped, with designs by H20 Architects, to bring together applied design and manufacturing streams in one location.
B55 will be refurbished and extended with an additional rooftop level, providing more than 3500sqm of teaching space. The new precinct will deliver cross-disciplinary training to meet whole-of-industry needs by incorporating teaching in engineering and advanced manufacturing technologies, applied design, development, production, marketing and management.
The existing main entrance has been maintained and enhanced with a large recess into the brick surface, allowing deep views to the inside of the facility and code compliant disabled access entry ramp.
The fourth level addition is designed to be a simple, contemporary form, set back from the existing facade and feature an intriguing translucent facade walling material, distinguished from the ‘brickness’ of the existing building — but still having relevance, in terms of shape and proportions and articulation.
The high floor to ceiling dimension is a combination of the reuse of slab levels for the part of the building fronting Queensberry Street and the functional need to provide delivery spaces capable of accommodating equipment with clearances up to 4.0 metres height, with a clear service zone over of 1.5 metres. Without these high clearances, the building will not be able to accommodate the equipment possibilities for advanced manufacturing in the future.
Activities in the new precinct include rapid prototyping and manufacturing, computer integrated manufacturing including automation and systems integration, computer numerically controlled manufacturing and testing of products and materials.
Advanced manufacturing, a $99 billion sector, now accounts for about half of Australia’s manufacturing output and includes automotive, aerospace, machinery, tooling, medical, instrumentation, and new materials, including high-performance textiles. Advanced manufacturing is the fastest growing category of exports.
