Duratec recently flexed its fitout muscle, overcoming obstacles and devising solutions, to give life to the National Communication Museum in Melbourne.
As an industry innovator, Duratec embraces the opportunity to solve problems, no matter the complexity. If there’s the chance to harness expertise, draw from experience and throw in a bit of creativity, then that’s a project the company wants to be involved in. It’s why the recent fitout of the National Communication Museum, Melbourne’s first major museum to open in 25 years, was a challenge the Victorian team relished.
The vision for NCM was to bring to life the nostalgia of communication in Australia and showcase a heritage telecommunications collection alongside current technologies and those that will connect us in the future. It was to be done over two expansive floors of displays inside a historic 1939 telephone exchange building in Hawthorn and Duratec was asked to deliver the fitout.
The first challenge? The project was already well underway. The team had to pick up the baton and keep on running, so to speak. Works included:
- Concrete finishes
- Carpentry
- Flooring
- Masonry
- Cladding
- Doors
- Ceilings
- Partitions
- Tiling
- Grouting
- Painting
- Joinery
- Fixtures and fittings
- Finishes
- Hydraulic services
- Mechanical services
The name of the game
Due to the incomplete nature of the building works, Duratec undertook a dilapidation survey prior to site mobilisation, giving the crew an idea of what lay ahead. From there, the main aims were to complete the works according to the program, while delivering a high standard of workmanship, maximising value for money and providing the client with a fitout that would stand the test of time.
Fitting in with the fitout team
With experience in the transformation of all kinds of spaces, from office and commercial to industrial and retail, Duratec’s fitout specialists devised a plan to deliver the works. Over the months that ensued, the crew brought to life the spaces envisioned long before Duratec was on the scene.
It wasn’t long until Duratec found its place within the project team and began building relationships with not only the client but also the consultants and subcontractors. Team members quickly gained an understanding of the building, as well as the original design intention for the fitout.
Value engineering for the best outcomes
From the outset, Duratec kept the client’s vision front-of-mind, adhering to specifications and procuring items that were sometimes difficult to source. At times, the team came across alternative products that were just as – or even more – cost-effective as those originally specified, yet offered the same quality and aesthetic value. Duratec made a point of suggesting such products to provide the client with options and maximum project ownership.
Similarly, Duratec made sure the client benefited from its remediation expertise. Throughout the course of the works, previously unidentified deterioration to the building was discovered. In these cases, the team offered advice on the most effective and best-value ways to proceed, again providing the client with options.
Protecting the collection
As a remediation expert, Duratec’s ability to minimise disruption to its surroundings, including live operational environments, is finely tuned. This was of great benefit to the NCM project given the presence of heritage communication paraphernalia at the heart of the museum. The collection dates back to the 1850s and features items passionately collected over 60 years by volunteers across Australia. Duratec’s expertise ensured all exhibits remained unharmed throughout the works.
A feather in Duratec’s fitout cap
As well as being interesting and out of the ordinary, the NCM project allowed Duratec to put to work its problem-solving expertise, provide specialist advice and offer a range of options for the client to choose from. The ‘living, breathing museum’ that has resulted meets the original design intent and is testament to Duratec’s fitout capabilities.