PROJECT: Melbourne Convention Centre

State to press down hard on Yarra's 'final missing tooth'
By RACHEL KLEINMAN, CITY REPORTER
19 August 2006
The Age

Billion-dollar convention centre 'must be finished' by December 2008

HOW many pylons does it take to prop up a $1 billion project?

More than 1000, bored 24 metres into the ground, which will support the state convention centre - described as the Yarra River's "final missing tooth".

The winning tender was announced as recently as March but work has already begun on the centre's skeleton, which will slot in between the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on Southbank and Yarra's Edge in Docklands.

The Plenary Group's principal John O'Rourke is watching the clock, for the developer will pay multimillion-dollar penalties if the public-private partnership runs over time. Mr O'Rourke said the consortium had learned from "some good experiences and some bad ones . . . on recent PPP projects".

Burned by delays and cost blow-outs on other major projects such as Southern Cross railway station and Federation Square, the State Government has imposed strict conditions to ensure the convention centre is finished promptly.

"This deal has financial penalties from the state but also has commercial revenues we expect to earn from the hotel, so there is both a carrot and a stick," Mr O'Rourke said.

The first crane will be on site next February and construction is due to finish in December 2008. Thousands of biochemists, botanists and psychologists from around the world are already booked into the centre from 2010. The 5000-seat venue will be accompanied by a 13-storey Hilton hotel, a 12-storey office and apartment tower, car park, retail centre, a cafe/lifestyle precinct, new maritime museum and pedestrian footbridge.

The State Government is contributing $370 million, Melbourne City Council $43 million, and the Multiplex Plenary Consortium $570 million. But the design has been criticised by some, given the project's expense.

Architecture professor Kim Dovey said it was good to provide the Yarra's "missing tooth". But the centre itself butted up against the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre rather than integrating with it.

Professor Dovey also labelled the hotel and office/residential towers "extremely boring".

But Major Projects Minister John Lenders said the economic benefits were more important than a dazzling design. "I think we have picked a great design and functional centre which will bring jobs to the whole of Victoria," he said.

The State Government was three months late announcing the winning bidder - a drawn-out battle between the consortium and Bovis Lend Lease.

And it attracted criticism for picking a $1 billion project, double that of Bovis' bid.

But business groups such as the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry believe the international conference market will deliver long-term financial benefits.

THE GREEN CONVENTION

SOLAR HOT WATER

Solar panels provide 100 per cent of public amenity hot water requirements

SUSTAINABLE USE OF BUILDING MATERIALS

Timber from renewable sources, materials and components have a high recycled content and minimal PVC use

RADIANT SLAB HEATING

Slab heated to provide energy-efficient thermal comfort and reduce air-conditioning requirements

DISPLACEMENT VENTILATION

Low-level air delivery and high-level air exhaust. Provides high indoor air quality at low energy consumption Rainwater and stormwater collection Landscape/ irrigation reuse All waste water collection Auditorium

BLACK WATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Treats wastewater, rainwater and stormwater to grade A quality for reuse in building. Reduces flow to sewer

OTHER FEATURES

- Building senses infitration of natural light and adjusts artificial lighting to conserve energy

- Secure bicycle and shower facilities for cyclists

Very enviromental. Like the 6 star city council building. 1000 pylons is well lots and lots and lots!!! 24 metres is quite far down as well. Great article Archibomber

But Major Projects Minister John Lenders said the economic benefits were more important than a dazzling design. "I think we have picked a great design and functional centre which will bring jobs to the whole of Victoria," he said.

Click to expand...

Yeah, but if the govt is going to be criticised for opting for the $1 billion development, then it should deliver a dazzling design. Regardless, it speaks volumes about the Bracks govt that there has not been any dazzling design on the large infrastructure projects since the Kennet Govt. (even Central Pier's been cancelled). I agree with what Grollo said in another thread....I'm waiting with baited breath to see what Denton actually does (I won't hold my breath).
Sorry - I think this development is great for the Southbank precinct, but it's very underwhelming :bash:

Bracks

Bracks is a man who balances head and heart very well. To much head and other areas suffer (trust me when you need the health system as my sister did when she died from cancer, you damn well hope it has not run down) Kennet ran down the health system and education to get his great designs. The convention centre will look smart, utilitarian, but it will be no masterpiece. Victoria only has so much money to spend any thing else just places a tremendous strain on Victoria’s resources, which can only stretch so far. We would all love more wow factor buildings, but this is simply unrealistic. However a consortium of public and private investment will still bring the attractive designs to the city. You can’t simply blame government for bad designs. Bracks is a managing the economy in a far more balanced way than Kennet did.

"And it attracted criticism for picking a $1 billion project, double that of Bovis' bid."

I think the point was that after commiting to so much money, a great design should have been a mandatory part of the package. Half of that with Bovis, and a more functional design could have been acceptable.

MCC

.Correct but we are talking a multi use structure that balances economic sustainability and environment sustainability. This is maybe why the building is so expensive and designed so plainly. The energy efficiency of the MCC will save government plenty of money over time. But I do see your point and agree that improvements could be made. But politicians aren't artistic visionaries, they are usually choose artistically boring buildings and think they are attractive. So perhaps in this area Kennet may have been more discerning. Who was responsible for that biscuit tin we call the arts centre? Now that is a building to complain about, it looks like a large public toilet!

^^I beg to differ,the Arts Centre is a masterpiece!!
:master: Roy Grounds

I think he's actually refering to the Concert Hall, with the 'biscuit tin' reference. And I tend to agree with him on that one.

Agreed. A biscuit tin is an accurate impression of the hall! The National Gallery though I appreciate more and more with every year.

I agree that the Hamer Concert Hall is a bit plain outside except when lit at night but as with the rest of the Arts Complex on St Kilda Rd the real beauty is inside where they blow any similar biuldings in Australia away.

http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_spaces-and-places_detail.aspx?view=9

http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_spaces-and-places_detail.aspx?view=12

http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_spaces-and-places_detail.aspx?view=10

http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_spaces-and-places_detail.aspx?view=10

http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_spaces-and-places_other-spaces.aspx



http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvinternational/

I agree Hamer hall is crap and concrete on the outside but the inside is MAGNIFICANT!!! The inside is all gold . it's truly amazing. The only problem in the inside is the concrete poles. Very ugly.

Thought this might give abit more insight into the design of the building and how the ESD principles will be applied.

^awesome any more?

Thanks Archibomber. That's a functionally impressive building. It makes sense that if we're going to host thousands of biochemists, botanists, environmentalists, psychologists, and every other "ists" in the encyclopaedia you would want to do it in a building that they can technically rave about.

half site piled

Nice update there smb - pic #1 is teh winnah

Heard from a Electrical Contractor .........

working on site that the Hilton will now be increased in Height to 19 Levels , anyone heard the same ? :cheers:

I hope so!

Looks like they're excavating a Roman fort

id love to seem some detailed plans....