Powercor Substation Refurbishments
BQ Substation
The $4.5 million Bouvrie Street project includes demolishing sections of the building, excavating to a depth of five metres for a basement to house large sections of conduit to transfer electricity from a substation in nearby Brunswick and installing concrete slab and significant steel members that will bear the combined weight of 100 tonnes of power transformers, 66,000-volt switchgear and cooling radiators.
The project also includes for the supply and installation of a new gantry crane that is used to manoeuvre Powercor’s equipment.
A new water-proof concrete slab will replace sections of the existing roof and a metal duct installed to allow cooling air to flow to the areas which house the electrical equipment. Extreme care is required throughout construction to ensure no water penetrates the building; otherwise the results could be catastrophic.
The new Bouvrie Street facade features large removable acoustic louvers to facilitate the entry and exit of electrical equipment in the future. As the site is an operating substation stringent safety measures must be observed, adding to the complexity of Buxton's task.
VM Substation
A smaller and less complex project than Bouvrie Street, the conversion of the former four-level office block in Dudley Street to a substation involves stripping out the building and the removal of a lift shaft, rooftop mechanical plant and the entire third floor to provide the height required to house large electrical equipment.
As with the BQ substation the project also consists of the installation of a new gantry crane.
The $2.2 million contract provides for major demolition, structural alterations, stripping and resurfacing the roof and the installation of a new mechanical plant. The building's windows are to be removed and replaced by block work, the facade rendered and decorative steel panels installed to Dudley Street.