In the first phase of a 10-year plan to holistically address the lifecycle of campus buildings and infrastructure, Property will launch the renewal of E7A on 9 June.

“Our plan is to create a vibrant and sustainable campus through upgrading services and by adopting contemporary approaches to the design of workplace and learning environments,” said Property Director, Mark Broomfield.

E7A, also known as the Mitchell Building, was named after our first Vice-Chancellor Alexander George Mitchell, and formed part of the first complex of buildings constructed on campus, completed in 1967. It was originally known as Project One.

“It is therefore timely and very appropriate that this building is the first to receive a full refurbishment from top to bottom,” said Mark.

Professor Barbara Messerle, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, shared her enthusiasm for the building refurbishment with faculty staff at a recent event to farewell the building.

“We need to celebrate the great opportunity provided by the refurbishment of E7A,” she said. “It will provide additional facilities as well as enormously improved offices and work environments.”

Alongside the upgrade of the building façade, the refurbishment will include the installation of new services, a new lift and services core, an internal fit out of all eight levels, and will include a suite of seminar spaces on the new top floor. Work is anticipated to be completed by late 2016.

Together with the renewal of E7A, a new three-storey atrium space connecting E7A and E7B will be constructed.

“This new space will provide facilities to support events like graduation,” said Mark. “It will also feature a new internal link bridge connecting the buildings, a café and offer additional student spaces. As with all building works there will be some disruption, noise and changed access to buildings and facilities,” said Mark.

The first stage of work will involve the erection of hoarding, followed by the removal of furniture, joinery and carpet. This will take place between 10pm and 5am to minimise disruption to students during exams. From 27 June to 26 July, internal structures, including stair wells and lift cores will be demolished, before construction begins in Session 2.

“All impacted staff will be kept up to date, and we have a number of strategies to minimise disruption while we work toward the realisation of a renewed and vibrant E7A,” said Mark.

Visit the Property website for more information and to keep up to date with the E7A project.