SUBIACO-BASED engineering and construction contractor Doric has won a contract to build a new medical research facility in Nedlands, which will have a completed cost of more than $100 million.
SUBIACO-BASED engineering and construction contractor Doric has won a contract to build a new medical research facility in Nedlands, which will have a completed cost of more than $100 million.
Construction will begin immediately on the future headquarters of the Western Australian Institute for Medical research, which will form part of the expansion of the existing Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEIIMC).
The WAIMR facility will accommodate up to 800 people and will include state-of-the-art laboratories, statewide core equipment, clinical research space and an auditorium.
WAIMR director Peter Klinken said a second WAIMR building was planned for construction at the Fiona Stanley Hospital and would go to tender in the next three months.
Professor Klinken said once completed the WAIMR buildings would form the largest the biggest single investment in medical research in WA’s history.
“These facilities will be among the best in the Southern Hemisphere and will be a beacon that will shine for medical research in this town,” he said.
Last year, the QEIIMC began a six-year transformation to become one of Perth’s largest medical and research hubs, with more than $1 billion being invested in new facilities.
The 10-storey WAIMR building, which is expected to be completed by early 2013, is one of five new buildings at the site.
Construction of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the Pathwest Facility is currently under way and there are plans to begin construction of a new Children’s Hospital and two new multi-storey car parks later this year.
The car parks, which are estimated to cost $140 million during the construction phase, will have about 3,500 new bays.
Doric’s other current projects include a $20 million contract for the construction of the South Hedland Recreation Centre, to be located at the Kevin Scott Oval site in South Hedland.
Meanwhile, Perth building company Cooper and Oxley has been appointed as the replacement builder to complete a $13.5 million project at Mercedes College in East Perth.
This follows the appointment of receivers to Sizer Builders in December of last year, which had already completed 75 per cent of the works.
Cooper and Oxley director George Hampel said being awarded the contract to take over construction was a bittersweet gain for the company.
“We are pleased that we are in a position to carry out the completion of the project and look forward to a good association with Mercedes College,” he said.
“However it is very unfortunate that any builder experiences what Sizer is going through and it’s a disappointing thing that happens as far as the building industry is concerned.”
Project works on the school are set to be completed by July.
A project of similar value has been awarded to WA-based Pyramid Constructions, for the $13 million dollar rebuild of Lake Gwelup Primary School.
The project will be added to Pyramid’s extensive project portfolio, which also includes the construction and fit-out of a new library and arts centre at Swan Christian College.
The rebuild will be completed in three stages and will feature a new administration block, early childhood education centre and new classrooms.
Construction will be completed by the end of 2012.
