D&E Air Conditioning and Victaulic have teamed up together to work on the University of Melbourne’s new Parkville Centre for Neuroscience, which cost more than $100 million to build.
The impressive project was designed to be a showcase of excellence, accommodating three medical research organisations including the university’s neuroscience and developmental biology groups, the Florey Neuroscience Institutes and the Mental Health Research Institute.
Designed to accommodate 500 scientific staff, the building has a 5 star green star rating and features clean rooms (both PC2 and air-tight PC3 units), cool rooms, medical gases, reticulation steam, fume cupboards and a comprehensive BMS system.
D&E Air Conditioning was contracted to connect the chilled, condenser and heating hot water lines as part of the air conditioning system in the new Parkville building.
While cost was a consideration for construction, Melbourne University would not compromise on quality.
The connections had to be completed on time and with assurance of product superiority – in both cases, the construction of a top-quality building was the driving point.
D&E selected Victaulic to provide connections because of the company’s reputation and track record in quality piping systems.
Despite the original specification of globe valves, Victaulic recommended the use of a hundred Vic-300 MasterSeal butterfly valves to complete the job.
Victaulic Australia regional manager, Gennaro Sposato, said the Vic-300s offered a range of advantages, particularly as Victaulic’s grooved piping method meant there was no need for on-site welding.
“Not only did this significantly improve site safety, but the simple connection system reduced the time taken to join the pipes reducing labour costs by 30 per cent,” he said.
“This assisted D&E Air Conditioning to complete the job ahead of schedule and under budget.”
The Victaulic grooved piping method substantially reduced carbon emissions and toxic fumes during construction.
Victaulic, which develops products for a range of industrial, commercial and institutional piping systems, employs 3500 staff worldwide.
Parkville piping
