We have been working on a number of projects in the Acton Campus Conservation Area of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. One of them is a project of roof replacement and ceiling repairs to 19 heritage buildings on the site, following damage caused by the 2020 severe hail storm. Separate but aligned projects include work on University House and the School of Art & Design.

[ Aerial of the Acton campus, Australian National University, indicating refurbished buildings ]

Following condition assessments, we documented the works required for the 19 buildings, all of which are included in the Commonwealth Heritage listed Acton Conservation Area, and have been identified as significant or supporting buildings through the ANU Acton Campus Heritage Framework (Lovell Chen, 2020, part of the ANU Acton Campus Heritage Framework (Lovell Chen, 2020, part of the ANU Acton Campus Master Plan). For all but two of the buildings, we have completed heritage assessments.

In addition to addressing the hail damage, compliance upgrades have been undertaken for the roofs to meet current Australian Standards and the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as relevant. Roof sarking, insulation and safety mesh are being installed, and we worked with an hydraulic engineer to size downpipes and guttering appropriate to current standards.

We also liaised with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for the self-assessment process in relation to statutory approvals. Works are being undertaken progressively, and are due for completion in 2023.

The 2020 storm event caused extensive damage to University House, inside and out, necessitating roof replacement, facade works and internal refurbishment. As lead consultant and architect, we are collaborating with a team of consultants, the University and managing contractor Hindmarsh on a further phase to refurbish key public and event spaces for reopening in mid 2024.

University House was the first major building constructed at ANU, and was designed by Brian Lewis, prominent architect and Professor of Architecture at the University of Melbourne.

For the School of Art & Design building, we documented roof remediation works and stormwater upgrades to the original.