ARA completes medical centre retrofit

ARA Group, an Australian-owned company providing industrial, commercial and infrastructure services, has completed a major ‘turnkey retrofit’ project for a medical centre in Mt Druitt, NSW.

The group was approached by ShopSmart Medical to develop a new healthcare centre that would offer a range of integrated, patient-centred medical services referred by medical specialists and allied health professionals.

After several months of negotiations, ARA was awarded the contract for the complete construction and fit-out, including all accompanying services required for the project. ARA Building was the principal contractor for the project, responsible for the coordination and supervision of the seven ARA Group divisions’ services as well as liaising with the client for the project and medical tenants.

In May 2016, ARA started with an empty shell containing just four external walls, an empty ceiling cavity and floor slab. The site works commenced with the demolition of the perimeter walls and removal of 100 linear metres of existing slab.

This project required specific design controls and specialised building precision to achieve the requirements for each medical tenant. For example, the X-ray rooms featured specialised lead-lined plasterboard walls, doors/door jambs and lead glass windows to confine the radiation exposure within the room.

Through its fit-out company, ARA Building transformed the complete interior fit-out of the complex from the specified interior design to the supply and installation of all building services. All essential services and products were provided by the seven ARA Group divisions, namely ARA Manufacture (steel and polycarbonate motorised roller shutters); ARA Distribution (specialty hardware, locks and master keying systems to all doors); ARA Electrical (power reticulation, lighting, data, main switchboards, submain reticulation); ARA Mechanical (VRF multi air-conditioning system and building automation); ARA Fire (sprinklers, smoke detection units, hydrant units, all pipe work was fabricated; ARA Security (CCTV, alarm and access control).

Image courtesy of ARA Group