Project details: 

APP helps La Trobe University build New Cancer Research Facility

La Trobe University is a research leader in the areas of molecular science, biotechnology and nanotechnology, and is finding treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases. To support this work a new $100m facility is being developed: the Institute of Molecular Science, with Commonwealth support of $85.8m.

This is La Trobe’s largest investment in research and teaching facilities, and represents a 30% expansion for the molecular sciences. The project will deliver a new 11,000m2, 6 level teaching-research building, a major upgrade of the 6,000m2, 4 level Physical Sciences building, and the development of a new, specialised, pathogen-free facility.

Construction commenced in 2011, and APP has made major contributions including bringing forward forecast completion by 6 months, ready for the start of the 2013 academic year through diligent review and cleverly recasting the existing project master programme – and tailoring the design and construct delivery method.

APP presented different scenarios for all suitable delivery models, and highlighted the different completion dates of each solution. Further, APP tightened the design process, reducing the time required before tender. Finally, APP managed the contracts to ensure that all tenderers knew of the client’s requirements for quality and timing.

La Trobe University has commended APP for its work in bringing the project forward, and laying the foundations to assure that the completed project will be a quality result.