Kane Constructions was appointed in late 2017 to deliver the new Penguin Parade Visitor Centre located on Phillip Island, Victoria.
The new 5,000m2 building has been designed with high levels of architectural finish including a complex roof and façade geometry comprising composite glue-laminated timber, steel and concrete with a zinc shingle façade.
The Kane team utilised in-house expertise in Building Information Modelling (BIM) to address coordination of building services, production of shop drawings and the maximisation of off-site pre-fabrication to ensure efficiencies, which minimised the impact to the highly sensitive environment.
Construction works for the new visitor centre occurred in a dynamic and environmentally significant location, being only 300 meters from the ocean and surrounded by penguin habitat. Strict environmental controls were implemented to mitigate impacts on the local penguin population as well as the other significant species that inhabit the area.
The project included significant civil works consisting of new site drainage and on-grade car parks as well as major landscaping.
Construction works were coordinated to allow for the existing facility to remain operational to the 3,000+ nightly visitors.
The new visitor centre was delivered in July 2019.
The existing visitor centre was demolished, and the reclaimed land has been rehabilitated into new penguin habitat.