George Thompson Building (Building 55)

RMIT’s future Advanced Manufacturing Precinct

• Address
• Project overview
• Project update
• Project timeline
• Consultants
• News

Address

58 Cardigan Street, Carlton

Project overview

In response to five years’ worth of industry consultations, RMIT is establishing an Advanced Manufacturing Precinct to deliver practical industry skills training for the design, development, production, marketing and management processes of the advanced manufacturing sectors.

The George Thompson Building will house the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct. The building’s existing facilities will be renovated and will also be extended by an additional level

The Advanced Manufacturing Precinct will:

• Provide “real-life” industry training in high-level skills and para professional areas identified by the advanced manufacturing industry as skills shortage areas
• Deliver cross-disciplinary training to meet industry needs in engineering and advanced manufacturing technologies, applied design, development, production, marketing and management.
• Provide training that will be aligned with design research to be undertaken at the University’s future Design Hub, and mechanical manufacturing and aerospace engineering on the Bundoora campus.
• Develop opportunities for new and innovative product development in manufacturing through co-location of applied design and advanced manufacturing specialisations
• Foster co-operation and joint ventures between industry and training providers and make facilities available to other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
• Be a “test bed” for new products and processes.
• Provide rapid prototyping, manufacturing and computer integrated manufacturing, which includes automation, systems integration, computer numerically controlled manufacturing and testing of products and materials

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund (TLCF) for Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Project update

Date	Comments
November 2010	Project completion
October 2010	Commissioning of building
September 2010	Installation of energy monitoring equipment
June 2010	Purchase of Green funding equipment
April – November 2010	Construction
March 2010	Demolition complete
January 2010	Builder (Probuild Constructions) commence on site
September 2009 – January 2010	The main contractor, Probuild, has been appointed. Construction works commenced on Wednesday, 27 January.
August 2009	The signoff of the Design Development for the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct has been signed off and the main contractor tender documentation is being prepared.
July 2009	RMIT University will receive $8.35 million from the Australian Government’s Training Infrastructure Investment for Tomorrow (TIIFT), which forms part of the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training. One million dollars of these funds will be committed to interactive energy performance metering, interpretive screen-based equipment and significant energy and natural resource reduction installations for both training and efficiencies for the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct. The Advanced Manufacturing Precinct was also officially launched by Victorian Skills and Workforce Participation Minister, Jacinta Allan.
April 2009	The schematic designs for the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct have been presented to the Campus Development Committee (CDC) and have been formally approved. The Design Development phase of the project will follow.
September 2008	Detailed briefing with key stakeholders has taken place and a concept brief for the future Advanced Manufacturing precinct has been completed. The functional brief will then be developed jointly between the appointed architects and the briefing consultants. A consultant is expected to be appointed in November 2008. A schematic design report will be completed in early 2009 with design documentation completed in late June 2009.

Project timeline

Work begins	Late 2009
Work ends	November, 2010

Consultants

RMIT Project Manager	Rocky De Pace and Melissa McGloughlin (Montlaur)
Manager, Client Relations	Julian Holdsworth-Smith
Architect	H2O
Main Contractor	ProBuild

News

	Open for all RMIT University's three Melbourne campuses - in the City, Brunswick and Bundoora - welcomed 38,000 visitors at Open Day this year. 20/08/2012
	RMIT reports strong financial results RMIT University, Australia's largest tertiary institution, recorded a surplus of $55.6 million in 2011. 19/04/2012
	Manufacturing precinct impresses Prime Minister Prime Minister Julia Gillard has praised RMIT University's $15 million Advanced Manufacturing Precinct. 06/02/2012
	Industry award supports life-changing research Bringing mobility to amputees and paralysis or stroke victims is a key goal for Manufacturing Skills Australia's Innovation Award winner, Dr Gita Pendharkar. 20/01/2012
	New manufacturing process adds up RMIT University academics are looking at the use of selective laser melting equipment to make small but expensive titanium-based components. 14/11/2011
	Minister opens Advanced Manufacturing Precinct The Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade, Richard Dalla-Riva, has opened RMIT University's Advanced Manufacturing Precinct. 17/06/2011
	Hybrid solar light saves up to 75 per cent of energy Australia's first commercial hybrid solar lighting technology has been commissioned at RMIT University's Advanced Manufacturing Precinct as part of the City of Melbourne's 1200 Buildings Program . 23/05/2011
	Minister launches Advanced Manufacturing Precinct RMIT University’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct at the George Thompson Building (B55) was officially launched this week by Victorian Skills and Workforce Participation Minister, Jacinta Allan. 31/07/2009
	$8.35m advanced manufacturing and green-skills boost RMIT University will receive $8.35 million from the Australian Government’s Training Infrastructure Investment for Tomorrow (TIIFT). 03/07/2009

Melbourne Conference Unit (Melbourne)
Press Conference, Wednesday, 19 November, 10am

Part of a speech given at the premises of Thales, Melbourne World Trade Centre. Premier Brumby discusses his government's statement on industry. He discusses the statement's $27.8 million global action plan to encourage exports by Victorian business. The Premier says that central to the statement's aims is a $50 million two-year transition fund that will assist companies move into more innovative products and services. He also outlines plans for an advanced manufacturing precinct at RMIT. The Premier concludes by commending the work of today's host, the Thales company and its export initiatives in the field of air traffic management.

[Next: Gallery 1: Architect’s digital image]