The refurbishment of AMP’s 45 storey, 65,000m2 building was carried out over a number of stages and with multiple contracts, consistent with tenant relocations and market requirements. This major transformation of the 1970’s building, including extended lower floor plates and reconfigured foyer, was completed in 1993, with other works continuing till 2006.

Jeff Saunders was the contract administrator for these works and the project manager responsible for the majority of on floor refurbishment work as well as major services upgrade works carried out between 1990 and 2006. Typical floor works included new amenities and new office area finishes and building services throughout.

The works program also included significant tenancy co-ordination for relocating and incoming tenants throughout the building.

Separate works contracts included new BMCS and security services, lift refurbishment as well as whole of building fire service sub duct installation through occupied tenancies, required detailed planning and coordination.

The project was completed in 2006 to the satisfaction of AMP who continued the services of Jeff, concurrently on other projects.

Csaba Kaposi headed up the design and construction teams for the refurbishment of the Landmark Building’s lower levels, which was scheduled to take advantage of a new Sydney City LEP.

The stated objective was to reposition the building as ‘A’ Grade office space to attract a higher rental stream, including additional retail and commercial space on the lower levels. This was physically achieved through increased FSR utilising the colonnade and mezzanine floor space.

Integration with the adjoining premises, 363 George St, was necessary to deliver a precinct environment. Walkways linking Barrack St to the void space achieved the integrated space objective.

This project encountered many challenges that the team was required to overcome in order to achieve the project requirements successfully. Some of these challenges included:

• The removal of significant amounts of asbestos throughout 26 levels of the building while all adjacent levels remained occupied
• Full Lobby Upgrade
• Typical level refurbishment
• Complete Services upgrade and introduction of BMCS
• Completion of stages for major tenancies within very tight timeframes
• A highly sensitive industrial environment
• The liquidation of 2 major stone contractors at critical times in the project
• Overseas stone procurement challenges
• Project funding challenges
• Heritage considerations
• Maintaining high levels of tenancy through strong tenant interface skills