A building emerges from the scaffolding

I haven't posted photos for s few weeks because most of the obvious progress on the building has been inside. And this progress has been significant. For example:

• Carpetting up to level 4
• Furniture being installed
• Level 7 (last floor) walls completed and fit-out well advanced
• Kitchens and built-in items largely installed
• All major services (e.g Air conditioning) virtually completed

Outside the building progress is also good.

• Balcony rails and awnings are being installed
• All the facade finishes are well advanced
• The acoustic screen on Anzac Parade is now being installed

Up to this stage, the outside of the building has been shrouded by the scaffolding; but as it is being slowly removed the beauty and scale of the building are obvious. I have received numerous comments from varied sources about just how good the building looks (well done Lipman and AJC). In the next few weeks the scaffolding will be completely down and the building's quality will be clearer.

The good news is that we are on track for completion before Christmas this year. Our first resident will arrive on January 5th 2009.

Here are some recent images.

Above: Northern elevation viewed from NIDA

Above: Eastern elevation, the acoustic screen is now being installed

Above: The north-eastern elevation from Anzac Parade

Above: Partial view of a studio Kitchenette (sink, cooktop, fridge, microwave)

Above: Bathroom fittings (all 316 bedrooms have a bathroom like this)

A building emerges from the scaffolding

Fit-out well on the way

We are within 12 weeks of completion of the New College Village. Progress has been good on all fronts. Only Level 7 has significant work to be done with most walls completed and services well advanced. On lower floors the extent of the fit-out varies with elevation. Levels 1 and 2 are almost complete with carpet laying to commence in apartments and studios soon. Most kitchens are now fitted up to Level 4 and painting is well advanced on lower levels. Tiling to bathrooms is completed to Level 3 and underway up to Level 6. The rooftop services are also well advanced with air conditioning and hot water units currently being installed. External finishes are also well advanced with all three surface types under way. The photos below give some sense of the progress to date. We expect completion by the 20th December and our first guests by the 5th January 2009.

Above: View of the southern Level 3 corridor

Above: One of the apartment shared kitchens nearing completion

Above: Services being installed on the roof with the city skyline in the distance

Fit-out well on the way

Latest Shots

Above: View of the building from Anzac Parade

Lipman is still making good progress on the New College Village. As previously reported the structure is completed. As well:

* Internal walls are now completed for all floors
* Most gyproc internal walls are completed
* Tiling of bathrooms and most fittings are completed to level 1
* Tiling is under way on levels 2 & 3
* Windows are installed to Level 6
* The installation of elevators is well advanced
* Most electrical, mechanical and haudraulic services are finished to Level 7
* External surface finishing is well progressed
* Sealing of the roof is close to completion

Above: Shot from the top of the L5 building

Above: Waterproofing the roof slab

Above: Shot of the northern facade from NIDA

Above: The kitchenettes are being installed in the studios

Latest Shots

The Village Reaches the 6th Floor

Above: View of the structure from the UNSW L5 building (opposite New College)

Progress continues to be excellent and the structure is now completed up to the 6th floor. Work has commenced on the 7th floor slab floor and so we are within about 2-3 weeks of seeing the structure completed. The key milestones continue to be met for completion by December.

There has been other good progress in addition to the structure:

• The external wall finishes have started
• Internal walls are well advanced on Levels 1 and 2 and have commenced on Level 3
• First floor windows are being fitted and walls are being lined on Level 1
• Electrical, hydraulic and mechanical services are also well advanced on Levels 1 to 3
• Level 4 has also been stripped ready for internal walls to commence
• Work has also commenced on the foundations for the glass screen on the Anzac Parade facade

Above: View of the NCV from NIDA (Southern facade)

The building has now developed quite a presence in the area and can be seen for some distance. Views from the upper floors are also impressive with the city skyline (and even Anzac Bridge) visible from the Northern side of the building and Botany Bay visible to the south.

Above: Views to the west from the 6th Floor

The Village Reaches the 6th Floor

At the half way mark!

Yesterday we reached the halfway mark with the structure. The second half of the fourth floor slab was laid and the walls for half of Level 4 have been erected. In fact, if you include the basement we are well past halfway and the structure is growing one storey each 13 days. We expect the final floor of the structure to be completed by mid-July.

The central courtyard will (I suspect) be one of the key sites for social interaction in the Village. It will be the site of Friday afternoon BBQs that Carmen and I intend to host. While it is currently used to store materials, it will eventually have a raised lawn and garden, a BBQ area and wireless access to the Internet.

At the more micro level, it has also been exciting to see the services beginning with plumbing well underway. We will also see the first windows installed this week and Level 1 will soon be completely stripped ready for full fit-out.

At the half way mark!