October 1st RDO

1st October RDO-10.30am

James took me through on my request.
Signed on with my hat, gloves and hiviz.
Jamie took me to the top and we worked our way down.

Its been 3-4 weeks since I've been through 880 and the progress is noticeable.  I've avoided going near the site as it's been highly focused. One feels turning up as a tourist interrupts their flow and right now flow is essential.

The project is at the business end, with plant and equipment landing, sheets of plaster in doubles and triples are being fixed in place. The lifts are installed and duct work is lying around. Elevated work platforms are on each floor in groups of two and three.

Most impressive is the Oculus (gee I hope that's how it's spelt).
It presents like a planet and offers a great aspect to Sturt St looking south toward the Habitat Filter. 

The Habitat Filter

The room is cavernous, suspended on springs with a moat around the circumference where ventilation and services are ducted. The balcony is high and airy. The Sturt st walls have portholes and the whole room will be lined with strawberry blond timber panels.

Wheels on wheels in room G12.

 Since I was last out and about the windows were not in place. I believe there was frenzied activity to make it happen before the Southbank Boulevard project sopped the the flow of traffic in the street. On the exterior above the Occulus, around the Music studio the walls will be burnished with reflective copper laced glass. 

On the exterior roof above the Music workshop (room 313), reflecting South outside Studio 2-(room 513 on the 5th level.  

 Air handling units have been installed on the roof plant-room where the viewing is sensational. 

The Roof and the View

 On the west along Sturt street the 'eyebrow' hangs on its plinth, bolted in place from which a lidded view is possible.

The Eyebrow

The Lend Lease crane swings in the breeze on its rostered day off. It has been working hard, dawn to dusk when able to get trucks to feed its massive appetite for work.

Blowing in the Breeze

James explained for me the cost and pace of the build. The building sports comprehensive acoustic treatments before anyone plays a note in its many space interior. This is one reason the cost per square meter would keep me awash with beer for years to come. The other reason relates to how the spaces inter-relate through the nine layers making the build an incremental process with many set-ups and set-downs.

Adam Briscomb