Queensland Emergency Operations Centre
Napier & Blakeley are just completing their role as Quantity Surveyors on the new QEOC building at Kedron Park in Brisbane.
This world-class communications centre, the largest emergency operations centre in the southern hemisphere, enables best practice strategic response and planning for daily emergencies and incidents and coordinated disaster management for the Queensland Government.
The building was centre of attention in the recent South East Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi as it became the broadcast facility for regular bulletins by State Premier Anna Bligh and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The 14,500 m2 building uses green technology throughout and the project is designed to achieve a 5-star Green Star rating. Sustainable features include full water recycling, rainwater harvesting, low-energy lighting and on-site power generation. Information and communication technology forms a major part of the project and is one of the key elements in it achieving “world class facility” status. Continue reading
Don’t overlook the value of proactive maintenance
For many years, building owners have subscribed exclusively to the theory, if it aint broke, don’t fix it. This however can be an expensive mistake.
It is important to acknowledge that a building is an asset. As such, it needs to be protected and maintained to ensure that its value is not eroded.
To retain and attract tenants, your asset must be presented in the best possible condition, which in turn will maintain or increase its value.
Napier & Blakeley Building Consulting Manager, Nigel Towse says that if building maintenance is ignored, it can have significant consequences.
“There is a common misconception that buildings have long lives and only deteriorate gradually. This may be true for the more robust forms of structure. However even these can deteriorate rapidly with structural failure, environmental issues, chemical attack or the ingress of moisture.”
The health and well being of tenants is paramount in any leased asset and is heavily linked to how the building is maintained. There are basic, statutory obligations that require regular maintenance to be carried out to this end. In particular, cleaning, testing, and checking etc, of fire systems, boilers, lifts and hoists.
“By planning and carrying out your maintenance efficiently, you can minimise your capital expenditure. This will ensure that your asset is safe, economical, efficient, environmentally friendly, and retains its value,” says Towse.
