Department of Optometry and Visual Science, University of Melbourne

The Department of Optometry and Visual Science (DOVS) Relocation project involves the relocation of several Faculty of MDHS’s departments including the Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Clinic and the re-allocation of space for physiotherapy and nursing into 200 Berkeley Street and Level one of 202 Berkeley Street.

Refurbishment works within 200 Berkeley St involves a whole of building upgrade include the replacement of all existing infrastructure to comply with current building code requirements and UoM standards. 202 Berkeley St involves whole of floor infrastructure upgrades to the north wing of the Triradiate Building to accommodate General Practice.

Due to portfolio wide capital program pressures DOVS Relocation is delivered under an accelerated programme and an Early Contract Involvement (ECI) framework. Intensive workshops with the design team and stakeholders occurred weekly to accelerate the design process. These sessions included blocking/stacking, stakeholder workshops, design documentation, tendering of separable portions and into delivery.

The Early Contract Involvement (ECI) framework is quite unique for refurbished buildings in the tertiary education sector and has provided the University with an agile procurement process primarily focused on delivering an accelerated design/construction programme to University stakeholders that is tailored to typology of the asset, space repurposing challenges, the programme, procurement and impact to the University community caused by constructing in a live environment.

The DOVS Relocation project forms part of the John Medley Bundle package of works.