Heart of the arts The Melbourne Arts Precinct is one of the world’s great arts and culture destinations, hosting around 3,000 performances and exhibitions annually. The A.G. Coombs Group is proud to have performed a leading role at the heart of the precinct for well over 20 years, including the replacement of the large Arts Centre central energy plant in 1999, the major refurbishment of the iconic National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in 2003, the major refurbishment of Hamer Hall in 2012 together with maintenance and other technical support services. Founded in 1861, the NGV is the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia holding a vast collection of over 78,000 precious artworks. Originally constructed in 1968, the NGV International building on St Kilda Road – together with The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square – host a wide range of events from contemporary art to major international exhibitions. Adjacent to NGV International is the Arts Centre Melbourne Theatres Building with its iconic spire. Since 1984, world-class performance spaces including the State Theatre and Hamer Hall have welcomed thousands of patrons. It is also home to four resident companies – The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl outdoor concert venue is also managed by Arts Centre Melbourne. The Melbourne Arts Precinct is currently undergoing further change with the construction of The Fox: NGV Contemporary and significant upgrades to the Arts Centre Melbourne’s theatres building. The expertise of the A.G. Coombs Group is involved in the early works and is part of the day-to-day operations at the NGV International and Arts Centre Melbourne. A.G. Coombs Service delivers the maintenance of specialist electrical services at the Arts Centre Melbourne under a service agreement with the Victorian Arts Centre Trust.
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The full-time presence of experienced A.G. Coombs technicians helps ensure continuity of service, reliability and safety of electrical systems including general lighting, exit/emergency lighting and electrical infrastructure. This work ensures appropriate conditions are met in performance spaces, as well as providing safe and comfortable environments for audiences to enjoy. A.G. Coombs technicians have also for many years provided pro-bono support to the annual Carols by Candlelight at the Music Bowl. Sharing over 20 years of experience at the precinct, A.G. Coombs personnel work closely with the client’s in-house facility management team to schedule maintenance and repairs around performances to avoid disruption to operations, while also supporting after-hours events on site as facilities team representatives. Walker Fire Protection has worked alongside this team to deliver fire services maintenance across the precinct since early 2023. “A.G. Coombs Service and Walker Fire Protection perform an integral role in the operation of Arts Centre Melbourne and understand the complex nature and function of our spaces,” says Jim Grayson, Manager of Engineering Services at Arts Centre Melbourne. A.G. Coombs Service also delivers mechanical services maintenance for the NGV International, ensuring reliability of systems serving spaces such as galleries and back-of-house where temperature and humidity conditions are critical to the display and conservation of artworks. A.G. Coombs has also carried out the fire mode testing continuously since 2003. Walker Fire Protection delivers fire services testing and maintenance, including essential safety measures (ESM) management, to the facility. Calling on the experience of a contract management, operations and technician
Building Efficiency
team that share many years working within the precinct, Walker Fire Protection are well aware of the sensitivity associated with the gallery spaces and the collections at the NGV. “We pride ourselves in maintaining the NGV to the highest standards and ensuring a world-class visitor experience, and both Walker Fire Protection and A.G. Coombs Service are valuable and trusted members of our team,” says Tony Henshaw, Facilities Manager at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Recital recollections As well as being associated with a number of major redevelopments in the Melbourne Arts Precinct over the last 20 plus years, A.G. Coombs has also had a role in the construction of new venues including the Melbourne Recital Centre and Southbank Theatre. Since opening in 2009, the Recital Centre has become world-renowned for its acoustic performance thanks, in large part, to the careful design, construction and commissioning of building services and noise control by A.G. Coombs Projects and A.G. Coombs Advisory.
CULTURE 2023-2024
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