PROPERTY CENTRAL PROPERTY SERVICES 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Contents A message from the Executive Director A message from the Executive Director 1 Property Services had a very rewarding year in 2010. We completed several flagship refurbishment The Year of the Bike 2 projects that have opened to much acclaim. RMIT BikeScope survey has come full circle 2 University’s foundation building, the Francis Ormond Building, re-opened in August 2010 and the regal old Ride to Work Day: Why not every day? 2 building has come to life with sleek and contemporary Bike pod on the City campus 3 office and meeting spaces and a sprawling outdoor courtyard and café. The refurbishment also Completed projects in 2010 3 unearthed some original period details, restoring the It’s five green stars for the Frances Ormond Building 3 building to its original splendour. Emily McPherson Building is now open for Business 3 The Emily McPherson Building was opened for Semester 2, 2010 and is A new urban landmark 4 currently the home to the new Graduate School of Business and Law. This school was launched in late October by Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Giving the fine arts a lift 4 Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and is gaining momentum A well Advanced Manufacturing Precinct 4 as one of the most leading edge postgraduate education hubs in Australia. New escalators in Building 201 4 A new urban landmark for RMIT and the City of Melbourne also opened in New sports fields and athletics track 4 2010. Located on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets, the provocative “green brain” is the new atrium level for RMIT’s Building 22, Renewable energy, textiles and teeth 5 home to RMIT Info Corner and the International and Development Portfolio. A new lawn for the City campus 6 The green brain is a new multi-purpose venue for the University and can be Bundoora Lecture Theatre 6 used for conferences, seminars and social functions. The green brain is linked to the neighbouring, multiple award-winning Storey Hall. The new Work in progress 6 venue’s unique façade echoes the green penrose motif design which flanks The Design Hub is coming 6 the front of Storey Hall. Swanston Academic Building: a new era in education 7 The green brain was officially launched by Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne in November. School of Media and Communication - a new home 7 Property Services has been focussing on reducing RMIT University’s Bundoora West Pedestrian Spine 7 carbon footprint and carried out extensive work on environmentally Environmental sustainability 7 sustainable infrastructure upgrades. A chilled water plant on the Building 12 An illuminating hour of darkness 7 rooftop has been augmented to provide chilled water to the future Swanston Academic Building for air conditioning and will also cool RMIT’s got the (resource) smarts 8 neighbouring Buildings 16 and 22. The energy efficient chilled water plant Property Central database goes green 8 will reduce annual electricity consumption by around 12%, which equates to 665 tones of Co2. Campus Care Fund 8 Other achievements include the appointment of the main contractor for the 2010 BEIMs maintenance requests 9 Swanston Academic Building. Brookfield Multiplex took possession of the construction site, near the corner of Swanston and A’Beckett Streets, and works are well underway. While significant, these achievements are part of a much larger suite of activities and objectives that Property Services is managing and delivering. I invite you to read this report to gain a broader overview of our 2010 highlights and to receive a glimpse into Property Services’ developments for 2011. Darren McKee Executive Director, Property Services The Year of the Bike The data gathered from the audits indicate where bike riders Throughout 2010, Property Services played an instrumental role in prefer to park on campus. This information will enable RMIT to increasing the profile for bikes as a viable and environmentally make more informed decisions about where to provide future bike sustainable means of transport. A survey was conducted into the parking and what type of parking will be the most utilized by staff commuting habits of the RMIT community to determine why some and students. staff and students choose to ride their bikes to RMIT and others Survey participants were in the running to win an iPad or a $300 use public transport or drive to work. gift voucher from CBD Cycles. The Property Services Environment team also coordinated the The lucky winners were: annual Ride to Work Day, which attracted more than 100 bike » Dr Sarah Bekessy, Senior Lecturer with the School of Global riders this year. Staff and student bike riding enthusiasts made the Studies, Social Science and Planning. trip to RMIT on a wet Melbourne morning and were treated to a » Shefton Parker, Researcher and Clinical Acupuncturist with the healthy breakfast. School of Health Sciences. New bike facilities were also introduced on the City campus with Property Services managing the installation of a Bike pod; this facility contains of a shower and a change room for the University community and general public. The Bike Pod at RMIT is a shower and change facility and is only one of two in the Melbourne CBD. Pictured here is Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne who spoke at the Bike Pod launch. A secure bike cage is available in the carpark of Building 51 at 80-92 Victoria Street on the City campus. Ride to Work Day: Why not every day? BikeScope survey has come full cycle Wet weather did not stop more than 100 RMIT University staff and More than 1,300 of RMIT’s cyclists and aspiring cyclists swung student bike riders from cycling to work and enjoying a hearty into gear and completed the online BikeScope survey. The survey breakfast and camaraderie with fellow cyclists. was developed by Bicycle Victoria for RMIT and ran over a four They were participating in Ride to Work Day, an annual event that week period through late August and September in 2010. encourages people to forgo public transport and cars and hop on BikeScope was open to both staff and students and the results will their bikes to commute to work. Ride to Work Day also aims to be used to inform the development of a Bike Plan for RMIT. This encourage people to continue riding to work. will form the basis for a strategy to increase the number of people The program is run by the Bicycle Network in conjunction with who ride their bikes to work. state and territory cycling organisations across Australia. RMIT also commissioned Bicycle Victoria to carry out a bike audit The Property Services’ Environment Team organised the Ride to of the existing bike parking facilities across the City, Bundoora and Work Day event for RMIT which was sponsored by RMIT Human Brunswick campuses. Resources. The Pedal Pushers, the Student Union Bike Collective The audits took place in August and are designed to provide an that offers bike-related workshops and activities throughout the outline of RMIT’s existing bike parking facilities and to provide year, hosted the breakfast on Brunswick campus. some recommendations on ways to improve bike parking for the The organic muffins served at the breakfast were sourced from the University community. Student Union’s Real Foods, the fruit was acquired from Fruit Box Property Services’ Environment Team coordinated the survey and Jasper Coffee supplied free certified Fairtrade, organic and which is the first survey into bike facilities and staff and student shade-grown coffee. commuting habits that Bicycle Victoria has issued to an educational institution. The survey results showed that RMIT University is regarded as a place that supports cyclists. The survey results rate RMIT’s provision of bike riding facilities quite highly. While the results are encouraging, feedback also indicates that there is work to be done. Many survey respondents indicated that improved secure bike parking facilities was the most important factor to persuade them to become regular riders to RMIT. Other significant factors that respondents indicated would encourage them to start riding to RMIT or to become more regular riders, include enhanced locker and storage facilities and improved bike parking hoops. On the Bundoora and Brunswick campuses staff would like undercover bike parking while City campus staff have indicated Staff and students at the Ride to Work Day breakfast on the City campus. that more bike parking is required on Swanston Street. – 2 – Bike pod on the City campus lecture theatre. This is adorned with a timber-lined ceiling and Property Services’ Projects team facilitated the installation of a Gothic inspired windows. There is now a foyer and entrance into bike pod in the carpark of Building 51 on the City campus. the Council Chambers which is befitting of the grandeur of this venue. An intricate and organic carving by Melbourne sculptor The state of the art Bike Pod includes showers and change Robert Bridgewater has been installed on the wall just outside of facilities and is available to the RMIT community and general the Chamber’s entrance. public without the need for registration or access cards. To save water and to accommodate the morning rush of users, the Bike The Frances Ormond Building has also been opened up from Pod’s doors are on an auto-timer. within by the introduction of an open, glazed stairway and gallery. The stairwell overlooks the building’s north-facing wing that has The Bike Pod has been installed in close proximity to the secure been converted into a sunny courtyard, with chairs, tables and access bike cage, a free facility that is available to the University market umbrellas.