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Powerhouse Castle Hill

Taylor was engaged by the Public Works Advisory to complete expansion works for the Museums Discovery Centre in Castle Hill. The expansion was an integral component of the Powerhouse Program and provides an important and significant cultural institution within The Hills Shire and surrounding community areas, as well as cementing the Discovery Centre’s position as a key pillar of the Powerhouse Museum.

The state-of-the-art facility is the new home for the storage, conservation, and display of the Powerhouse’s iconic collection. For the first time in the museums 140-year history, the entire collection, of more than half a million objects of national and international significance, is housed in the one location.

Division
Refurbishment & Live Environments

Client
Public Works Advisory

Location
Castle Hill, NSW

Value
$44 million

Status
Completed July 2023

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The building comprises flexible spaces for exhibitions, education and public programs, workshops, talks, and events, providing increased opportunities for skill-sharing and community connection. The expanded facilities also provide more opportunities for research and conservation work on the Powerhouse collection, with new working spaces for academic researchers, scientists and industry partners.

Powerhouse Castle Hill been constructed to international museum standards and features a visible store, allowing public viewing into the 3,000 sqm Large Object storage area that stores the museum’s transport collection. One of the southern hemisphere’s largest photographic cycloramas has been created that can carry objects up to 4 tonnes and enable the ongoing digitisation of the collection.

The existing Museums Discovery Centre remained open every weekend throughout the duration of the construction works, therefore, ensuring minimal disruption and public safety was key for the Taylor team. The team were also considerate of the operational needs of the adjacent Discovery Centre and Castle Hill TAFE Buildings, ensuring the safe management of existing services and uninterrupted supply to existing facilities was maintained.

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The world-class building enhances the site’s ability to protect valuable State, heritage and cultural assets in a secure, environmentally controlled and sustainable space.