Upgrading systems in a listed building

Old Perth Boys School

Constructed in 1854, the Old Perth Boys' School was the first purpose-built public school in Perth. Designed by Richard Roach Jewell in Gothic Revival Style, the school remained in use as an educational facility for over 130 years. However, this single-storey limestone building with its steeply pitched roof and narrow, vertical buildings was transitioning into an office space, and it needed restored and updated services.

As a listed building, all works had to be undertaken without harming any elements of heritage significance. Our job? Contributing mechanical, electrical, acoustic, and sustainability design services.

The air conditioning system had to allow for uninsulated roofs and solid limestone walls—plus, the location and limited space restricted opportunities for condenser plants. The selected unit was a variable refrigerant volume system with floor-mounted console units that provided air conditioning with an external condensing unit hidden below ground level. Filtered outside air is drawn through underfloor ducting and is delivered directly to each floor-mounted console unit, encroaching as little as possible on the heritage building. Services that also required upgrading included fire detection, fibre backbone cabling, and emergency warning systems.

With these updates in place, the Old Perth Boys' School can continue as a utilised heritage of face space, servicing a new community of wake.