255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick, ACT - Electrification

Client ACT Property Group (ACT Government)
Location Fyshwick, ACT
Services
- Electrical Engineering
- Hydraulic & Fire
- Mechanical Engineering
- Structural
Sectors
- Commercial & Fitout (inc retail)
- Upgrades, Audits, & Electrification
Contractor Monarch Building Solutions

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255 Canberra Avenue is a multi-tenant office building in Fyshwick housing five tenants, including the ACT Heritage Library with its sensitive collection storage requirements. Northrop provided feasibility and detailed design services for the building’s electrification upgrade, helping deliver a coordinated and future-ready solution focused on sustainability, resilience and operational continuity.

Partnership

Northrop partnered with our client, ACT Property Group, and Monarch Building Solutions to undertake a feasibility study and detailed design for the electrification of the ACT Property Group’s office building located at 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick. The site accommodates five tenants, including the ACT Heritage Library, which has specific climate control and security requirements due to the storage of valuable and sensitive collections.

Project

The study assessed options for converting the existing air-cooled chiller and gas fired boiler to an all-electric HVAC system. This included an assessment of the existing electrical infrastructure, and identification of electrification opportunities. The scope included a new 4 pipe heat pump to provide heating and cooling, replacement of the existing AHUs and ductwork, building fabric upgrades, replacement of the gas hot water system with an electric storage unit, solar panel integration, and the provision of EV charging stations — requiring detailed analysis and coordination across disciplines to ensure the solution met both operational and sustainability goals.

Key Challenges and Solutions

Limited plant room space
There was limited space in the existing rooftop plantroom to fit the new heat pump and associated pumps, switchboards and buffer tanks. The plantroom was scanned, and a 3D model produced to assist in the evaluation of layout options. Internal walls were removed to create more space. The fabric upgrade meant that the heating and cooling loads were reduced resulting in a reduction in the size of the heat pump.
In addition, the main switchroom was constrained to a cupboard, presenting challenges in upgrading it to meet current standards. In close collaboration with the contractor team, a solution was developed that avoided the need to upgrade the building footprint or existing conduiting, achieved through careful calculations and coordinated design.

EV charging
The introduction of a significant number of EV charging stations required careful planning to manage electrical demand. Due to the staged delivery of works, the EV infrastructure was installed by a separate party, creating challenges in integrating it with a new main switchboard operating under a constrained supply.
Northrop analysed historical energy consumption using utility bills and BMS trend logs, assessed existing substation and switchboard capacities to inform load management solutions, and incorporated solar generation forecasts into the demand management strategy. The electrical infrastructure was subsequently upgraded to accommodate the projected load, ensuring future readiness.

Structural constraints in the existing roof plantroom
The proposed electric heat pump system presented structural challenges due to weight and space limitations. Northrop’s structural team conducted a detailed assessment and collaborated with mechanical engineers to optimise plant layout. A buffer tank was strategically positioned near a load-bearing column and supported with additional structural elements to reinforce the existing roof.

Operational Requirements and Delivery

Protection of heritage library collections during works
The heritage library’s collection storage area required strict environmental control and minimal disruption. Northrop selected AHUs with enhanced sensitivity and assessed existing ductwork and ceiling services to avoid invasive works. A detailed construction strategy was documented to ensure dust and vibration risks were mitigated, and protection measures were clearly communicated to all contractors.

Northrop demonstrated exceptional technical capability in delivering a complex electrification project within a multi-tenant building with highly sensitive operational requirements.
James Ferguson
Director - Property, Infrastructure and Electrification | ACT Government

Impact

The electrification strategy sets a clear pathway for reducing the building’s operational carbon footprint while improving overall system efficiency and resilience. By upgrading the electrical infrastructure, integrating solar generation and enabling EV charging, the building is now better positioned to support future energy demands and evolving tenant needs. Importantly, these outcomes were achieved without compromising the strict environmental requirements of the ACT Heritage Library, ensuring the protection of valuable collections throughout the works. The project provides ACT Property Group with a scalable and future-ready asset, demonstrating how existing buildings can be thoughtfully transitioned to all-electric systems through careful planning and collaboration.

Images courtesy of Monarch Building Solutions