MoAD Old Parliament House - Switchboard Upgrade

Client Manteena Security (Aust)
Canberra, ACT
- Canberra
Services
- Electrical Engineering
- Integrated Buildings
Sectors
- Commercial & Fitout (inc retail)
Value $1 Million

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Future-proofing power infrastructure in a nationally significant building through smart, staged delivery.

Project

Northrop was engaged by Manteena Security to provide design documentation and construction support for replacing the main switchboard at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) in Old Parliament House. The works included a detailed review of the existing switchboard and its power survey requirements to ensure compliance with current metering and switchboard standards. The design also allowed for future upgrades, including solar PV, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and boiler electrification where applicable. The project was recognised with the Industrial Small Project of the Year award at the 2024 National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) ACT Excellence Awards, awarded to Martin Donnelly Electrical Services.

Delivery

Working within a sensitive heritage environment, Northrop applied its understanding of the NCC and coordinated with other disciplines to deliver a compliant, practical solution. This included a structural assessment of the plinth and fire compartment requirements for the critical switchboard equipment. Leveraging relationships with contractors and switchboard manufacturers, the design incorporated state-of-the-art metering and circuit breakers. Collaboration with Heritage, MoAD, and Martin Donnelly Electrical Services enabled a carefully staged approach. Early identification of a potentially undersized neutral cable allowed Northrop to monitor current flow and confirm compliance without costly upgrades. The new switchboard fit within the existing plant room, minimising construction, maintaining uninterrupted operations, and reducing reliance on backup generators, delivering an efficient outcome for this nationally significant building.

Awards

Industrial Small Project of the Year award at the 2024 National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) ACT Excellence Awards, awarded to Martin Donnelly Electrical Services.