Doutta Galla

Total Special Projects completed an interior refurbishment of four Doutta Galla aged care residences – Kensington, Avondale Heights, Grantham Green and Sunshine.
The scope across all residences included the refurbishment of communal living areas, rooms, commercial kitchens and the relocation of staff stations.

The scope for the Avondale Heights residence included the refurbishment of their café and hairdressing salon and an extension to the Dementia Wing dining area.
It is relatively easy to cordon off the work areas – the challenge was in getting materials delivered through a live common area and in not creating undue stress to the residents. Our approach was to have steel beams cut into pieces and conveyed via trolley through the communal living areas at specific times agreed in advance with the facility staff. This simplistic approach reduced disruptions to residents.

As these residences were all operational during construction, engaging in forward planning and programming was crucial to ensure the success of the renovations. Only two bedrooms were renovated at one time, as completion was required within twelve working days. Many ensuite bathrooms had been exposed to past water damage and building movement, adding an additional challenge to the tight turnaround required from the team.

Although project documentation was incomplete, it was critical to begin construction immediately. Total Special Projects extensive experience in the aged care sector and knowledge of industry standards allowed the project to begin quickly and develop a forward plan early on.