After 20 years in their existing facility, Guide Dogs Queensland recognised they needed a major renovation of their breeding centre. The existing site didn’t have enough space for puppy exercise and training, and the building footprint was too small to accommodate necessary onsite specialised services such as veterinary care. Upgrading the centre would provide the dogs with the best possible start in life, with more space devoted to their development and enrichment activities which are instrumental in their Guide Dog training.

DMA designed the hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and fire services for refurbishment, working as part of the Therian team and alongside builders, Bedford Built. Our work scope on the project included:

• Schematic design documentation.
• Detailed design documentation for building approval.
• Construction documentation.
• Services during construction.
• Practical completion documentation.

Some of the features of our design included:

• Hydraulic services: we designed a reticulated high-pressure line throughout the facility from a small Gerni plant to each dog run room for low level wash-down connection points and automatic top up for dog watering bowls.

• Electrical services: we designed and documented the power, data, lighting and security in the project. We assessed the existing electrical infrastructure and advised the client on what was safe to reuse. Our electrical design was thoughtfully dog and animal friendly and the mounting height and durability of services was purposely designed to avoid dogs coming into contact with it.

• Mechanical services: we provided recommendations regarding the various types of systems available that would fit in the available space and provided solutions for sound and odour control within the dog facility.

A key client concern was ensuring they could continue to operate at the existing facility during the build. As a result of working in such close collaboration with Therian and Bedford Built, we were able to design the building services so the existing site could remain operational while the refurbishment was under construction. This ensured Guide Dogs Queensland’s operations weren’t impeded by the refurbishment project, and they were able to continue to deliver their services without incident. By taking existing services into account while completing the refurbishment, we were also able to deliver cost benefits and a reduced construction time. The new capabilities we introduced like the self-replenishing water bowls and multiple wash down connection points will increase efficiencies, saving Guide Dog Queensland staff time, providing them with peace of mind and freeing up resources to focus on the main business – breeding Guide Dogs to help improve the quality of life for many deserving people.