Project Description:
The Downing Centre, one of New South Wales busiest courthouse complexes, was severely impacted by flooding on 17 June 2025 following a burst Sydney Water main beneath Castlereagh Street. The incident caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including the Ausgrid substation, mechanical services switchboards, and electrical and IT systems.
As a heritage-listed facility with over 40 courtrooms, the Downing Centre is essential to the state’s justice system, making rapid restoration critical. Flooding also caused structural impacts, requiring extensive remediation across plant and public areas, alongside refurbishment of internal spaces.
Kerfoot was engaged to upgrade and replace key electrical infrastructure, including Main Switchboards MSB-1 and MSB-2 and the Mechanical Services Switchboard. A new Main Switchboard room was also constructed, with Kerfoot responsible for installation, integration and commissioning across both new and existing plant areas.
Delivered under tight timeframes within a complex environment, the project was pivotal in restoring safe, reliable and compliant electrical infrastructure, enabling the timely reopening and continued operation of this critical public facility.
Specific items within the scope of this project were:
- Preparation and implementation of project-specific risk assessments, SWMS, and required permits
- Coordination of site access, inductions, security clearances, and compliance processes (including BGIS and HammerTech)
- Ongoing coordination with multiple trades and stakeholders within a live environment
- Provision of full-time site supervision and dedicated first aid resources
- Preparation of dilapidation reports and site establishment, including barricading, signage, and site readiness
- Management of service interruptions, isolations, and protection of existing services
- Supply, installation, and commissioning of two new Main Switchboards (MSB-1 and MSB-2)
- Replacement of existing MSBs and associated mechanical services switchboards
- Upgrade of electrical infrastructure, including MIMS cabling, half-sized neutrals, and XLPE/PVC cabling extensions
- Testing, commissioning, and recommissioning of all associated systems
- Labour management, logistics, and hoisting for major equipment installation
- Update of BGIS asset registers and installation of asset barcoding
- Completion of all associated electrical services and builder’s make-good works
- Management of complex mechanical, fire, hydraulic, BMS, and security scopes, including decommissioning, reinstallation, upgrades, and commissioning
- Installation of new submains, distribution board upgrades, VSD replacements, and mechanical system commissioning
- Implementation of passive fire protection, including fire sealing of all penetrations and provision of compliance reporting
Project Accolade:
- Rapidly mobilised following major flood damage, developing the methodology, preliminary design and tender submission within just 1.5 weeks.
- Delivered an integrated Design & Construct solution across electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and fire services under Kerfoot’s One Kerfoot model.
- Successfully completed design, procurement, construction and energisation within an accelerated 12–16 week programme, supporting the timely reopening of one of NSW’s busiest courthouse complexes.
- Engineered a compact switchroom solution to overcome severe spatial constraints, including the reconfiguration of Main Distribution Boards and custom-designed switchboards to suit the existing environment.
- Leveraged in-house switchboard manufacturing to reduce procurement lead times, improve quality control and provide greater flexibility throughout delivery.
- Successfully integrated new and existing infrastructure, including modified busduct systems, upgraded submains, BMS, HVAC, hydraulic and fire services, improving overall system resilience and maintainability.
- Managed the project as Head Contractor, providing a single point of accountability and coordinating multiple trades, shutdowns and critical changeovers within strict programme constraints.
