The world's heaviest capacity tower crane has begun lifting pieces of Powerhouse Parramatta's massive steel exoskeleton into place, marking a major milestone in the project.
The exoskeleton will be made up of more than 1300 individual pieces of steel, ranging up to 20m in height and giving a unique look to what is the biggest cultural infrastructure build since the Sydney Opera House.
The design ensures the 18,000sqm of museum space will be free of columns to create extraordinary exhibition experiences for visitors.
NSW Minister for the Arts John Graham said:
"Powerhouse Parramatta will be the largest museum in NSW and will set a new international benchmark for what contemporary museums can be for their communities and the contribution they make to industry and education."
"The construction of the museum will require about 12,000 tonnes of steel - triple the amount used to build the new Allianz Stadium. This is a big project and a big deal for the cultural scene in Western Sydney."
"The steel pieces for the exoskeleton are epic in scale. Their installation gives the museum the ability to create immersive exhibitions, host international exhibitions and show the museum's vast collection."
"Once complete, Powerhouse Parramatta is expected to bring 2 million visitors to Western Sydney each year."
NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"Powerhouse Parramatta will create over 4000 direct and indirect jobs across the project lifespan, with a target of 70% of the construction workforce to be drawn from Western Sydney."
"It is one of the first Australian projects to have the three state-of-the-art tower cranes powered by a renewable diesel fuel. This new fuel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% over the life cycle of the fuel compared to fossil diesel."
"The exoskeleton will not only be an impressive architectural feature but will also provide the necessary structural support to allow the museum's exhibition spaces to be entirely column-free."
Julia Finn, Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts and MP for Granville said:
"The construction of Powerhouse Parramatta is an important job creator for our communities in Western Sydney. The main works construction partner Lendlease has awarded $75 million in contract work to businesses in this area of Sydney."
"Once complete, the museum will be an important local employer but also keep the best artistic, creative and cultural talent from Western Sydney in Western Sydney."
Powerhouse Chief Executive, Lisa Havilah said:
"Powerhouse will be the greenest public building in the country and will have net zero operations from day 1 of opening."
"Designed by Moreau Kusunoki and Genton, this is one of the largest structural engineering and architecturally complex projects underway in Australia."
"We can't wait to begin welcoming our communities to this new cultural landmark."
Powerhouse Parramatta is on schedule for construction to be completed by late 2024. For more information visit Powerhouse Parramatta.
