Geotechnical Work associated with the Construction of MONA

Delia Sidea

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a landmark development consisting of almost 10,000m2 of floor area over three levels and is cut into the side of a peninsular on the banks of the Derwent River in Tasmania.

The museum building includes an international standard exhibition space, gallery, theatre, administration and an art conservation area. It is integrated with the existing heritage listed Moorilla Estate house via an internal lift shaft and tunnel created by an extensive underpinning and excavation process.

At entry, an internal spiral staircase takes you 17 meters down the cliff to the main gallery. The sandstone cliff face exposed during the early works was plugged, bolted and pinned to form the 140m long northern wall. This is a visible feature within the completed museum building.

The museum cost is estimated at $75 million dollars and is privately funded by the owner, David Walsh. Unique combination of architecture, structural, civil, services, mining and geotechnical engineering practices to deliver an extraordinary building. Voted #1 in the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100 list in April 2011 as the “most awesome museum”.

The presentation will focus on the geotechnical input from planning through to completion and operation in the following stages:

  1. Input to planning services
  2. Geotechnical site investigations
  3. Shaft & tunnel design
  4. Retaining walls, bulk excavation and foundations
  5. Construction phase
  6. Risk assessments
  7. Wall inspections

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