Centre
of
Excellence

MIT TechPark is a purpose-built facility with the latest technology and innovations to ensure quality training for engineering and trades. With trades varying from automotive and engineering to building and plumbing, their racking requirements are both diverse and highly specific.

Scope

TechPark brings all the institute’s trades and engineering schools under one roof for the first time since MIT was founded almost 50 years ago. With trades varying from automative and engineering to building and plumbing, their racking requirements are both diverse and highly specific.

Challenge

MIT required a racking solution that addressed both the current and future needs for housing the unique equipment required for each trade. It was equally important that the highest quality of products were used that could handle the rigours of hands on training and that could be adapted as the needs of the campus change. PRS was awarded with undertaking the pallet racking design, supply, installation and consent for the $60 million new campus.

Solution

The PRS team worked closely with MIT to understand exactly how each facility would be using the new campus. Attention to detail was paramount to design a solution that was  both fit for purpose and safe. The design team developed a clear understanding of the building layout, what equipment and resources needed to be housed and how these would be used.

Specialised racking solutions were implemented to suit the needs of each department. This included tyre racking for the mechanical trades, galvanised cantilever racking to store timber and overlength products outside for building trades and Longspan racking to house the general stores.

With thousands of students and teachers moving through the campus on a daily basis it was crucial to understand how this traffic would flow to ensure everyone was kept safe in this interactive environment. Pedestrian barriers were installed to keep students moving safely through the facility and to achieve a safe distance between the state of the art equipment and those using the campus. Safety mesh was installed behind the racking to protect those work spaces on the other side and keep everything securely in place.

In depth planning was required for timing of the staged installations to ensure tight deadlines were met for the opening of the facility. This was especially important to achieve cohesion with the multitude of other contractors on site so as not to hold each other up. Each stage of the consenting process was kept in check with producer statements completed throughout the process to ensure pallet racking building compliance was completed and final council consent obtained in time for the opening. 

Products Used

pallet racking
longspan
cantilever
wire mesh shelves
anti collapse mesh
pedestrian barriers
forklift barriers
tyre racking

“The PRS team were awarded the contract for TechPark’s racking in a very competitive market. We have been exceedingly happy with Antony Straka and his team, they have gone above and beyond in accommodating the fluid nature of this project and still bringing the project in on budget. Their input has been most valued and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a racking solution.”

Neill Laurenson – TechPark Programme Manager