Brisbane City Council – Inala Library

Premis was engaged by Brisbane City Council (BCC), under a lump sum contract, to refurbish the dated Inala Library, turning it into a bright and colourful, modern community space.

Brisbane City Council libraries are well-loved community hubs used for learning, socialising, and connecting with the community. The Inala Library is located within the Inala Civic Centre and shares the tenancy with the Forest Lake Ward Office and the Community Hall.

The refurbishment plan was developed through feedback from library staff and customers. It is now a fit-for-purpose facility that meets the current needs of the local community.

The refurbishment included:

• Initial demolition of existing internal spaces within the library
• A new meeting room with capacity for more than 40 people including a kitchenette and audio-visual facilities
• Vibrant new spaces for children and young adults
• Upgraded seating and study areas
• New service and internet desks to meet current design standards
• Relocation of the library entry
• New self-service returns shelving
• New carpet, furniture, lighting and drinking fountain
• Upgraded ceiling in the entry corridor.

Construction was completed in time for the commencement of the new school year and involved the infilling of the bottom level of the new three-storey Learning Centre on the Primary Campus. This included the fit-out of ten new General Learning Areas (GLAs), breakout spaces, two kitchens, storerooms and a staff and meeting room.

Part of the build included the addition and installation of eight operable walls, allowing the space to be split into separate rooms or remain as one large open space – creating a much-needed flexible learning space.It was critical the school remained operational throughout the entire 12-week construction, and as always, the safety of staff and students was paramount to the process. Where required, in the interest of staff and student safety, work was performed on weekends.