Adelaide, South Australia
The Higher Degree Research (HDR) Facility Upgrade at Flinders University modernised research environments across multiple campus buildings, creating contemporary spaces that better support postgraduate researchers, academic staff and collaborative research. Delivered by Mykra, the refurbishment included architectural improvements, electrical and hydraulic services upgrades, and new furniture, fittings and equipment (FF&E), enhancing functionality, accessibility and flexibility while supporting the University’s commitment to high-quality teaching and research environments.
Dewick & Associates prepared the comprehensive Flinders University-formatted Building Handover Manual, delivering an organised, compliant and user-friendly reference to support the ongoing operation, maintenance and lifecycle management of the upgraded facilities.
By Louise Gardner
Credit: Generated with AI / Flinders University Bedford Park Campus.
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Mykra is a South Australian commercial construction company with extensive experience delivering refurbishment, fit-out and construction projects across the education, government, healthcare, commercial and community sectors. The company has built a strong reputation for successfully delivering projects within occupied environments, carefully coordinating construction activities to minimise disruption to building users while maintaining quality, safety and programme certainty. Education projects form a significant part of Mykra’s portfolio, with experience across universities, schools and vocational education facilities.
For the Higher Degree Research Facility Upgrade, Mykra coordinated multiple trade packages including architectural works, electrical services, hydraulic services and FF&E to deliver contemporary research spaces that will support Flinders University’s postgraduate research community for years to come.
Refurbishment projects within operational university campuses require more than the coordination of multiple trades. They demand meticulous documentation that captures every stage of the project while supporting the ongoing management of complex building assets.
The Higher Degree Research Facility Upgrade generated a significant volume of information across architectural, electrical, hydraulic and FF&E packages, including compliance certificates, environmental records, technical literature, warranties and as-installed drawings. Ensuring this information was complete, accurate and presented in a logical format was essential for the University’s Facilities Management team.
Education facilities are also subject to rigorous legislative and technical requirements. Building documentation must support compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC), applicable Australian Standards, the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) and manufacturer maintenance requirements, while providing a clear record of installed systems for future maintenance, refurbishment and asset management. Educational facilities in South Australia are also expected to meet relevant government design standards relating to accessibility, safety, sustainability and building performance.
Producing a Builders Manual that not only collated project information but also reflected these regulatory obligations was critical to delivering a successful handover.
Drawing on decades of experience delivering construction documentation for education, healthcare, government and commercial projects, Dewick & Associates developed a comprehensive Builders Handover Manual that supported both the immediate handover requirements and the long-term management of Flinders University’s upgraded research facilities.
The project was managed by a dedicated Client Coordinator, who acted as the single point of contact throughout the documentation process. Working closely with Mykra, subcontractors and the University’s project team, they coordinated information requests, monitored documentation progress and ensured all required deliverables were received, reviewed and issued in accordance with the project programme.
Supporting this process was nucleus, Dewick & Associates’ bespoke online project portal. nucleus provided a centralised platform for collecting, tracking and managing project documentation across multiple trades, giving the project team real-time visibility of outstanding information, document status and approvals. This streamlined document control reduced administrative effort, improved collaboration and ensured a transparent handover process from construction through to completion.
Once documentation had been received, our experienced Technical Writers undertook a detailed quality assurance review, verifying that the information was project-specific, technically accurate and aligned with contractual requirements. Compliance certificates, as-installed drawings, manufacturer literature, warranties, operating procedures and preventative maintenance schedules were carefully reviewed, organised and authored into a structured Builders Handover Manual that supports the ongoing operation of the facility.
Importantly, our approach extends beyond document compilation. Dewick & Associates understands the regulatory environment that governs Australia’s built assets and the role accurate handover documentation plays in supporting compliance throughout a building’s lifecycle. By producing documentation aligned with the requirements of the NCC, relevant Australian Standards and South Australian legislative obligations, we help building owners meet their ongoing responsibilities for safe operation, planned maintenance and asset management.
The completed Builders Handover Manual provides Flinders University with a comprehensive and well-structured handover resource that supports the ongoing operation of its Higher Degree Research facilities. Facilities management teams can quickly access compliance records, technical information, maintenance procedures, warranties and as-installed documentation, improving efficiency when undertaking routine maintenance, future refurbishments or asset planning.
By delivering accurate, quality-assured documentation, Dewick & Associates helped ensure the University’s investment is supported by reliable building information that will continue to add value long after project completion.
Building on the success of previous projects at Flinders University, Dewick & Associates secured additional work at the Bedford Park Campus for the Flinders Living Bathrooms project. Working alongside builder MYKRA, the project team compiled a comprehensive Building Handover Manual completed in February 2026. This technical documentation covers the extensive refurbishment and modernisation of bathroom facilities, specifically serving Units 09 through 18 within the Deirdre Jordan Village to ensure seamless long-term maintenance and operational efficiency.
The content in this case study has been informed by project documentation and client communication provided to Dewick & Associates during and following the completion of the project. Where external sources have contributed to our understanding of relevant standards or industry practice, these are listed below.
Generated with AI / Flinders University Bedford Park Campus.
Note: Some content in this case study draws on a combination of sources rather than direct quotation. Where this is the case, contributing sources are acknowledged above rather than cited inline.
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