Two major renovations of historic buildings operated by Launceston Council have won different sections at the Master Builders Tasmania Excellence Awards in 2011.
For the heritage listed renovation section, Darcon Constructions won for its work in upgrading the Albert Hall, while Vos Construction and Joinery won the renovation over $1 million section for its work on the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
Launceston City Council Mayor Albert van Zetten congratulated both both companies for the high quality of their work.
"The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and the Albert Hall are two of our city’s iconic buildings and it is vital that they are maintained and improved for future generations to enjoy," he said.
At Albert Hall, which is a 1800s listed building, the project involved lowering the original main stage by 600 millimetres without disturbing the original fabric of the stage; installing a new lift for disabled access; relocating a goods lift and reconstructing change rooms under the main stage.
In its work for the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Vos Construction has transformed a building to become a contemporary cultural centre by removing some of the many previous alterations to this building, including a 1960s make over, and exposing the original heritage features.
