Kane was engaged under a Lump Sum contract to deliver the $45 million Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, a multi-award-winning, nine-level facility featuring a striking dome design constructed from glass-reinforced concrete.
The project, designed by the acclaimed ARM Architecture, commenced in December 2013. Positioned in the heart of Geelong, the new library and heritage centre replaced the old facility, built on the same footprint in Johnstone Park, while keeping the existing library operational throughout construction.
The facility is not only a modern library offering access to traditional printed collections but also serves as a state-of-the-art information hub, integrating the latest multimedia platforms. It plays a significant role as a community centre for the regional city of Geelong, enhancing both cultural and social engagement.
One of the building’s most iconic features is its distinctive dome façade, constructed from approximately 550 Glass Fibre Reinforced (GRC) panels, including convex hexagon and pentagonal shapes. These lightweight panels were manufactured off-site and mounted on a secondary steel sub-frame, which was then bolted to the primary steel structure, creating the building's signature dome-shaped roof and exterior.
The existing library and heritage centre remained operational during construction and Kane successfully delivered the complex project by late 2015, providing Geelong with a landmark building that reflects modern architectural innovation and serves as a key community and cultural hub.
