Under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) arrangement, Kingston Building partnered with Whiteley to transform its Tomago facility into a world-class manufacturing plant for the production of hospital-grade hand sanitiser and other therapeutic goods.

The project commenced with the demolition of the existing office building and the internal strip-out of the warehouse before the construction of a new two-storey office facility. The new office incorporates multiple private offices, an open-plan workspace accommodating up to 20 workstations, a boardroom, hot desk and breakout areas, together with a feature timber and glass staircase, passenger lift, two kitchens, a communications room, and modern staff amenities.

Within the existing industrial building, Kingston constructed a new two-storey manufacturing facility designed to meet the stringent requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The manufacturing areas include four laboratories, a bunded mixing tank area, filling stations, clean equipment storage, a dispensary, pallet wrapping facilities, and a 1,000m² warehouse complete with pallet racking and an internal mezzanine plant room housing the mechanical services.

The project required the successful delivery of a highly specialised manufacturing environment with strict compliance, hygiene, and safety requirements. Comprehensive site-specific hazard studies were undertaken to ensure mechanical zoning and pressurisation systems prevented the mixing of hazardous gases. Anti-static finishes, including specialised flooring systems and SteriGuard coatings, were incorporated throughout the facility to eliminate ignition risks and maintain safe operating conditions.

Construction methodologies were carefully tailored to satisfy the demanding performance standards of the facility. Bondor insulated panels were selected in place of traditional plasterboard to provide sterile, dust-resistant surfaces while improving construction efficiency. Detailed design eliminated dust-trapping ledges to support cleanroom compliance, while an innovative rotating handrail system was developed to safely facilitate the installation and future maintenance of mechanical plant within the mezzanine level. A 250 kg, two-hour fire-rated viewing window was installed using a purpose-designed winching system, avoiding the need for wall-washing sprinkler systems. High-efficiency HEPA filtration systems were also integrated throughout the manufacturing areas to maintain cleanroom air quality and protect both the manufacturing process and facility personnel.

The completed facility provides Whiteley with a state-of-the-art manufacturing environment that meets the rigorous standards required for therapeutic goods production. Through early contractor involvement, technical expertise, and close collaboration with the client and project stakeholders, Kingston Building successfully delivered a highly specialised industrial facility that demonstrates its capability to undertake complex pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing projects.

Awarded at the 2025 MBA Newcastle Excellence In Building Awards: Extensions, Renovations & Refurbishments Over $8m