What's Happening in Cannington, WA…

The new $428 million Western Australia Museum project is creating great interest from design and construction firms from around the world.

While early works are already underway in Welshpool, Western Australia, where the museum’s Collections and Research Centre – which hosts 4.5 million specimens – is receiving major improvements, a decision is yet to be made on the successful managing contractor for the construction of the new museum in Perth.

WA Arts Minister John Day said three major firms had now been shortlisted to undertake the work, and all came with highly regarded credentials.

He said the three consortia vying for the contract included prestigious Pritzker Prize for Architecture winners Rem Koolhaas, architect Jean Nouvel from France, and London’s Norman Foster.

Day said each of the winners is part of top design and construction teams, and all three consortia would now work closely on their new museum design proposals with the WA government.

Printing services are expected to be at a premium as government officials study the extensive design details to ensure state requirements are met.

Ongoing public input into the WA Museum project has been established through the creation of four community panels.

Day said a key focus of the museum, which is expected to be completed by 2020, was to put people first.

He said a decision on which consortia would be appointed to build the structure would be made later in the year.