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Electrical

Electrical upgrades within operating retail centres present a distinct set of challenges.

Case Study

Electrical Upgrades in Live Retail Environments

Electrical upgrades within operating retail centres present a distinct set of challenges. Works must often be delivered within constrained plant spaces, coordinated around trading hours, and programmed to maintain continuity of supply to tenants and essential services. At the same time, upgrade projects can offer opportunities to improve capacity, resilience, and long‑term energy performance when approached holistically.

The St Ives Shopping Village project illustrates how BSE applies this approach, delivering critical electrical infrastructure upgrades while keeping the centre fully operational and enhancing overall system performance.

St Ives Shopping Village

  • 01

    Overview

    St Ives Shopping Village is a busy retail centre on Sydney’s North Shore, hosting a wide range of tenants and services that rely on continuous electrical supply. When the need arose to replace the centre’s ageing main switchboards, maintaining uninterrupted trading operations was a key requirement.

    BSE was engaged to design, tender, and project manage the replacement of two main switchboards within the live centre environment. A significant constraint was the site’s existing architecture, which did not allow for the construction of a new main switchroom. As a result, all upgrade works were required to be delivered within the existing switchroom footprint.

    Image of exterior courtesy of SISVNSW.

  • 02

    Managing Constraints and Continuity

    Working within the existing switchroom demanded a carefully staged replacement strategy. BSE developed a progressive changeover program that ensured continuity of supply to critical services and retail tenants throughout the upgrade. This approach required detailed planning, temporary supply arrangements, and close coordination with network operator Ausgrid to manage required substation shutdowns safely and efficiently.

    The constrained physical space, combined with the need to retain backup supply for essential systems, meant that sequencing and constructability were critical to the project’s success.

  • 03

    Adding Long‑Term Value

    To maximise the value of the upgrade works, the project also incorporated the integration of a 600 kWe rooftop solar photovoltaic system. Implementing the PV system as part of the switchboard upgrade allowed renewable generation to be embedded into the centre’s electrical infrastructure without additional disruption.

    The integration of on‑site generation improved energy efficiency, reduced reliance on grid‑supplied power, and provided long‑term operational benefits aligned with the centre’s future needs.

  • 04

    Outcome

    The switchboard replacement was delivered successfully without disruption to centre operations. The upgraded electrical infrastructure improved system reliability, increased capacity to support future tenant demand, and enhanced energy performance through integrated solar generation.

    This project demonstrates BSE’s capability to deliver complex electrical upgrades within live retail environments, resolving physical and operational constraints while achieving resilient, future‑focused outcomes.