Introduction
A total of 17 Information Hubs have been deployed throughout Melbourne's CBD as a result of 'joint venture' between Optus and Melbourne city council. TCI's role in the project was to broker the deal between the two parties, incorporate Optus' requirements into the final design, and project manage the installation and incorporation of the associated services of each Information Hub. As a result of, Melbourne City Council won the 'Joseph Reed Award' from the Royal Institute of Architects under the category of Urban Design.
          
History
TCI was initially commissioned by Optus to provide Site Acquisition, Environmental and Design (SAE&D) services for 35 potential minicell locations throughout the Melbourne CBD. The minicells were required to enhance capacity for footpath and on street mobile phone users. The optimum location was on the street corners. TCI approached the Melbourne City Council to field possibilities, and was partnered with a council project which was already on the drawing board.

Design
The Information Hub design required bill posters to be housed, along with interactive touch screen technology to allow users to obtain tourist advice and to purchase tickets for sporting and entertainment events. Optus required it's communication equipment to be housed and to have a dual inline antenna at an approximate height of 6m. Council was tasked with the architectural and overall design and TCI was tasked with incorporating communications equipment, power meters, krone panel, foundation and earthing details to the design.

Many challenges were required to be overcome due to the stringent OH&S requirements of the power and telco authorities and the Optus maintenance staff. This required the power meter and telcom krone panel to be placed at head height and the Optus equipment accessible via fold-away ladder rails and anchor points.

Acquisition
TCI brokered the terms of agreement, culminating into a 20-year lease between Melbourne City Council and Optus.

Project Management and Construction
Optus had set a tight schedule for the deployment and integration of the minicell units into its network. Again, many challenges were faced and were overcome with meticulous planning and management.

The provision of power and telcoms to each site on time was a major accomplishment. Authorities are notoriously slow in providing services. TCI liaised with the authorities, and formed professional relationships which enabled these services to be expedited. The presence of exist services under the footpath and the location of the foundations with regards to traffic lights all had to be individually assessed. In some instances a new location was sought once excavation had begun. Several footing designs were adopted to account for the existing services in the ground. All excavations were conducted by hand to avoid accidental damage to existing services.