Workplace
HealthShare NSW Office, Chatswood
Recently completed consolidation and branding of office space for eHealth NSW setting a standard for future projects. Work included three floors of office refurbishment and fitout, three kitchens and one executive floor inclusive of a reception space and meeting rooms.
The design concept for the office space revolved around a central spine which was divided into three activity zones namely the ‘ideation hub’— conducive to idea making; the ‘precinct’— a collaboration area; and the ‘commons’— for individual focused work. Modular furniture and ceiling and floor finishes were used to successfully demarcate these zones. The design palette employed a variety of textures with soothing colours and geometric patterns.
Queanbeyan Courthouse
DEM was appointed as the lead design consultant to assist with the refurbishment of the Queanbeyan Courthouse which had undergone minimal alterations since it was constructed in 1976. The upgrade included full building services and audio visual and security services linked to the adjoining, newly completed Police Station. The external works included upgrade of the façade with a new contemporary design, provision of fully compliant DDA access and creation of a new jury assembly room and secure outdoor terrace.
As part of the design works a new formalised kit-of-parts was incorporated into the existing courthouse envelope. This included common public seating/waiting areas, registry office, judge’s chambers, office breakout areas, district and local court, NCAT rooms, conciliation rooms and jury assembly and mediation spaces.
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Liverpool
DEM was appointed by the Department of Justice to provide design services for relocation of the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) from
33 Moore Street to 35 Scott Street, Liverpool. The relocation provided an opportunity for spatial optimisation and improved security and AV infrastructure vital to the ongoing cohesive upgrade of NCAT sites within NSW. The new facility includes five conciliation rooms, three hearing rooms, registrars office space, highly secure office areas and sheriff, reception and secure amenities. The new NCAT facility was designed to accommodate a fluctuation of occupants from 15 staff to 200 staff + public combined.
Juvenile Justice, Surry Hills
DEM collaborated with the Department of Justice and Juvenile Justice on relocation of their offices from Kippax Street to Cooper Street. The initial schematic design layouts were developed through a series of stakeholder meetings and aimed to provide a space for youth which was relatable and broke away from traditional standards.
Light, ceiling and wall treatments were selected to provide a unified, robust design with a focus on scale of space to reinforce varying functions. The standard branding and finishes palettes were challenged by incorporating innovative colour and lighting to signify utilisation of space. In the initial stages, complex security requirements were integrated into the space planning to ensure that clear security was provided between the public reception/lounge/meeting areas and secure office and meeting spaces at back of house.
Department of Justice, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney
Following an evaluation of existing office accommodation, the Department of Justice identified a need to provide improved facilities for the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), which would meet their requirements well into the future. The Masonic Centre at 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney was selected as a prime office location based on its proximity to other government services and the NCAT head office.
DEM was commissioned to design and document the refurbishment of Levels 14 to 17 of the Centre, changing the use of the four floors from commercial to public use. Work encompassed the design of staff offices, conciliation rooms, hearing rooms, storage/ utilities and breakout facilities as well as a secure entry with reception and waiting areas.
Transgrid, Sydney
Transgrid is the owner, operator and manager of high voltage electricity transmission throughout NSW. Protection of the environment is a fundamental aspect associated with all Transgrid activities.
As part of the upgrade of Transgrid’s head office, DEM incorporated a range of environmentally sustainable design features such as water saving devices and environmentally sustainable materials, furniture and filing. Initiatives also included the introduction of energy efficient T5 light fittings with electronic ballasts, time and occupancy based lighting controls and consolidation of shared office equipment. The changes improved the energy efficiency performance of Transgrid’s tenancy and will reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (including 6% greenpower) to around 265 tonnes CO2pa, from 500 tonnes.
Ausgrid Learning Centre, Silverwater, Sydney
Ausgrid’s Learning Centre was the first project in Australia to be awarded both a 6 Star Green Star Education Design v1 certified rating and an As Built v1 certified rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
The 15,000m² campus-style centre provides a state-of-the-art education facility for one of the largest groups of apprentices in training in New South Wales. It incorporates a range of flexible teaching spaces including multipurpose classrooms, workshops, technical labs, research labs and an interactive library.
The sustainable design features incorporated in the Learning Centre have produced a building with approximately 60% less energy usage and 53% less water usage compared to a benchmark building.
Ku-ring-gai Council Building Refurbishment, Gordon
DEM was commissioned by Ku-ring-gai Council to design and document a new Council Chambers and offices over three floors adjacent to Council’s existing building on the Pacific Highway, Gordon. The design reflects a sense of place and history and draws upon geometric forms to create a cohesive yet multifaceted solution. The design also accommodates a range of services as well as workspaces that feature a high degree of flexibility. Workspace open plan areas were kept to the perimeter to maximise natural light to the office and breakout spaces. The selected finishes palette, with subtle bursts of natural colours, responds to the surrounding natural environment.
