Commonwealth Agency Accommodation Program
Drawing on our many years of experience managing government infrastructure and property programs, our project management team has delivered new purpose-built office space for staff from a Commonwealth agency.
Challenge
With the restructure and merger of several large Australian federal government departments, the Commonwealth required additional office space to accommodate the new agency.
Engaged as project manager and contract administrator, our expert team of consultants was appointed to lead the project to accommodate the staff of a diverse new government department.
The accommodation program included consolidating the numerous office environments, managing the procurement process for four new sites, and coordinating the renovation and fit-out of the offices with consideration of stringent security and sustainable design requirements.
Solution
During the planning and delivery phase a solution was developed with the assistant of Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn (DJAS) and their subconsultants, to rejuvenate two office precincts with the latest advancements in government office design and a consistent architectural style. The vision for the four buildings was to create an interconnected precinct providing high security zones, specialist laboratories, critical operation centres, and high-quality office space. Across the four years of construction from early 2017 to late 2020 our project managers have successfully navigated two Machinery of Government changes, built strong relationships with three head contractors and dozens of consultants, worked under four separate Agreement for Lease (AFL) contracts, and delivered a coherent fit out design to each building.
Our team balanced the design requirements to multiple divisions across a multi-year project and successfully navigated the impact of a major government project. Providing flexibility and adaptability to workspaces and appropriate security controls without large scale physical re-design of facilities to support operational requirements and meet the priorities of the Commonwealth Agency with minimal disruption and cost.
Highlighted fit out elements include:
- Secure and security rated buildings
- office space with a six-star National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)upgrades to all mechanical, fire, hydraulics and electrical systems
- new communications system
- open plan office space with ergonomic workstations, collaboration spaces with integrated IT and AV capabilities, and executive office spaces with detailed joinery, and acoustically treated walls and ceilings
- multi-function meeting rooms with flexible furniture options, operable walls, and detailed joinery with integrated IT and AV capabilities
- central breakout areas on each floor featuring detailed joinery with integrated white goods and banquette seating, and flexible furniture options
- detailed architecture including snake lighting, lobby joinery and reception counter with integrated building control function
- new training suites with multipurpose rooms designed to accommodate a range of training activities
- base building upgrades including lift upgrades, end of trip facilities and car park access.
Project Management Achievement Awards
- ACT Chapter - Construction/Engineering project winner, Australian Institute of Project Management Achievement Award 2021 Project Management Achievement Awards