Full project details
Laing O’Rourke has led the first phase of CSIRO’s activities to bring its Canberra staff together at high-quality, modern facilities at the Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park. The facilities are tailor-made for one of world’s largest and most diverse research agencies.
The ACT Site Consolidation Project – part of CSIRO’s 20-year master plan – involves Laing O’Rourke designing and constructing 15,000 square metres of modern, purpose-built laboratory, research and administration building; a re-fit of existing laboratory space to office accommodation; a new car park; associated demolition; infrastructure upgrades and diversions; and landscaping.
Staff from Campbell, Yarralumla, Acton, Crace and Canberra City sites have been relocated to modern facilities at Black Mountain, improving flexibility and encouraging collaboration within CSIRO and between CSIRO and its many collaborators.
Innovative whole-of-life efficiencies
The modern purpose-built facilities at Black Mountain are both efficient and sustainable, while also bringing staff back together in one location.
To illustrate the efficient and sustainable solutions, a combination of mixed mode ventilation, thermal storage tanks and exposed services and building structure has been integrated into the new building. This efficient and sustainable solution provides optimised heating and cooling, airflow and plant and equipment life within the office environment.
Experiential user testing
An Experience Centre was built and operated for three months, allowing staff and researchers to view a range of open plan working, retreat, collaboration options and configurations.
The outputs incorporated into the final design included a range of retreat spaces, adjacent to open plan offices, where formal or impromptu meetings could be held, phones calls taken, or quiet work completed along with finalised agreement on finishes and workstation specifications.