ASIO's New Central Office
Figure 1: Artist impression of the entrance to the ASIO New Central Office from Constitution Avenue
Overview
In October 2005 the Government agreed to the Taylor Review recommendation to increase ASIO’s staffing level to 1860 by 2010-11. As a consequence of this growth Government agreed that ASIO needed more adequate space and a new Central Office building was appropriate.
Five criteria were used to examine the options for a new Central Office.
- Capacity to locate all ASIO staff at a single location.
- Capacity to meet unique requirements including security measures.
- Capacity for future expansion – essential for a special-purpose building with a 50 to 80 year life.
- Proximity to the Australian Intelligence Community and other key partner agencies.
- Value for money for Government.
Section 49, Parkes was selected as the most suitable site – located on Commonwealth land between Constitution Avenue and Parkes Way, next to Anzac Park East and within the Parliamentary Triangle.
The Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) will manage the building project.
Figure 2: Rendered image of the entrance to the Central Office from Constitution Avenue
Progress to Date
Design Principles
Environmental Sustainability
Progress to Date
Figure 3: Artist impression of the Parkes Way elevation of the New Central Office building.
Excavation is scheduled to commence in July 2009 with staged occupation programmed for late 2012.
Finance lodged an Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Referral for the project on 20 March 2009. The EPBC Act is administered by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), and provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places. On 23 April 2009 the development received a Non-Controlled action meaning that the proposed works do not have any restrictions placed upon them, however should the proposed works be altered Finance will consider the EPBC implications and refer to DEWHA. The EPBC submission for
the project can be viewed on the DEWHA website. Please click on the below link.
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4814
Figure 4: Rendered image of the southern facade from Anzac Park East on Parkes Way.
The National Capital Authority (NCA) is responsible for assessing compliance and granting approval of the site development under the National Capital Plan (NCP). A staged works approval process has been agreed with the NCA. In August 2008 the NCA provided in-principle approval for the construction of a fit for purpose building on the site. Finance is maintaining close consultation with the NCA to ensure the design continues to comply with its requirements and that appropriate works approvals are obtained for all stages of the works.
The project Delivery Phase commenced on 24 November 2008 and involves the detailed design and construction of the building to achieve the occupation date of 2012.
In December 2007, a project office was established adjacent to Section 49, Parkes to accommodate government project officers, the managing contractor, project architect and design consultants.
The project Planning Phase was completed in late October 2008.
In December 2008, a secure project office was established adjacent to Section 49, Parkes to accommodate government project officers, the managing contractor, project architect and design consultants.
Bovis Lend Lease (BLL) was appointed as the Managing Contractor in August 2007.
GHD Pty Ltd was appointed to the role of Project Consultant in January 2007.
Design Principles
The concept design for the new Central Office building was developed in 2007-08. The building design will be in keeping with the National Capital Plan and the Griffin Legacy – under the guidance of the National Capital Authority – and include elements of environmentally sustainable design.
The building is being designed to meet ASIO’s needs well into the future. The concept design has been developed carefully to ensure the new building will take its place amongst Australia’s national institutions in Canberra.
The building is sited adjacent to the Defence Offices at Russell with vistas across Parkes Way and Lake Burley Griffin towards Parliament House. The secure perimeter of the site will be acheived using landscape elements that are sympathetic and consitent with the overall "building in a landscape" approach to the design, which is respectful to and enhances the public domain.
The project will be one of the largest construction projects in Canberra and will both directly and indirectly inject considerable employment opportunities into the Canberra region. The building will offer 40,000m2 of net lettable area comparable in size to the new Centrelink Building at Tuggeranong, while the new ATO Headquarters on "Section 84" Bunda Street and the Defence Buildings R1 and R2 are half as big again.
The new building will accommodate up to 1,800 people and operate 24 hours per day, with a level of security commensurate with ASIO’s intelligence functions. The building will include offices and open plan work areas, technical workshops, data centre, training areas and staff amenities.
The general office space will be designed to the current standard of Commonwealth agencies in Canberra. The office environment will offer natural light and other amenities to make the building an attractive workplace.
Figure 5: Location of the New Central Office as viewed from Mt. Ainslie looking out past Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House to the Brindabella Mountains.
The design of the new Central Office building and internal fitout are designed to comply with the following overarching principles:
Security
The building will be a high security facility which protects staff, operations and technologies.
The design and construction phases are to apply comprehensive security rules developed for the project.
Independence
The critical functions of the building must be able to continue operation irrespective of any failures in connectivity to external services.
Redundancy
The building’s critical services should provide redundancy that overcomes major failures of plant, equipment and services.
Flexibility
Solutions which best respond to multiple functional demands are favoured over more rigid design.
Durability
The base building, plant and equipment, fitout and formal areas should be designed with durable materials and equipment.
Quality
The building structure, its finishes and furnishings, and the environment should be of good quality consistent with the current standard of Commonwealth Government Agencies.
Function
Business functionality is to dictate the design of the building and fitout.
Modularity
Modular design is to be delivered where possible to enhance flexibility.
Inside Out Design
The building design is to be developed from the inside out - that is, the functional requirements of ASIO will drive the design rather than designing the building then fitting the functions within it.
Expansion
The building and fitout should be able to respond to change and growth.
Efficiency
A Whole of Life and ESD Plan has been developed for the project to guide the design team on the project’s ESD requirements.
Health
The building’s design and fitout should seek healthy solutions.
Natural light should penetrate the workspace to the full extent possible, air quality should be clean and consistent, and furniture should be ergonomically sound.
Energy Efficient
The building should be designed using principles of energy efficiency.
Environment Friendly
The building and fitout should seek environmentally sound and cost effective solutions that aid the protection of the environment.
Environmental Sustainability
The new Central Office project provides the Commonwealth with the opportunity to address environmentally sustainable development and design options in construction. The design will achieve a 5 star NABERS (Energy) rating for the Base Building. Achievement of this rating will involve a range of renewable energy sources and a variety of energy efficient fittings and finishes.
The environmental initiatives that are being explored include:
- Incorporating solar panels onto the roof to generate electricity;
- Providing air conditioning via an underfloor displacement system which will provide 100% fresh air at floor level for a healthier work environment;
- Harvesting storm water from the roof in submerged tanks that and will be used for the landscaping irrigation;
- Providing a western dual glass façade that incorporates an active ventilation system with roof level cavity venting. The vented cavity will remain open in summer to allow the heat to escape and be closed in winter to trap the heat providing insulation to the building;
- Provision of a glass façade incorporating automated external sun shades which will reduce the solar/heat gain and glare to the work areas; and
- Providing a waste management system that will separate out recyclables from general waste.
Wherever possible environmentally friendly products and finishes will be used in the design, as will energy and water saving fittings.
Figure 6: Location of the New Central Office as viewed from across Lake Burley Griffin with Mt. Ainslie in the background.