Description

A community facility that values staff wellbeing and treats all occupants with dignity, while supporting complex operational and security requirements

The Belconnen Police Station in Canberra is co-located within the ACT Police headquarters. The building is designed to support the complex operational requirements for policing while creating a workplace that caters to people who are often exposed to high levels of stress. The building also serves an important civic function with amenities for the community, and is planned to accommodate these multiple functions without compromising security and protection for all occupants.

The Station contains uniformed police and detective facilities, operational control, holding area, interview and counselling areas, staff kitchen and amenities, operational car park, secure staff car park, and a community meeting room. Fundamentally, the design approach respects all users of the building, including visitors, volunteers, victims of crime, those in the holding area and members of the force.

The design creates a contemporary workplace that allows interaction, intelligence sharing, development of morale and esprit de corp. A private central courtyard opening out from the staff kitchen provides a central hub and refuge for officers. To ensure wellbeing in the workplace, the building is designed to maximise natural light to all areas, including holding cells.

The building is designed for longevity and sustainability, with advanced environmentally sustainable features for a 24/7 operational building. These include rainwater harvesting, sunscreens, solar panels and low-energy chilled beams.