Description

The School of Military Engineering (SME) provides training to the Australian Army’s Engineers in all aspects of military engineering including mobility and counter mobility tasks, general engineering, and geomatic engineering. SME is home to the Royal Australian Engineers Corps.

The Moorebank Units Relocation (MUR) project relocates the School and other Garrison support functions from Steele Barracks to nearby Holsworthy Barracks to enable the establishment of a joint Federal-State Intermodal Node Terminal (Logistics Centre) on the current Moorebank site.

BVN prepared a master plan for the comprehensive redevelopment of Holsworthy Barracks, including a new campus for SME. Other precincts include a Training Precinct for an Army Reserve Brigade, a Front Entry Precinct which includes Base Support and public functions, and a Recreation Precinct that includes a new Physical Fitness Complex and a large Combined Messing building for the entire Barracks.

The project scope include a significant Museum – the Australian Army Museum of Military Engineering, and a Chapel complex that is the spiritual home of the Engineer Corps.

The project incorporates the delivery of over 70 buildings across a broad range of types, including a new gym and pool, mess buildings, office accommodation, training and educational facilities, a chapel, military museum, living in accommodation (residential units), logistics stores, vehicle and trade workshops,  vehicle compounds, external training areas and a large lecture theatre.

BVN worked collaboratively with Laing O’Rourke to develop a rigorous and consistent architectural language, comprising glazed curtain walling, precast concrete panels, and a suite of prefabricated elements such as bathroom pods, to meet the extremely tight construction timeframe. The project reinvigorates the Barracks and establishes a new, contemporary architectural character.

The Australian Government’s Department of Defence project website can be found here.