Details
12,241m² GFA - Buildings
11,630m² GFA - Shelters
2ha - Site Area
Description
RAAF Base Amberley, situated in South East Queensland, is the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest base. A main component of the Stage 2 Redevelopment project included the relocation of two army units to RAAF Base Amberley: 9th Force Support Battalion from diverse locations in Sydney, Townsville and Puckapunyal, and 21 Construction Squadron from Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Brisbane.
The project involved the delivery of over 30 individual buildings in the two major precincts. Facilities include offices, centralised training facilities, workshops and Q stores, extensive vehicle shelters, deployment areas and carparking, and area fuel and wash facilities.
The development of environmentally sensitive models for the new facilities responds to the Army’s strong ESD agenda and the desire of the personnel to work in accommodation capable of operating with either air conditioning or natural ventilation dependent on the prevailing climatic conditions. Extensive research and modelling has been undertaken with environmental engineers to ascertain the most appropriate designs for all buildings and many innovative features are incorporated to facilitate efficient functioning.
The relocation of 21 Construction Squadron was deleted from the project scope during the design stage, but was masterplanned to integrate in future with 9 FSB. It was delivered as a separate project in 2008-09.
Location
Awards
RAIA QLD Commendation
RAIA QLD Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Brief Elements
- Working accommodation
- Centralised training facilities
- Workshops and Q stores
- Extensive vehicle shelters
- Deployment areas and carparking
- Area fuel and wash facilities
- Squadron aid post
Summary
- Delivery of over 30 buildings across a 1.5ha site to stringent Defence requirements and within budget
- Benchmark set for a new and cohesive precinct through 9FSB relocation
- Precinct planning designed to optimise exposure to prevailing breezes and access, reflect hierarchical command and relationship to vehicle compounds
- Tight precinct planning to reduce the development footprint
- Efficient buildings with uniform structure, simple cost effective materials