View from across the lake

Built along one side of Canberra's "Parliamentary triangle", this complex of government offices is designed to house separate but related Federal Trade departments with a working population of 3000 people.

The different departments required separate entry-identities and easy communication between their offices. The requirement for universally flexible office space resulted in a system of 16 m wide connected 5 storey wings joined by circular vertical access cores, creating two open courtyards between them.

Uses not readily accommodated in the column-free office wings are housed in separate free-standing buildings placed in the landscaped courtyards (theatre, cafeteria, etc).

A systematised repetitive structural- constructional scheme dominates the architectural concept; only three precast prestressed elements construct the office floors; a 26 m long facade beam (with recessed continuous windows between them); a 16 m span 1.5 m wide "floor plank" and a 1.5 m long column element, erected by means of moving crane gantries. The prestressing anchorages are visible on the exterior by their stainless steel caps.

Facade with long-span precast beams

Plan showing open floors and circular access and services cores

Moveable gantries lifting precast facade and floor elements