Project Synopsis:
The NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta creates a humane low energy office environment with timeless modern architecture. The challenge was to design a SEDA 4 ½ star office building with 93% efficiency on the budget of a suburban office, and with the dignity of a state headquarters and the humanity of a new office environment. To maximise efficiency two unencumbered floor plates were located on the site following the street alignments. A detached lift and services core connects both floor plates. The exposed cores are clearly expressed. The buildings are clad in a glazed curtain wall with detached aluminium sunshades to minimise heat gain and reduce glare. The sunshades also act as light shelves to reflect natural light onto the ceiling of the office, allowing perimeter switching of artificial lighting. Low energy T5 lamps in single batten fixtures minimise energy consumption. Rainwater is collected and used for non-potable water throughout the building.

The podium contains the communal spaces which are organised along a double height linear boulevard. The boulevard is spatially defined by a two storey glass box containing meeting and seminar rooms. The cafeteria and lounge are contained in glazed enclosures and surrounded by extensive landscaping. A glazed screen on the corner of Charles and Little Streets defines the entry forecourt. It incorporates a significant public artwork by Regina Walters which abstracts DNA analysis to create a dynamic multi coloured graphic. The lobby glazing is designed to withstand a 28kpa bomb blast for security. The podium spaces are shaded by horizontal screens and incorporate natural ventilation in a mixed mode system. Warm natural materials (travertine and timber) are utilised to create a humane and relaxing hospitality environment. Detailing of podium and other elements recalls the curtain wall system.

Site and context
The site is in the south-east quadrant of the Parramatta CBD. At the commencement of construction the area was a low-rise residential neighborhood with the tallest building being 4 levels. Proximity to the Parramatta Central Railway Station has seen this area undergo a rapid transformation.

The site geometry is a trapezoid with a narrow frontage to Charles Street and a long frontage along the dead ended Little Street. An 'axe handle' block connects the site to Hassall Street on the south. To the west is the historic Lancer Barracks while to the north schools allow views towards the traditional CBD of Parramatta.

Objective
The NSW State Government policy is to increase the importance of regional city centres such as Parramatta within the Sydney metropolitan area. This policy is being achieved through focusing and upgrading public transport infrastructure and through the strategic relocation of government departments.

The relocation of the NSW Police Headquarters to Parramatta was part of this policy. It also involved the colocation of police from three separate buildings, resulting in significant rationalisation and efficiencies for the department.

A design, construct, own and operate tender was organised by the NSW Department of Commerce. The built scheme is the result of a winning tender against two other multinational companies.

Challenge
The brief was essentially in two parts: communal facilities and offices. The offices were to be arranged in neighborhoods, each comprising 416sqm. Each neighborhood contained the essential components for a team of people to work together. This area was however stripped to its essence and represented highly efficient space utilization. To compensate, communal facilities were provided on the ground level, the aim being to encourage interaction between teams and create a sense of common purpose. Thus the brief encouraged a highly efficient tower, with a generous podium and garden area.

The brief required 32,984sqm NLA while our site had a maximum Floor Space Area(including a 10% SEPP 1) of 35,594sqm, resulting in an efficiency of 93%. The site setbacks, height limit and trapezoidal site geometry represented further challenges.

The challenge was to design an efficient office building within these constraints, with the dignity of a State office building, the budget of an A Grade non CBD office and the humanity of a new headquarters where people will work around the clock.

In addition the brief required the building to achieve a 41/2 Star SEDA rating.

Architectural Concept
>Tower
The design evolved from the search for the most efficient accommodation of the neighborhoods in the office tower. An 'ideal' neighborhood layout was created using an efficient 8.1m x 12.15m structural grid to create a buildable and efficient module. Three 'ideal' neighborhoods were then connected to create an 'ideal' floor plate of 1250sqm. The 'ideal' floor plate was unencumbered by typical building core elements such as lifts, service risers, toilets etc.

Two 'ideal' floor plates were then located on the site 12m apart and at 900 to each other to accommodate the trapezoidal site geometry. The floor plates followed the alignments of the street boundaries, leaving a triangular geometry against the rear (angled) boundary. This space was used to create an interconnecting lift core to service both 'ideal' floor plates. Additional cores containing escape stairs and air handling plant rooms were attached to each 'ideal' floor plate, completing the architectural composition.

The two towers are of differing heights (12 and 15 levels) responding to the slope of the land and height limits while allowing the arrangement of differing Police Departments within the building.

>Podium
The towers were planned from the height limit down, resulting in two and three level space under the building for the entry and communal components of the brief.

The entry foyer is located on the corner of Charles and Little Streets. A three storey glazed screen, required by council to create a podium, defines an open forecourt to the building. Two tall black cylindrical revolving doors proud of the glazing announce entry to a state institution. The three storey entry lobby provides a secure grade foyer separated from the remainder of the podium. The lobby glazing is designed to withstand a 28kpa bomb blast for security. The steel columns add a stately strength to the space.

The upper levels of the podium contain the communal spaces required by the brief. These spaces are organised along a double height linear boulevard that runs the length of the site. The boulevard is spatially defined by a two storey glazed box that contains meeting and seminar rooms. The primary social spaces, the café and coffee lounge, are contained in glazed enclosures and surrounded by extensive landscaping and outdoor space.

The foyer and social spaces utilise warm natural materials (travertine and timber) to contrast with the predominant use of glass on the project, creating a humane and relaxing hospitality environment not seen before in government office environments.

Landscape and Outdoor Spaces
The design aim has been to create a variety of outdoor spaces that, while part of a spatial continuum, have their own individual expression. Alongside the foyer a subtropical garden, protected from direct summer sun by horizontal aluminium screens, creates a lush low-level landscape that provides a backdrop to the public artwork. This planting theme is continued along the northern (Little Street) boundary with vertical security screens alternating between exposing the planting to the external communal spaces and the street.

At boulevard level the indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to be visually continuous. Two outdoor seating areas are located adjacent to the cafeteria and lounge. These outdoor 'rooms' are subtly defined by horizontal aluminium canopies that provide users with shade and dappled light. The seating areas are connected by a central courtyard space located between the two tower structures. This formal space has been designed as a memorial courtyard for police officers killed in the line of duty. The symmetrical layout has four large trees with travertine benches for contemplation. The space focuses on a black granite reflection pond containing the names of officers who lost their lives.

The linear western courtyard has been designed with a 'garden' character. Tall trees with dense understorey planting define the western boundary, screening views and providing protection from the afternoon sun. The arrangement of benches and planters, along with a series of timber deck and turf squares within the space, extends the building's geometry onto the ground plane, creating a strong diagrammatic order. These elements define a series of more intimate spaces within the garden setting.

Structure, Materials, Construction and Services
An 8.1m x 12.15m post-tensioned band beam structure was utilised throughout the project to achieve economies of construction. The structural grid accommodated a 1350mm planning module in two directions in the tower and allowed efficient carparking in both directions without the need for any transfer structures. Only a single column was transferred to accommodate the loading area.

The primary enclosure is a unitised curtain wall consisting of insulated glass units and colour back spandrel panels with detached aluminium sunshading and light shelves. Exposed cores are clearly expressed with the jump form lift cores expressed differently from the precast panelised services cores. Detailing of podium and other elements recalls the curtain wall system, utilizing aluminium box sections and glass.

Environmental
Bates Smart together with Advanced Environmental Concepts has achieved a low energy office building which will set a benchmark for future government office buildings.

Energy
The developers have signed an agreement with SEDA to achieve 4½ star energy rating. To achieve this a number of energy saving measures have been incorporated into the design including building orientation and layout, solar control to the facades, natural ventilation to the podium spaces, low energy mechanical plant incorporating an economy cycle, low energy lighting with perimeter switching. In addition, the building incorporates water conservation measures and is located for ease of public transport to reduce car dependency.

Location
The site is in the south-east quadrant of the Parramatta CBD, within 400m of the railway station. Parramatta Rail Station is to be redeveloped as part of the new Chatswood to Parramatta line, making it an inter-modal transport interchange. Bicycle parking is provided in the basement with adjacent shower facilities.

Orientation and Design
The building is oriented with the majority of its facades to the north and east. The two unencumbered floor plates maximise the availability of natural light to all areas of the floor plate.

Solar control
The facades incorporate horizontal sunshades to minimise heat gain and reduce glare. There are two shades, a 150mm projection at the window head and a 600mm projection mounted 2200mm above the floor level. The second and larger projection shades the lower part of the window as well as acting as a light shelf to reflect natural light onto the ceiling of the office.

The podium has recessed glazed facades that are predominantly oriented to the north. Horizontal and vertical screens protect the podium glazing from solar heat gain. The coutyard glazing is shaded by the building form. Landscape has also been planned to assist with solar shading.

Lighting
The glazing consists of a double glazed unit with a green tinted performance glass incorporating a low E coating to minimise thermal heat gains. The glass has a visible light transmittance (VLT) of 42% and a natural colour rendition to minimise the distinction between indoor and outdoor lighting conditions.
The solar shades also act as light shelves that reflect natural light onto the ceiling of the office areas. This balances indoor and outdoor lighting levels reducing glare and allowing perimeter switching of electric lighting. The perimeter lights are on separate circuit and are connected to a light sensor which will automatically switch them off when there is sufficient ambient light. Low energy T5 lamps are used in single batten lights to create the most low energy lighting for the offices.

Natural ventilation
The podium spaces are a mixed mode ventilation system. Glass louvres are connected to the BMS for natural ventilation. Louvre locations and the interior planning maximise cross ventilation. The double and triple height spaces assist purging of internal heat loads by natural convection cooling. Shading to the podium spaces minimises heat gain.

Thermal mass
The podium spaces incorporate significant thermal mass to assist with thermal conditioning of the interior. Off form concrete columns and travertine floors provide thermal mass which naturally conditions surrounding air. Use of robust low maintenace materials has been maximised.

Mechanical ventilation
The mechanical system utilizes low energy plant, and incorporates an economy cycle which uses outside air when the ambient conditions permit. Economy cycle significantly reduces energy consumption (eliminating the use of chillers and condensers). It is estimated that the air conditioning can operate on economy cycle 25% of the year. The air handling plant is organized on a floor by floor basis to minimize energy use in the after hours operation mode.

Water conservation
Rain water is collected in a tank on the roof and used for non-potable water throughout the building. The design uses AAA rated water efficient fixtures.

Artwork
Incorporation of a public artwork within the project was a council condition. The aim was to create an artwork that was integral with and complimentary to the building and thus avoid the 'plop' art effect typical of many public art projects. The glazed screen defining the forecourt on the corner of Charles and Little Streets was determined to be the location for the artwork, creating a significant statement at the entry to the building. Five young western Sydney artists were invited to compete in a paid competition. The winning concept by Regina Walters uses an abstract representation of DNA analysis to create a dynamic multi coloured graphic that adds colour and definition to the street and entry foyer. The artwork is seamlessly integrated into the architecture of the glazed screen and was a genuine collaboration between the architects and the artist.

Contribution to Architectural Development
The NSW Police Headquarters creates a humane, low energy office environment with timeless modern architecture that will set a new benchmark for commercial office design in Western Sydney.

The building has been designed to achieve a 4½ star SEDA energy rating and has a number of energy saving measures incorporated into the design. These measures include sunshading to the curtain wall façade to minimise solar gain, light shelves to maximise the use of natural lighting, low energy lighting fixtures, floor-by-floor air handling plant and rainwater reuse.

The podium accommodates communal spaces that create an environment that simultaneously promotes interaction and provides intimacy within the workplace. These spaces are shaded by horizontal screens and incorporate automatic louvres for natural ventilation. External landscaping is designed as an integral extension of the interior spaces. Warm natural materials (travertine and timber) are juxtaposed against the cool glass and aluminium of the curtain wall to create a humane and relaxing hospitality environment.

The entry foyer is defined by a glazed screen that seamlessly integrates a significant public artwork into the architecture. The steel framed lobby glazing is designed to withstand a bomb blast, while simultaneously adding a stately strength to the triple height entry space.

Project Team
Client> Department of Commerce (formerly Department of Public Works and Services)
Tenant> NSW Police Service
Developer (pre-tender award)> Winten Property Group/ABN Amro
Developer (post-tender award)> ABN Amro/Multiplex Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd
Builder> Multiplex Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd
Architects and Interior Designers> Bates Smart Pty Ltd Structural> Hyder Consulting
Mechanical & Electrical> Lincolne Scott Pty Ltd
Hydraulic & Fire> LHO
Lifts> Norman Disney & Young
Lighting> Vision Design
BCA> City Plan Services
Environmental> Advanced Environmental Concepts Landscape Architect> Aspect Sydney
Access> Access Australia
Acoustics> Acoustic Logic
Town Planning> Hassell (DA), City Plan Services (Construction)
Cultural Planner> Guppy and Associates
Artist> Regina Walters
Facility Planning> StrategicFM
Council> Parramatta City Council

Design> July 2001- May 2003
Construction> December 2001-July 2003 (Stage 1) November 2003 (Stage 2)

Photographer> Sharrin Rees

Contact:
Bates Smart Pty Ltd
243 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
T +612 9380 F +612 9380 7280
syd@batessmart.com.au