Australian Tax Office Headquarters : Architecture

ATO Headquarters - Australian Tax Office HQ, Canberra 2007 Cox Richardson Architects & Planners (The COX Group of Architects) Info from The COX Group Dec07: ATO Headquarters Project Address: Precinct B Section 84, Canberra, ACT Project & Design Director: Nick Tyrrell; Project Architect: Bill Luders Client: QIC Start Date: 2005 Finish Date: 2007 Project Budget: $65 million Work Undertaken: Design, Documentation + Partial construction phase services for Base Building Structure and Materials: Concrete frame + glass curtain wall. Zinc podium cladding + Aluminum sunshading Brief New 25,000m2 Headquarters for ATO Project Description The design of the Australian Tax Office Headquarters combines the civic character befitting a major government entity with a sensitive response to environmental and human concerns. This social agenda is addressed through visible environmental systems and the lightweight expression of the building skin, the warmth and tactility of materials, and the creation of an interactive workplace. The nine levels of office space are located above a separate multi-storey retail centre also designed by COX. Rather than interfering with retail flexibility, the office lift core starts above these retail levels. Entry to the building is therefore a journey by escalator through a dramatic sequence of atrium spaces, including at the four storey Galleria space on the first office level. The Galleria is the heart of the building and a focal point of interaction between ATO staff and the public, with projecting and freestanding meeting pods, staff facilities and informal lounges. Generous office floorplates of approximately 2,900m2 permit high levels of efficiency and fitout flexibility. Canberra’s weather fluctuates between very hot in summer and very cold in winter. The expressed façade systems have been tailored to block summer heat but allow access to warming sun in winter by incorporating fixed external sunshade louvres that vary in density and type in response to orientation. In addition to reducing energy loadings to a 4.5 star ABGR level this approach maximises tenant comfort on the perimeter and allows for more transparent glazing. Australian Tax Office HQ Canberra - Building Consultants Structural: AWT Mechanical: Hayden Electrical: Heyday Hydraulic: Hughes Trueman Environment: LL design Acoustic: Richard Heggie + Associates Access: Eric Martin