Australian Capital Territory
Located at the Duntroon Military Area in the inner-city suburb of Campbell west of Canberra Civic precinct, the ACT Health Centre (ACTHC) is a part of the first phase of the Australia Defence Force Joint Health Command Program and provides healthcare for ADF members within the Barracks and in Canberra generally.
To create a restorative environment the building design is understated, with a palette of muted and earthy tones that reflect the local environment. Simple texture and repetitive building elements articulate the facilities mass with shadow and relief, creating a façade with a sense of depth and dynamism.
The ACTHC is intuitive and welcoming, with continuous access to natural light and external landscaping relief areas. Waiting areas and courtyard spaces are private where staff and patients can relax and convalesce, whilst treatment spaces are designed to be flexible and multipurpose and aim to reduce the stigma surround mental health services.
The ambition of the Joint Health Command Garrison Facilities Upgrade project is to update and rationalise the provision of health services to Australian Defence Force members on all bases across Australia. The principles of efficiency, flexibility and robustness are fundamental to the brief, calling for varied facilities of a common prototype that are readily expandable to cater to potential changes in future service demand.
ACT Health Centre forms one of a series of health centres delivered and Jacobs design strategy has been proven to artistically and efficiently answer the brief while elegantly accommodating the varying site conditions across the portfolio.
Aurecon Group, Project Manager and Contract Administrator
B.E.S Consultants Pty Ltd, Civil Consultant
Destravis Group, Health Planner
Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, Services Consultant
Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, Structural Engineer
Millar Merrigan, Landscape Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
