CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS WATER AUTHORITY
This project provided a new
corporate headquarters and laboratory facilities for Central
Highlands Water (formerly Ballarat Water Board).
The new Wendouree headquarters of
the now corporatised Central Highlands Water Authority was designed
to a Ballarat Water Board brief for a simple building with a public
presence.
The Demaine solution was to
create a 4,000 sq m single level building and a 1,000 sq m workshop
on a site with capacity for extensions. The site was sloping and
included a large pit, which contained rubbish, car bodies and
stagnant water. The pit was retained, cleaned, filled, and now
provides a water feature at the building entrance.
The building features a series of
pavilions linked through a central reception area which also
operates as a promotions and education facility.
A simple steel frame construction
was used with fill-in panels at the perimeter comprising
double-glazed high performance glass, sitting above metal-faced
sandwich panels.
Circular column casings around
the structural steel form a colonnade of classical elegance, both
externally and internally.
Wide eaves are incorporated to
foster an energy efficient environment. The building form is
complemented with landscaping using native grasses and the
rejuvenated water feature.
The open plan interior and low
height screens allow all staff a view of windows.
| Client |
Central
Highlands Water |
| Building Area |
4000
square metres |
| Location |
Wendouree, Ballarat |
View across water
feature
Detail of
facade
Interior
View
Back
| 
