Shellharbour Council Workplace

The Shellharbour Council Workplace is part of the Shellharbour Civic Hub, a new cultural heart of the NSW Illawarra region which incorporates a plaza and public library, a 350-seat auditorium and museum space, community rooms, local council chambers, offices and service centre, 170 car parking spaces and a workplace for 230 council staff.

Designed as an activity-based environment, the workplace layout is a six meter zone wrapped around the perimeter of the building with excellent daylight. The core of the floor plate consists of all meeting rooms, breakout areas and service spaces.

Awards

2020 Winner, Public Domain, Good Design Awards
2019 Winner, Public Architecture Award, Australian Institute of Architects (NSW)
2019 Winner, Australian Library and Information Association

Location: Dharawal Country
Shellharbour, New South Wales
Client: Shellharbour Council
Year: 2019
Collaborators: Lacoste + Stevenson
Project Contact: Richard Does
Photography: Sandor Duzs
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The lift core and grand stair are attached to the outside of the floor plate and are naturally ventilated, reducing energy consumption. The air conditioned workplace comes with operable windows for natural ventilation and ceiling fans for personal control and comfort, reducing energy consumption throughout.

Occupying a steep site between commercial and residential zones, the award-winning building has a complex curved roof structure that mediates the different street alignments and contours, and extends shading around its perimeter. The exterior is comprised of three main material groups. The gabion wall clad base reflects the nearby escarpment in shape and material. Vertical timber sun shades used for the ground floor library and public spaces reflects the forest. The building form housing administration services emerges above a wave-like roof reflecting both the surf and the fluidity clouds in the sky.