
Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) New Test Facilities
Client:
Department of Defence
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria
Approx. Value:
$5 million
Floor Area:
220 sqm
Status:
Built, 2013
Contact Person:
Ruth Wilson
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) New Test Facilities at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne supports the testing of fuel purification systems, aircraft and maritime engine fuel components, batteries, fuel cells, diesel engine systems, and hydrogen engine systems.
This new building replaced an existing test facility on the same site. The form and materiality of the DSTO-M New Test Facilities building has been heavily influenced by the existing building’s form. The roof form of the existing building is sharply pitched and slopes down to the east becoming the eastern elevation of the building. This merging of the roof and wall plane was interpreted in the new building’s form.
The roof wraps over the east and becomes the east wall. The existing corrugated metal cladding has been re-interpreted in the new building with a metallic square profiled cladding. Red brick, prevalent in the DSTO Fishermans Bend campus, is used in the facility as a linking element to existing campus architecture and heritage.
Due to the wide variety of testing that will take place, the services provided in and around the new building are highly technical and complex. The design of the spaces has been influenced by the layout of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fuel services.

Client:
Department of Defence
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria
Approx. Value:
$5 million
Floor Area:
220 sqm
Status:
Built, 2013
Contact Person:
Ruth Wilson