
Land Warfare Training Centre
Client:
Grocon
Location:
Watsonia, VIC
Approx. Value:
$6 million
Floor Area:
1600 sqm
Status:
Built, 2007
Contact Person:
Ruth Wilson
Architectus was given a stringent brief for the Land Warfare Training Centre that demanded a high level of compliance with Department of Defence security requirements and performance criteria.
Situated among established River Red Gums, great care was taken to retain significant trees to maintain environmental integrity. This quality is enhanced by the silvery, low-slung form and restrained material palette that assists with the building’s discrete ‘camouflage’ fit.
The initial building concept offered a strong, pure form with three distinct zones. Primarily designed for two Defence training units, the facility is shared by the Training Development Centre (TDC) and the Land Warfare Centre (LWC). Both departments have administration areas, individual offices and shared resources in the facility’s southern zone. Teaching spaces in the northern zone include ten medium sized seminar spaces and a computer teaching lab. The third zone comprises space for reception, amenities, break-out and lecture theatre.
The building’s three wings are arranged around a generous central courtyard edged with a continuation of the arid landscape. Consistent with this is the adoption of ESD strategies which have resulted in a project of high passive energy performance. Incorporated initiatives include extensive crossflow ventilation, solar collectors, heat purging, water collection and recycling.

Client:
Grocon
Location:
Watsonia, VIC
Approx. Value:
$6 million
Floor Area:
1600 sqm
Status:
Built, 2007
Contact Person:
Ruth Wilson
Awards
RAIA (VIC) Public Architecture Award, Shortlisted, 2009