Quarterly Report Western Australian Government Architect April-June 2016

OGA Summary

The Office of the Government Principles that will be written into setting and financial resources), Architect (OGA) has made good State Planning Policy (SPP) as it exhibits a grandeur by virtue progress across all key streams SPP7. The Design Principles, of this distinctive urban structure of activity in the last quarter. informed by comparative analysis and respect for its heritage Major projects such as the New of other design policy documents architecture. Perth’s opportunities Perth Stadium and Museum from Australia and around the and forecasts for future urban have continued to be a focus of world, have been refined to 10 development are enviable, but the Office, together with other core criteria through consultation inner city Adelaide is a valuable important projects such as Sunset and debate amongst stakeholders. example of the power of a city’s and Elizabeth Quay. It is also clear We believe that the rigour of this form to engender a sense of that demand for our services process will provide the robustness identity and distinction that we continues to increase in strategic needed for design quality criteria would do well to emulate. and non-works procurement to be effective within the State’s activities. planning system. During the last quarter, the Office was engaged by the Department For instance, the OGA is leading I had the opportunity to attend the of Lands to assist in evaluating an the important work of developing mid-year Government Architects unsolicited bid for a major property the Perth Cultural Centre Strategic Network of Australia (GANA) development on Crown land within Framework. The objective of Conference in Adelaide. Despite the city. By their nature (e.g. scale this work is to support and our relatively small team, the and complexity), these types of augment the planning and design Office’s role and contribution to unsolicited bids challenge the pre- of the new museum facility on planning reform activities and existing order of cities, however the current Francis Street site, major capital works attracted well-acknowledged that order addressing a recurring gap within much attention and praise. There may be. It is a challenge therefore government projects between was also much to learn from other to ensure that large-scale private works procurement and land-use Government Architects who have developments through unsolicited planning, and setting a direction each achieved progress over bids can be accommodated for the future development of the the last 12 months. While the within, and contribute to, an overall Cultural Centre. models of Government Architect vision or plan for the city. This offices around the country vary proposal revealed that there is still Recent involvement in the there is a distinct trend towards much to be done to establish a competition jury for Elizabeth being more strategically focused. clear strategic direction for central Quay Lots 2 and 3 has been the The most clear demonstration Perth, in terms of city form and culmination of dialogue with the of this is the New South Wales structure. Metropolitan Redevelopment Government Architect Office Authority to encourage better which has completed a significant The OGA has been advocating design quality outcomes from restructure process from a public across government for the their project procurement works department to a strategic development of a ‘City Plan’ to processes. The competition model design and planning office, much help coordinate industry and is based upon a similar initiative like our own. The Government government around a shared that has been in use at the City Architect offices in South Australia, vision for the city’s future. Such a of Sydney for over a decade Northern Territory, Queensland plan would assist government in and has achieved excellent and Victoria have each expanded, being able to assess the merits design outcomes as well as and a new Government Architect of future proposals without broad industry and government has been appointed in Canberra compromising the city’s urban endorsement in New South after the unfortunate passing of fabric or limiting its potential to Wales. If successful for Lots 2 & our colleague Professor Alastair grow and improve. The OGA is 3, the competition process could Swayn. keen to continue engagement on be extended to other sites at this initiative with the City of Perth, Elizabeth Quay and potentially The city of Adelaide was a Department of Planning, and other elsewhere in Perth. wonderful backdrop to the agencies. conference. I took the time to Momentum has been steadily visit some fine buildings and gathering behind the Planning infrastructure projects of recent Reform for Better Design initiative. years. The most admirable feature Geoff Warn Drafting of Apartment Design of Adelaide is the clarity of the Guidelines is well-advanced and city’s form: a carefully laid out grid is undergoing rigorous review (known as ‘Light’s Plan’) within by government and industry generous, all-encompassing stakeholders. Feedback so far parklands. While Adelaide is has been very positive. A key a somewhat modest city, by milestone this quarter has been comparison with Perth (not the finalisation of the Design endowed with the same natural OGA

Projects

New Perth Stadium undertaken, concluding the OGA’s Strategic Projects and Asset Sales / contribution to the project. The Department of Sport and Recreation OGA will now be involved on an Installation of the Stadium’s as-needs basis. podium pre-cast concrete façade has commenced and Forrestfield-Airport Link is already making a significant Department of Transport / Public Transport visual impact. The Office of the Authority Government Architect (OGA) A joint venture delivery consortium was heavily involved in its review of Salini Impregilo/NRW, with and contributed to brokering the GHD and UK-based transport integration of Whadjuk narratives architects Weston Williamson, into the façade. In this quarter the has been appointed for the $2 OGA has also been involved in the billion Forrestfield-Airport Link selection process for two major (FAL) project. The OGA has been public art commissions on the site assisting the Department of that will contribute to the overall Transport in negotiations with the quality and atmosphere of the consortium to review the design of Stadium Precinct. proposed train station facilities, in particular the Consolidated Airport New Museum Project Terminal station. Advice has also Strategic Projects and Asset Sales / WA been sought from the Perth Airport Museum Corporation regarding the design The OGA has been assisting interface of the FAL project with the State Team in negotiations existing airport facilities. with the appointed Managing Contractor (Brookfield Multiplex Perth Convention Precinct with OMA and Hassell). A series Master Plan of design workshops have been Department of Planning held with the Managing Contractor The OGA has continued to to discuss critical design issues provide advice to the Department and seek improvements prior to of Planning and urban design commencing schematic design. consultant, Hassell. The Office The OGA has also provided advice has coordinated a Design Review to government stakeholders Panel to review progress with regarding the visualisations the master plan and guide its that will accompany the formal development. The Design Review public release of the museum’s Panel membership consists conceptual design. of nationally significant urban designers and architects and has Perth Cultural Centre Strategic made a positive contribution to the Framework project direction. With feedback Department of Culture and the Arts from the Panel, the master plan The OGA prepared a project will be finalised in the next quarter proposal for the Perth Cultural for CPPC endorsement. Centre Strategic Framework, in Unsolicited Bid Proposal collaboration with the Department Department of Lands of Culture and the Arts (DCA). The As part of the first stage in the Central Perth Planning Committee assessment process for an (CPPC) endorsed the proposal and unsolicited bid, OGA provided the OGA will continue to report to advice regarding architectural and DCA and CPPC on the project’s urban design quality aspects of progress. Stakeholder meetings a World Trade Centre proposal were undertaken to begin the for a strategic inner city site. The development of a ‘Vision’ for the OGA’s review focused on the Perth Cultural Centre and further proposal’s alignment with the consultation is proposed in the current strategic planning intent next quarter. for the location. Also of interest to the Office was the scope of social and environmental benefits likely to WA Schools Project arise from the proposal. Strategic Projects and Asset Sales / Department of Education Design Review of Stage 1 schematic designs for the project’s secondary schools was Policy Advocacy

Planning Reform for Better MRA Design Review Panel Meetings and Correspondence Design The OGA continued in its role as Department of the Premier and The OGA has continued to assist a member of the MRA’s Design Cabinet the Department of Planning (DoP) Review Panel, participating in Department of Finance and the Minister for Planning on reviews of several projects this Building Management and Works the Planning Reform for Better quarter, including: (Department of Finance) Design (PRBD) initiative. It has Scarborough Surf Club and Department of Treasury been confirmed that a new State Foreshore Public Realm Strategic Projects and Asset Sales Planning Policy (SPP) will be Development Applications (Department of Treasury) created for design quality in the City Link - Kings Square (KS6) built environment and will be Department of Planning Residential Tower known as ‘SPP7’. The Office has Western Australian Planning been preparing a Design Review Elizabeth Quay Lots 2&3 Commission Guide and advising on the drafting Competition Jury Department of Transport of an Apartment Design Guide, Main Roads Western Australia Design Excellence Working which will both sit within SPP7’s Department of Sport and Group suite of guidance. A key milestone Recreation has also been achieved this The OGA leads the cross- Department of Culture and the Arts government Design Excellence quarter with the finalisation of De- Department of Education sign Principles that are also to be Working Group (DEWG). The Department of Lands embedded within SPP7. focus over this quarter was on the refinement and endorsement LandCorp Public Art Future Directions of the design principles for SPP7. Metropolitan Redevelopment The DCA has invited the OGA, There was also an update from Authority along with other government the MRA regarding the ‘Creative City of Perth stakeholders, to join the Intra- Template’ initiative and excellent Perth Airport Pty Ltd Governmental Reference Group dialogue on the preparation of Australian Institute of Architects (IGRG) for Public Art. The IGRG design competition policy. Australian Sustainable Built is providing advice to DCA Environment Council GANA Conference – Adelaide regarding key issues for public art, Property Council of Australia The mid-year Government in particular the Percent-for-Art Curtin University Scheme. The intent is to prepare Architects Network of Australia a set of recommendations on how (GANA) Conference was held in the planning and delivery of public Adelaide. Dialogue was focused ­­Events art might be improved. There is on the status of large-scale GANA Conference, Adelaide strong acknowledgement from the infrastructure projects in other AIA National Conference Opening stakeholders of the value of public states, particularly New South Event, Adelaide Wales and Victoria. There was art to the community and to the Future West discussion on urban great interest from GANA in the quality of our built environment. density in WA OGA’s contribution to the Planning Reform for Better Design project. Art Gallery of Western Australia – A number of tours were organised ‘Comic Tragics’ exhibition opening for recent capital works in Adelaide Art Gallery of Western Australia – including the Geoffrey Smart ‘Winter Reveal’ exhibition opening Library and Hawke Buildings at Art Gallery of Western Australia – the University of South Australia, ‘See Things Differently’ exhibition the Tonsley Innovation District, opening Adelaide Oval and the South Presentation to the Urban Design Australian Health and Medical Forum: ‘Tall Buildings’ Research Institute (SAHMRI). Nature | Culture with Chris Dury, FORM Gallery Committees David Malcolm Justice Centre, Central Perth Planning Committee official opening City of Perth Design Advisory Committee

Image: ‘The Wandering’ by Chris Drury, Perth Stadium Precinct Office of the Government Architect

The Government Architect provides leadership and strategic advice to government to improve the design of public buildings and spaces and enhance the quality of the built environment. The Government Architect has a whole-of-government role and where requested provides advice to the highest levels of government. The Government Architect reports to the Minister for Finance (in his capacity as Minister for Works) and the Office of the Government Architect is linked to Building Management and Works within the Department of Finance.

Office of the Government Architect Level 1, 491 Wellington Street Perth 6000 Government of Western Australia 08 6551 2332 Department of Finance [email protected] Office of the Government Architect