All posts by thomsonrossi

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Thomson Rossi

Thomson Rossi Studio

Project location:
Carrington Street, Adelaide

Client:
Thomson Rossi

Year of completion:
2010

Project cost/budget:
$0.4M

Project description:
Our own city based office/studio is a prime example of effective adaptive re-use, converting a 1950’s factory and showroom into a contemporary office environment. The main ground floor studio area provides a open, flexible workstation layout, taking full advantage of the existing south facing skylights.

The existing roof fabric was removed and replaced with a highly insulated roof cladding/ceiling system. New skylights incorporate high performance comfort plus glazing with automated awning windows linked to air-conditioning controls with fresh air over-ride. The completed conversion achieved a 5.5 NABERS Energy Rating (6 = Market Leading Performance, subsequently leading to a CitySwitch 2012 Signatory of the Year for South Australia Award from the Adelaide City Council.

Back to Education

Adelaide West Special Ed

Adelaide West Special Education Centre

Project location:
Taperoo, Adelaide

Client:
SA Government

Year of completion:
2010

Project cost/budget:
$11.5M

Project description:
The Adelaide West Special Education Centre is a new 80 place Special School designed to accommodate the needs of children with significant physical and intellectual disability. Typically, these children are all confined to beds or wheelchairs, have sensory impairment and two-thirds of the students are non-verbal.

Delivered as part of the State government’s Education Works Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the new school takes advantage of adjacency to Ocean View High School to engender social inclusion for these children and hence develop their sense of self as a member of the wider community.

An Activity Hall and Administration wing support a series of flexible Learning Areas that have an intimate relationship with external sensory gardens. As briefed, it is essential that every activity becomes a learning opportunity, allowing each student’s horizons to expand. This requirement was translated to a plan that provided an outlook to stimulating spaces and environments along every route taken by students.

Other design features include a fully functional residential unit for training in living skills, observational bays for allied health consultants and overhead lifting tracks. Importantly, the new facility was designed to not invoke any links to an ‘institution’, but rather reflect the school’s vision of a clean, green and cutting edge place for learning.

Thomson Rossi provided full architectural services to our client in response to extensive briefing requirements provided by the State government acting on behalf of DECD. We were authors of the design and attended State Workshops with user groups to complete the design development of very specific student care issues. The project received a CEFPI Australasia Region Educational Facilities Commendation Award in 2011 in Category 1A New Construction: Entire New School.

UTAS Morris Miller Library

University of Tasmania – Morris Miller Library

Project location:
Hobart, Tasmania

Client:
UTAS

Year of completion:
2005-2010

Project cost/budget:
$5.5M

Project description:
Thomson Rossi undertook a significant series of commissions for the University of Tasmania to upgrade the academic library network across the Launceston and Hobart campus. The commission involves two major projects: staged refurbishment of the existing Morris Miller and Science Libraries and provision of a New Academic Library for the Newnham Campus, Launceston.

The Morris Miller and Science Libraries are integral components in the development of a Student Centred precinct on the Sandy Bay campus and the quality of the facilities and the services that they provide are important within the context of the University of Tasmania Plan 2005 – 2007. Work within the Library is intended to improve the amount of student work space and to incorporate some group work spaces within a satellite learning hub environment.

The case for adaptive re-use is relevant in the sense of transforming a 1960’s library structure into a new model of a 21st century learning environment. The new facility is a central feature on the campus and reflects the latest thinking in library planning, flexibility and ESD features.

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OLQOP School

Our Lady Queen of Peace School

Project location:
Albert Park, Adelaide

Client:
Catholic Education SA

Year of completion:
2003-2010

Project cost/budget:
$4.6M

Project description:
Our Lady Queen of Peace School engaged Thomson Rossi to develop a new Master Plan which would consolidate the positive community of the School. In order to collect all viewpoints in an effective manner, our team arranged a series of workshops with staff, SRC, School Board, Parish and parent/community members.

Stage 1 is a unique development of the idea that classrooms are not ‘boxes’ but in turn have a direct link to each other and the outside, hence the installation of folding stack glass doors to all learning spaces. Greater identity and an excellent learning environment are key outcomes.

Stage 2 created a new Administration building with refurbished library, while Stage 3 provided a new Activity Hall with Music suite.

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The Heights CPC

The Heights Preschool

Project location:
Modbury, Adelaide

Client:
DECD

Year of completion:
2008

Project cost/budget:
$1.5M

Project description:
The Heights School P-12 provides a new, stand-alone Child/Parent facility for pre-school children on a large, established School site.

Our design focuses on providing on appropriate identity and scale to the proposed building with the articulation of roof forms and external building fabric. Internal spaces are characterized by a sense of spaciousness, with operable clerestory windows providing an abundance of natural light and ventilation. The use of innovative landscape design extends learning spaces into the external environment.

ESD initiatives are prevalent, including appropriate orientation for passive solar control, reverse block veneer construction, rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic cell solar energy and cross-ventilation. Materials and finishes that are renewable and have low embodied energy/toxicity (such as plantation timber framing in lieu of steel, marmoleum flooring) have been used extensively.

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ARTC Adelaide Headquarters

ARTC Adelaide Headquarters

Project location:
Mile End, Adelaide

Client:
Australian Rail Track Corporation

Year of completion:
2008

Project cost/budget:
$3.0M

Project description:
Staged over several years, we assisted ARTC with a comprehensive program of refurbishment to existing facilities which was subsequently linked to new building accommodation. Fitout stages were undertaken to a highly restrictive time program under a ‘Cost-Plus’ contract program whereby trade packages are progessively let through a commissioned Head Contractor.

The works entail full refurbishment of office accommodation, including procurement of new workstation systems. Later additions included new corporate accommodation with executive facilities and new separate warehouse and workshop assets. In addition, an innovative planning solution was utilised for the new Train Control Room, facilitating a new, ergonomically planned interactive work environment for the 24/7 monitoring of Australia’s national rail network.

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OLSH

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College

Project location:
Enfield, Adelaide

Client:
Catholic Education SA

Year of completion:
2006

Project cost/budget:
$3.4M

Project description:
Thomson Rossi completed a Master Plan for this leading Catholic Girls School in 2006, encompassing 600 students from Year 8 to Year 12. The resulting Master Plan identified 3 key stages of redevelopment, with Stage 1 encompassing a new Year 11/12 Centre consisting of 8 new classrooms, new Information Technology & Multimedia/Media Studies Laboratory and a new Home Economics facility offering vocational training in food preparation and hospitality.

The new additions present a vibrant and highly visible presentation to the public with a strong emphasis on effective use of colour highlights to engage and stimulate students from a wide diversity of cultural backgrounds. Stage 2 delivered an innovative ILA (Integrated Learning Area) for all students, promoting a ‘one-stop-shop’ for student counselling, learning support and careers needs. The recently completed Stage 3 now provides the school with a Science and Language Centre, with indoor/outdoor Art Studio.

Back to Justice & Corrections

Mobilong Prison

Mobilong Prison

Project location:
Mobilong, South Australia

Client:
DCS

Year of completion:
2005

Project cost/budget:
$4M

Project description:
This project successfully delivered new inmate accommodation for the Department for Correctional Services at Mobilong. The project was unique in that it provided a new type of accommodation within the bounds of the secure perimeter at Mobilong Prison.

Termed “Independent Living Units”, the accommodation is divided into separate secure living units that each accommodate a small group of inmates (5). Within the secure bounds of each unit, inmates are able to organise their own day-to-day activities, such as cooking, cleaning and leisure. This is seen as an important step in preparing inmates for their eventual return to life in the general community.

A number of ESD initiatives were included in the design including reverse block veneer construction, the use of solar hot water systems, and operable windows to provide natural and cross flow ventilation. Other key design achievements included the use of ‘No bars design’ (windows designed to eliminate the need for security bars), 24 hour external access for inmates and secure courtyards in each living unit.

Sophisticated colour palettes and interior fixtures that combine robustness with humane and calming presentation are matched by ‘Safe Cell’ design principles throughout. The project has been widely acclaimed for its Humane approach and has been published in the highly influential USA based monthly magazine Corrections Today.

UniSA Sir Eric Neal Library

UniSA Sir Eric Neal Library

Project location:
Mawson Lakes, Adelaide

Client:
UniSA

Year of completion:
2004

Project cost/budget:
$11M

Project description:
In recognition of changing demands, the University’s Blueprint for 2005 capital works program identified the need for a major expansion of the existing Sir Eric Neal Library at Mawson Lakes.

Leading an extensive team of specialist sub-consultants, our team explored a new design solution through a detailed investigation of Collections, Planning and Space, and the idea that the Library would become the “gateway to the digital age”. The new learning environment therefore became openly interactive, clearly welcoming, easily orientated and highly flexible with new modes of information gathering and studying.

A detailed return brief was developed through our Strategic Library Planners and University library staff. Specialist advice included the accommodation of library collections and information assets, work practices and ergonomics relevant to library tasks and customer service. The completed extension provides over 2,500sqm of new, flexible space within a highly interactive learning environment.

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ElectraNet

ElectraNet

Project location:
East Terrace, Adelaide

Client:
ElectraNet

Year of completion:
2003

Project cost/budget:
$0.5M

Project description:
This new boardroom facility for Electranet’s corporate headquarters in Adelaide is located within a converted Heritage listed sub-station in Rymill Park. The brief was to provide a world class executive meeting facility, commensurate with the expectations of major international corporations who are the company’s shareholders.

Our design response reflects the innovation and technology inherent in ElectraNet’s core business activity of electricity transmission. Features of the new facility include state of the art audio-visual and teleconferencing facilities, a sliding wall panel which conceals heritage windows to the western elevation and the ‘Rah’ lighting system, strongly suggestive of power grid infrastructure.

The Heritage listing of the building required consultation with heritage advisors from the Adelaide City Council and careful consideration during the design, documentation and implementation of the fit-out to protect and preserve the existing features and fabric of the building.

Thomson Rossi Architects