Quarterly ReportWestern AustralianGovernment ArchitectJuly-September2017

OGA

The Office of the Government Architect (OGA) has continued to manage a busy agenda of projects, policy initiatives and advocacy engagements. This quarter saw important contributions to several of the State Government’s major works, planning and infrastructure undertakings.

Our Office has begun formal involvement in METRONET, providing a voice for the State’s ambition to deliver a high quality built environment and better alignment between transport planning and land-use planning outcomes. We continue to advise on the New Museum Project to help the government meet budget, scope and public realm interface challenges. Refinement of the Design WA policy suite continues as we engage in further industry consultation and start to communicate its benefits to an expectant public. Earlier in the quarter, consultation with key stakeholders was completed on the Perth Cultural Centre (PCC) Strategic Framework, allowing the opportunity to complete reporting on an ambitious, long-term plan for the PCC’s renewal.

These projects are complex and under particular pressure from stakeholders, industry and community to meet high expectations. In their own way, each project is testing the capability and capacity of government to lead, plan and

implement good projects and ideas for the greatest public benefit.

Over the years, the public sector has implemented systems to bring greater control over cost and time in major infrastructure projects and facilities, with some level of success. Achieving good design outcomes on the other hand is more difficult to systematise, though it is by no means a ‘dark art’. There are many well-recognised processes and actions that are effective in improving design quality and the value for money of projects in the long term: engaging strategic design advice as early as possible, writing a sound brief, setting an appropriate budget, appointing the right design expertise, and undertaking formal design review at key project milestones. Projects such as the New Perth Stadium have demonstrated how these measures can be effectively applied and contribute to project success.

The State’s new infrastructure agenda presents an opportunity to renew how we prioritise good quality outcomes in the planning and delivery of major projects and policy initiatives. Such outcomes can deliver profound economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits: improved service delivery, increased staff productivity, greater wellbeing and quality of life for users and occupants, and reduced energy

and water consumption. The OGA is uniquely placed to assist government in learning from successful projects and ensuring that knowledge of good design processes and outcomes is shared across government effectively.

At the time of writing, it was announced that the Sir Zelman Cowan award – the Australian architecture profession’s top prize for public buildings – has been given to the small, emerging Western Australian practice of Officer Woods for the design of the East Pilbara Arts Centre. This is an outstanding achievement for a remarkable project. It is not just a place for arts practice and the hosting of exhibitions for the extraordinary Martumili artists, it is also a meeting place, a place of community support and pride, and a tourism attraction.

The project is the product of a design competition, a talented local architecture practice, a modest budget, a tough brief, a remote site, and challenging climatic conditions. It is an excellent example of how good design can deliver more, in spite of constraints, when there is confidence placed in good architects, good ideas and the benefits of good design.

Geoff Warn

Summary

OGA

METRONETDepartment of Planning, Lands and Heritage / Department of Transport

The Office of the Government Architect (OGA) commenced its engagement in the METRONET project by participating in a series of workshops aimed at integrating station and land use planning opportunities for Yanchep, Alkimos and Eglington. In addition, the OGA undertook research of exemplar Transit Oriented Development case studies. Within the project team, there is clear acknowledgement of the need for METRONET to deliver improved land use and public realm outcomes over what has previously been achieved in public transport infrastructure. The OGA therefore anticipates further involvement in subsequent quarters.

New Museum ProjectDepartment of Finance’s Strategic Projects / Western Australian Museum

The New Museum Project landscape design, and its interface with the Perth Cultural Centre (PCC) public realm, has been the OGA’s focus during the quarter. A number of issues await resolution in the development of the landscape design, and further refinement is required to meet the State’s quality expectations for the project and integrate effectively with the existing context of the PCC. The OGA provided formal Design Review feedback on these opportunities to the project’s Managing Contractor, with whom further discussions are planned in the next quarter.

Forrestfield-Airport LinkPublic Transport Authority

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) referred the Belmont Station Development Application to the OGA for comment. Advice was also provided on the surrounding precinct plan. The OGA has assisted in brokering some design improvement of the project and will continue to advise the PTA, WAPC and the City of Belmont to enhance outcomes. Additionally, the OGA provided a review of the Forrestfield Station proposal in its design development stage.

Perth Cultural Centre Strategic FrameworkDepartment of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

The OGA has continued to progress this work, hosting a third and final reference group workshop and undertaking one-on-one consultation with key stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA), Public Transport Authority (PTA), North Metropolitan TAFE, City of Perth, and the State Library of Western Australia Board. Stakeholders have provided excellent feedback, which has helped the OGA advance the project’s reporting – now entering its final stage.

Inner City CollegeDepartment of Finance’s Building Management and Works / Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority

A review was undertaken of the masterplan for the proposed Inner City College through the OGA’s membership of the MRA’s Design Review Panel. The project is complex, with significant design risks. In addition to this being the first inner city high school development undertaken by the State, the site has difficult spatial constraints and the program is very tight. The OGA will have further opportunity to review progress of the design in the next quarter.

Projects

Design WA, State Planning Policy 7Collaboration with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has continued on a range of tasks associated with the roll-out of Design WA. The OGA has been involved in stakeholder workshops that are assisting in the refinement of the draft Apartment Design Guide. Advice has also been provided regarding preparation of communications material, such as an ‘Apartment Buyers Guide’, highlighting design quality issues for prospective purchasers of higher density residential housing. In addition, the Government Architect has continued participation in the Design WA Advisory Group, meeting regularly to review progress across the whole project.

Local Government PlanningThe OGA provided a deputation to the WAPC’s Statutory Planning Committee to advise on Scheme Amendment 60 sought by the City of Stirling for the Beaufort Street activity corridor. Advice to the Committee sought to avoid contradictions with Design WA and support the State Heritage Office’s position regarding best practice design in heritage settings.

Cultural Infrastructure StrategyThe Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries invited the OGA to review an early draft of its Cultural Infrastructure Strategy. Involvement in this work is an indication of the positive influence generated by the OGA’s work on the Sunset Transformation and PCC Strategic Framework.

Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Design Review PanelAs a member of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority’s (MRA) Design Review Panel, the OGA participated in several project reviews, including:

• New Museum Project;• City Link lots 2 and 3A

Development Application;• Elizabeth Quay lots 2 and 3

Development Application; and• Scarborough Beach 3 Oceans

High-Rise Development Application.

LandCorp Design Review and AdviceThe OGA continued to provide advice to LandCorp regarding the development of the Middleton Beach precinct, Albany. A review of the precinct’s design guidelines was undertaken and the OGA also participated in a site visit and stakeholder workshop to discuss planning and design issues, and overall project risks.

Australia by Design ‘Australia by Design’, in which the Government Architect was a co-presenter, was screened on the Channel Ten network. Excellent feedback has been received from stakeholders on the value and impact of the program. A launch event was also held, at which the OGA’s involvement was acknowledged.

Policy Advocacy

CommitteesCentral Perth Planning CommitteeCity of Perth Design Advisory CommitteeDesign WA Advisory GroupMETRONET Station Precincts Steering Group

Meetings and CorrespondenceDepartment of FinanceStrategic Projects (Department of Finance)Department of Planning, Lands and HeritageWestern Australian Planning CommissionPublic Transport AuthorityHousing Authority (Department of Communities)Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural IndustriesWestern Australian MuseumArt Gallery of Western AustraliaState Library of Western Australia BoardPerth Institute of Contemporary ArtLandCorpMetropolitan Redevelopment AuthorityNorth Metropolitan TAFECity of PerthCurtin UniversityAustralian Institute of ArchitectsProperty Council of Australia

EventsUniversity of Western Australia, ‘Social Value’ Conference – Guest Presentation ‘Living City Forum’, Melbourne Planning Institute of Australia WA, ‘Advancing Smarter Cities’ Forum LandCorp ‘Step Up’ Competition – Promotion and Developer ForumCurtin University ‘50 Years of Innovation’ Event Curtin University ‘Empowering the World through Education’ Forum Art Collective WA Round Table – Guest Presentation Planning Institute of Australia WA, Minister for Planning’s Breakfast ForumREMIX 2017 Conference OpeningPlanning Institute of Australia WA, ‘Sustainable Density’ ForumAustralian Institute of Architects, ‘Australia by Design’ Launch‘Psychogeography Perth’ Exhibition Launch – Guest PresentationAustralian Institute of Architects, Graduate Network Forumdevelopment panel discussion

Image: City of Perth Library - screenshot from ‘Australia by Design’

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.

Office of the Government Architect Level 1, 491 Wellington Street Perth 6000 08 6551 2332 government.architect@finance.wa.gov.au

Government of Western Australia Department of FinanceOffice of the Government Architect