Fairbairn Commercial Precinct

Triangulated planning elements gesture towards pedestrian desire lines while giving the commercial buildings a dynamic quality. 

AMC was initially engaged by Canberra Airport Group (CAG) to prepare masterplan studies for new accommodation for the Department of Health (DOH) within CAG’s Fairbairn Business Park commercial precinct, in response to a market request at the time. Through this process CAG was shortlisted and ultimately successful in its bid for this new accommodation, with AMC engaged as the architect to develop detailed design concepts and deliver the project within a compressed timeframe.  

The design concept accommodates the Department of Health (DoH) in a new office building fronting Scherger Drive and the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) adjacent in a new laboratory building fronting Tindal Lane within Fairbairn Business Park. As part of this design process Jacobs was novated to the project to provide specialist laboratory design input. The design concept includes two 3-storey buildings which, with the existing 25 Scherger Drive Building, frame a new attractive landscaped square. The architectural concept includes triangulated planning elements which gesture towards pedestrian desire lines while giving the buildings a dynamic quality. An expressed roof line reiterates the broad character of the Fairbairn context. AMC was subsequently engaged to design the Department of Health fitout which incorporates the department’s “New Ways of Working” policy initiative. Through consultation with key stakeholders, AMC balanced DoH’s brief with CAG’s project feasibility requirements to secure the initial project opportunity and achieve an attractive outcome for all parties.