Administration Building, Australian War Memorial
Cultural + Civic
Canberra, Australia
Project 1985 – 1988
About this project
A two-storey administration building for the Australian War Memorial and the first component of the expansion masterplan developed by DCM.
Designed as a subdued form with ambiguous middle-distance scale to minimise its visual impact on the Memorial itself, the Administration Building houses general offices, as well as a large council room.
The rectangular plan form has a central courtyard on two levels with a half-basement. The sandstone-clad exterior has a series of regular recessed 4.8m² window openings with lintels supported by fabricated steel post and beam forms set centrally in each bay. The sandstone comes from the same quarry as the War Memorial building.
Specialised features include a recording studio and sound-proofed rooms, as well as controlled environment areas for curatorial work.
