Woden Police Station

Client iCBR
Contractor Monarch Building Group
Sectors
- Commercial & Fitout (inc retail)
- Government/Public Transport
- Upgrades, Audits, & Electrification
Services
- Acoustics
- Electrical Engineering
- Hydraulic & Fire
- Mechanical Engineering
- Structural
- Sustainability
Year 2025
Location Phillip, ACT

Last Project
Next Project

As part of the ACT Government’s broader push toward decarbonisation, and under the “Social Cost of Carbon Fund” administered by EPSDD/CED, iCBR engaged Northrop as head consultant to deliver the full electrification of the Woden Police Station — one of the first government facilities in Canberra to achieve this milestone. Originally built in 2005, the two-storey station occupies a 2750sqm footprint in Phillip, ACT, and houses essential policing operations. The goal was to phase out gas-powered systems and implement a future-ready, all-electric infrastructure, with minimal disruption to daily operations.

Partnership

Strong, collaborative partnerships were at the heart of this project’s success. Northrop has a long-standing relationship with iCBR, having delivered multiple successful projects together. That shared history, combined with a project team that had worked together many times before, enabled a smooth, coordinated delivery from start to finish.
Northrop worked closely with iCBR and Monarch Building Solutions to deliver a seamless, future-focused retrofit in a live operational environment. As head consultants, our team led the project from feasibility through to detailed design and construction support, ensuring that performance, cost-efficiency and regulatory compliance were balanced at every stage.

Project

One of the first steps was conducting a thorough feasibility study, which evaluated options for phasing out the gas-powered HVAC and domestic hot water systems. Life cycle cost analysis and disruption modelling were used to help identify a preferred path forward. Woden Police Station provided an early opportunity to test and refine approaches to full electrification in complex operational environments. From there, Northrop developed detailed design documentation to support implementation, including installation of solar PV and EV charging.

Our early and ongoing engagement across all stakeholders ensured that technical complexity, user needs, and program constraints were navigated as a team. Working with Monarch Building Solutions, Northrop maintained a hands-on, responsive approach during construction, helping to coordinate on-site decisions, refine installation details, and adapt designs to suit buildability.

Monarch had the pleasure of working with Northrop as the lead consultants on the Woden Police Station project. The team always made themselves available, and their understanding of the complexities was evident in the advice provided throughout construction, with a strong focus on proactiveness and buildability.
Harry Brown
Project Manager — Monarch Building Solutions

Delivery

The design incorporated an innovative use of chilled water coils for heating, replacing traditional heating hot water coils—one of the first times Northrop implemented this approach. Building fabric upgrades were also introduced to improve thermal performance and reduce the required capacity of the new heat pump system.

The scope included the selection and layout of heat pumps, plantroom reconfiguration, and modifications to AHU valves and VAV systems, along with upgrades to the building management system. Electrical infrastructure was enhanced to support the installation of solar PV and future EV charging stations, while new electric hot water systems were delivered with dedicated hydraulic and drainage design.

Structural works involved strengthening and redesigning the plantroom roof and slab, including the installation of new acoustic louvres. This was supported by architectural and development approval coordination for external plantroom works. Energy modelling was also undertaken to assess system performance and support ACT Government sustainability targets.

Impact

The electrification of Woden Police Station represents a key step in the ACT’s shift toward more sustainable public infrastructure. It sets a benchmark for future retrofits, demonstrating how existing assets can be modernised to reduce emissions and enable renewable energy. The upgraded systems enhance operational reliability and flexibility, while supporting the ACT government’s leadership in sustainable asset management.

For the client, the project delivered not just a technically sound solution, but a strategic and future-focused upgrade that supports the long-term functionality of the station, improves resilience, and reinforces public trust in government-led climate action. Northrop is proud to have played a key role in delivering this important initiative.

Awards

The success of this project reflects broader industry recognition of Northrop’s Electrification Team, which was named Team of the Year at the Property Council ACT People in Property Awards 2024. The award acknowledges our role in delivering large-scale electrification programs across ACT Government assets and advancing the shift toward sustainable, electric-powered buildings.