Northrop

Northrop was engaged by Canberra Airport Group to provide structural, fire and electrical services for Brindabella Business Park, Carpark 9. The $18.5 million project is in response to the growing business centre that has been developed at the airport. The Carpark is positioned adjacent to the Vibe hotel and main entry.

 

The project is a large five storey development, with an individual floor plate of approximately 3200m containing approximately 700 car spaces. The structure itself is a post tensioned banded systems. There are two separate ramps for individual upwards and downwards movement of traffic. The core elements of the structure are constructed from a combination of precast and off-form concrete to provide the building stability and vertical transportation.

 

The façade of the building is a perforated steel design to allow for graded lighting. Northrop worked closely with the Guida Moseley Brown Architects to achieve a unique perforated sheet metal façade incorporating vertical lighting elements which accentuate its finish.

 

This project has won the Commendation for Commercial Architecture Award at the 2021 ACT Architecture Awards.

 

Judges comments:

“This project references each of the styles of architecture which have gone before it at the airport while being a unique site entry marker and a highly useable carpark. A simple composition of the two elements of ‘core’ and ‘carpark’ bely the careful detailing of their junction and the subtle varying rhythm of the main façade. The use of convex and concave curved screens with varying perforations to conceal the cars represents a masterful exercise in detailed façade composition.”