Jonathan Low
Principal | Sydney Structural Section Manager- Principal
Partnership
The Caloola redevelopment brought together a familiar and well-aligned project team, including BaptistCare, Lipman, Calderflower Architects, APG, and Austruss. Northrop initially worked with BaptistCare before the project was novated to Lipman, continuing a long-standing relationship that helped maintain consistency through delivery.
Project
BaptistCare Caloola is a modern, 80-bed residential aged care facility in Wagga Wagga, delivered as a complete redevelopment of the existing Caloola Centre. The project replaced the ageing facility with a purpose-built environment designed to meet contemporary aged care standards and support a more home-like model of care.
A key objective of the redevelopment was to shift away from institutional aged care settings toward a warm, residential feel that promotes dignity, independence, and social connection. Communal spaces, including a café and landscaped gardens, encourage interaction between residents, families, staff, and the broader community, reinforcing BaptistCare’s commitment to care that feels like home.
The facility is organised into five smaller household clusters, each designed to operate independently and provide a familiar, domestic-scale living environment. Each household includes private bedrooms with ensuites, shared dining and living spaces, and direct access to landscaped outdoor areas.
Delivery
The delivery of Caloola required careful management of complex ground and civil conditions, along with coordination across a highly staged construction program.
A key challenge was the presence of highly reactive clay soils combined with minor flooding and overland flow paths across the site. The large building footprint and requirement for accessible, level circulation routes added further complexity, requiring detailed coordination of civil design and earthworks to achieve compliant grades across the expansive site.
To support efficiency and quality, Austruss roof and wall framing systems were fabricated off-site in Mittagong and transported to Wagga Wagga for installation, enabling improved program certainty and reduced on-site construction time.
Given the scale and complexity of the site, Northrop worked closely with a local engineer, undertaking regular site visits and collaborative problem-solving throughout construction. This local partnership was also strengthened by prior experience working together on other Wagga Wagga projects, supporting efficient resolution of site-specific challenges.
The collaborative approach between BaptistCare, Lipman, consultants, and subcontractors ensured that construction challenges were managed proactively while maintaining design intent and program outcomes.
Impact
The redevelopment of BaptistCare Caloola has delivered meaningful and lasting benefits to residents, staff, and the broader Wagga Wagga community.
Caloola represents a strong example of contemporary aged care design that balances clinical requirements with a deeply human-centred approach to living and care.
Key People:
James Gilligan
Principal | Sydney Civil Manager | Senior Civil Engineer- Leadership
- Principal
Awards
- 2025 UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence – Excellence in Residential Aged Care
- 2025 MBA Regional Excellence in Building Awards – Riverina Murray Regions, in the Aged Care / Lifestyle Over 55’s category
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