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computronics_

The Client and The Architect

Computronics Corporation Ltd is a highly innovative WA-based electronics research, development and manufacturing company.
Slavin Architects Pty Ltd specialises in design through community consultation.

The project

• Process analysis, including observation of work practices, and group consultation, resulting in a comprehensive brief.

• Research and eventual site selection.

• Early partnering with the builder to achieve optimum cost effectiveness through design and construction analysis.

• Development of accommodation for research and development, component storage and assembly, large and small project workshops, administration, staff cafeteria, landscaping and terraces.

The Design

• The architecture reflects the organisational structure of Computronics - a series of diverse 'businesses' or departments arranged along a central 'street'.

• Most departments have an extensive outlook over the landscaped environment to the Technology Park Centre to the South.

• The highly-serviced building was constructed within a strictly limited budget. Rigorous pre-construction cost-modelling resulted in a steel portal-framed building with a three metre-high masonry perimeter wall.

• The building comprises a variety of well-articulated elements designed to avoid an institutional monolythic appearance and feel.

• Due to the high-security requirements access points are limited and electronically monitored.

• To simplify roof plumbing and enhance stormwater re-charge roof drainage is generally directed to perimeter soakage pits.

• For energy efficiency, the building is located on an east-west axis. A high level of natural lighting is achieved. Key areas have good passive heating due to the northerly aspect.

The Outcome

• The building has a glass and bag-finished masonry perimeter, with lightweight cladding above, supported on a portal framed structure. The large south wall to the administration section is a cost-effective, direct-glazed truss.

• The design reflects and enhances the usage of the building with diverse Departments functioning around a central internal street.

• The design fits well into the landscape of Bentley Technology Park, once a pine plantation. The roof form undulates with the gently-sloping terrain and is punctuated by the verticality of the remnant pines.

• The site was selected to accommodate most activities at ground level with good access for machinery and adequate parking space required due to the lack of public transport.