Main Roads and Department of Transport Geraldton Office by Tag Architects

TAG Architects’ Main Roads and Department of Transport Geraldton Office is a very well-designed and stylish addition to the Mid-West Gascoyne region.

Sympathetic to its context, the building’s striking eucalypt-coloured Y-shaped steel columns provide a beautiful metre of composition, supporting the elegant Colorbond steel roof, and sculptural downpipes, allowing large spans of glazing and a naturally lit open-plan office space.

The deep eaves of the roof form mitigate the impact of harsh sun and further bolster the environmental credentials of this refined building.

The new Main Roads and Department of Transport Geraldton Office facilities are a good example of designing a cohesive and efficient space for both public and staff members alike. The project responds to a specific brief to bring both departments under the same roof, including the operational and economic organisations, accommodating larger staff numbers in a flexible work environment. The design offers an open space that enables collaboration whilst balancing the seamless public interface and experience.

The building responds to the urban context by providing a new access point from the adjacent main road, with carparking for staff and visitors. The entrance is well-designed, offering an informal gathering space with endemic plants and eucalyptus trees, whilst the façade shows a clear relationship with the inside and outside spaces.

The sustainable approach to the design is achieved using a variety of expedients, such as the roof profile providing plenty of controlled natural lighting throughout the building, LED lighting, double glazing and passive ventilation using the prevailing winds condition during the different months of the year. The ventilation system is well-considered and integrated, offering user-controlled operation during the day and a night function after-hours. Locally sourced materials, inclusive of some of the original re-used furniture, help to achieve an environment that is more sustainable, pleasant and relaxing for people to use.