Cook Shire Council Admin Building

Office building, $3m, Cooktown (2005-07)

A dramatic reworking of the old 1960’s Cooktown school to provide a modern, energy efficient and functional office for Cook Shire Council.

Australian Institute of Architects Regional Commendation 2008

Brief & Context

Cook Shire Council was accommodated across two cramped, dodgy buildings and a couple of dongas. When the old Cooktown State School came up for sale Cook Shire saw the opportunity to renovate the school building to create a new Administration Facility that represented both their aspirations for the future, and their historical past. The Shire wanted a building that not only provided a modern, functional and pleasant workplace, an opportunity to to better integrate the various departments, as well as a new and welcoming public face.

Design Approach

The concept takes the existing building as a spine and extends skinny fingers, to the sides. This approach maximised natural light and views from the spine which has the bulk of accommodation. The fingers accommodate the specialised functions of lobby, amenities, archive and plant rooms. This resulted in a strong form that respected the old building (the past) while creating modern additions (the future).

The key to resolving the program was the vertical separation of public and private spaces with office space upstairs, and reception, Council Chambers and meeting rooms downstairs. An open plan office with transparent managers offices to one side means all can get a view and natural light, while improving staff interaction.

Materials

Steel and timber frames, as well as masonry block were clad with new materials that reflected the Cooktown context including corrugated steel, masonry and fibro.

Sustainability

Studio Mango won the contract partly on the our vision of a sustainable and worker friendly office building. However this had to be done in the context of remote area, low cost and the site’s exposure to constant high winds. Some solutions included:

Reusing the existing structure, claddings and some demolished components.
A fully insulated and shaded envelope.
Extensive natural lighting.
Low artificial lighting levels with additional task lighting.
High temperature A/C with additional cooling from ceiling fans (also assisted condensation issues in the old fabric.)
Views for all workers

Design Team & Builder

Mango team: James Maude, Su Groome, Renee Lee, Liam Froggatt, Barry Bradbrook
Structural Engineer: Chas Gianarakis
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer: Simon Perkins and Frank Bastowski
Hydraulics: Gilboy Hydraulics
Interiors: Design Aqua – Alan Muston
Builder: Cook Shire Council – Col Schmitzer