Client: City of Mandurah
Location: Cnr Flavia Street & Cobblers Ave, Falcon
Project Status: Completed in 2007
Award Competition: 2007 InterFLOR Design Award

Key Aspects

Technology integration of library services to future proof the facility.

• Creating a warm inviting atmosphere for the community reflecting their needs and values.
• ESD principles to be fundamental to the building fabric.

The  Falcon eLibrary has been developed for a community of the future, allowing the integration of the latest technology and environmental design considerations as well as the potential for future growth. The building is located within a residential area and has the conflicting requirements of providing a strong civic statement, as a civic building, but not at the expense of the local and traditional residential infrastructure.

The building uses extensive glazing to increase its visual transparency and allows the community’s accessibility to the library and community functions within. The building adopts a domestic scale with design elements such as large floating roof elements which make clear statements of the building’s civic purpose and also enhance the building’s ESD performance characteristics.

A primary focus for the design of this facility is the incorporation of smart environmental building design features such as: a BMS integrated with active mechanical design systems and passive systems to minimise power consumption; grey water recycling; landscape design suitable to a low maintenance and water consumption environment; light and power consumption sensors to minimise power usage; integration of wireless technologies to promote flexible user access; and specialist flexible learning space integrated with new technologies for expanded community education programs.

The inclusion of active ESD systems in a non-intrusive manner requires careful design and an understanding of library systems as well as maintenance and operational considerations.

The building design reflects the civic and community expectations and provides flexible learning and community facilities all housed within a “green environmental” building setting the benchmark for similar facilities and future proofing for the areas growth and development. 

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