Award-winning facility to advance forensic science

High-security, critical live environment

The Forensic Medicine and Coroner’s Court is co-located within a forensic science facility in a high security precinct supervised by the Australian Federal Police. Specialised forensic work and multimillion-dollar equipment in operation, demanded continual risk assessments and planning to ensure around-the-clock power supply and no disruption from vibration, noise or access issues. These risks were managed by ensuring a separate power supply, working during specific agreed hours, establishing a secure perimeter fence and continuous stakeholder consultation.

Diverse needs, respectful spaces

This unique facility accommodates three Government departments with very diverse uses - from autopsies and forensics training to court hearings and coronial inquests. To ensure stakeholder needs were met, our team:

• Conducted numerous comprehensive user group consultations alongside Cox Architecture and Silver Thomas Handley
• Observed real forensic processes to inform our construction methodologies 
• Created prototypes for façade windows, mortuary tables, floor drains, sandstone and brickwork
• Engaged end users, client team and sub-contractors thoroughly during pre-planning
• Appointed a specialist in audio visual integration to oversee technical specifications and the procurement of high definition technology and broadcast infrastructure
• Focused on mortuary table design, working with an international specialist to engineer the custom solution.

Complex roof engineering

The cantilevered roof comprises cascading panels designed to capture up to 80 per cent of rainwater. With smart engineering, our team designed and installed hard-working cantilevered structural beams to support the roof. The main beams weighed 12 tonnes and required a 300-tonne mobile crane to install the beams onto 12-metre-high freestanding columns.

After the structure was installed, design meetings and risk workshops were undertaken to plan for the valley gutter, roof sheets and soffit cladding panels. Ensuring architectural intent and falls were maintained, the roof was designed at a custom angle with leak-proof feature lifts and more accessible areas for future maintenance.

Thinking local

From tender pre-award to trade package procurement, we partnered closely with the local supply chain to provide opportunities and deliver a capable, best-for-project team. This supported a successful defect-free handover, on time and on budget. 

As a busy residential and commercial area of Sydney, the Lidcombe community was kept informed and engaged through positive media profiling, regular construction updates, charitable fundraising, cultural events and briefings with key stakeholders. 

A collaborative artwork commissioning process was undertaken with local artists. This ensured budgets, constructability and installation were low-risk, aligned with the project brief and reflected the Indigenous heritage of the area.