Across the street from the iconic Birdsville Pub (approximately 1700km west of Brisbane) this building will provide visitors information, community services and ablution facilities for the enormous crowds that gather each September for the Birdsville Races. The remote location and our desire to provide the best sustainable outcome led to the selection of the construction systems and materials.

Consultation was undertaken with stakeholders to develop the tightest brief possible. Extensive thermal modeling was used to aid the design process given the extreme heat and cold and the all-invasive dust. In this environment careful planning, thermal mass, deep shading and heavy insulation passively control internal comfort and greatly improve the efficiency of the air-conditioning required in some parts of the building.

The remote location led us to involve the builder during design development and documentation. Construction can be held up for days if one bolt is missing so design for buildability is taken to a new level. This collaborative effort has led work being ahead of schedule and the building complete before the thirsty hoards arrived for the races in September this year.