Embassy of Australia
Washington, D.C
BEST PROJECT, GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC BUILDING
Sent by: Clark Construction
Owner/Developer: Commonwealth of Australia
Lead Designer: Smart Bates
General contractor: Clark Construction
Architect of record: KCCT
Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz and Heger
Civil Engineer: KALOS
MEP Engineer: Anderson Mechanical
Australia’s new embassy aims to serve as both an integral civic space and an enduring symbol of the country. The embassy design respects the architectural style of Capitol Hill while recognizing the site’s transition between residential buildings and commercial structures, according to the project team.
Developed by the Commonwealth of Australia with Australian design firm Bates Smart, Clark Construction worked both remotely and on-site with team members, including some material vendors, under a design-bid- delivery method construction
“The collaborative nature and positive energy everyone brought to the process made all the difference, especially with the ongoing global pandemic and all the challenges associated with it,” says PJ Bombero, Senior Project Manager at Clark Construction.
Photo by Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Clark Construction
Much of the initial design and procurement had to be completed during the COVID outbreak. The interior features an extensive veneer of eucalyptus pilularis trees, native to Australia. Obtaining the required amount of sheet metal required coordination with several subcontractors and visits to several Australian suppliers to achieve matching consistency and quality.
The facade features copper panels sourced from a German supplier. Over the course of eight months, Clark met with Bates Smart and the supplier, across three time zones, to discuss the facade material, research finish options and create multiple visual mock-ups for review. Finally, the team selected raw natural copper panels for the exterior, sealed to mitigate the effects of oxidation. The solution delivered a consistent look and feel while meeting procurement milestones to keep the project on schedule. The completed curtain wall system incorporated over 750 copper panels, intended to emulate the colors of the Australian outback. To emphasize the organic nature of the copper, the width and angularity of the module were varied in almost all the curtain wall units. In addition, the teams had to order, sequence and install the copper panels with as little manipulation as possible to protect their natural copper patina.
As a secure embassy, the facade was designed and installed to meet forced entry/ballistic resistant requirements.
Photo by Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Clark Construction
The team worked within the confines of a tight site, bordered by Scott Circle, the Philippine Embassy and a historic cathedral-style church with fragile stained glass windows. The constraints of the site made the demolition of the concrete-clad steel structure of the old chancellery a delicate process. To ensure that the neighboring embassy and church facade remained intact during the demolition, the team measured the impact of the operations with vibration monitors.
Crews performed demolition near adjacent buildings using small remote-controlled equipment before bulk demolition began. As additional protection, Clark installed netting over the facade of a church to prevent debris from reaching the decorative windows.
To meet the schedule, the team focused on long items such as wall partition sets, HVAC equipment and ceiling tiles for shop drawings and material fabrication, while the remaining aspects of the design were completed to keep the delivery of the space on track. The project was completed on schedule and on budget.
