Walyalup Civic Centre

Client

Kerry Hill Architects

Location

Fremantle

Completion date

2021

The recently opened Walyalup Civic Centre is home to the Fremantle Council and features an open plan public library, council chambers, gallery space, naturally ventilated administration offices, and a sloping public lawn linking to Walyalup Koort (Kings Square). An oval-shaped ‘civic drum’ rises through the centre of the building and houses the library lounge, multi-function space, and council chambers. 

Our Scope

Marshall Day Acoustics was engaged to provide full acoustic design services for the project. 

To address the sound focussing risk presented by the curved walls we utilised our design and analysis tools more commonly used for concert hall design to assess the problem and develop room finishes in conjunction with the design team at Kerry Hill Architects. The result was a great success with sound focussing all but eliminated thanks to the deep profile timber wall finishes that scatter sound.

Awards

  • WA AIA Awards 2022 - George Temple Poole Award
  • WA AIA Awards 2022 - The Jeffery Howlett Award for Public Architecture
  • WA AIA Awards 2022 - The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture
  • WA AIA Awards 2022 - The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design 

“The chamber itself is beautifully finished with sustainably sourced Australian blackbutt, which has a lovely golden colour and makes the room feel intimate even though it’s quite a large space.”

Hannah Fitzhardinge, Mayor of Fremantle

Photo credit: City of Fremantle