The brief for Sydney Trains Rail Operation Centre was to create a very secure building with almost no windows on the upper half of the building. In addition to this, we wanted to create a building with a great connection to the emerging city centre of Green Square.
Expand ContentOur concept sought to distinguish itself from the neighbouring apartment and commercial buildings by expressing its function as a piece of railway infrastructure. This led to the two principal facades with long brick arches, spanning 40 and 45m. These work as substantial beams to support the heavy brick walls above and allow openings and ventilation louvres at the base. Concurrently, the arch recalls Sydney’s historic buildings, older railway buildings and infrastructure such as bridges, viaducts and railway stations.
The commonplace nature of brickwork and its familiar texture have been used as a counterpoint to the extraordinary scale of the architectural gestures that define the building’s identity. Red brick is locally made and matches the dominant colour of Sydney’s historical buildings, local warehouses, and Australia’s red earth.
At one end of the generous foyer is a glazed fire stair that rises through the building, while at the other is a cafe where all building users can meet with access to a sunny external terrace. The control room occupies an area that’s 30x40m long, vast enough to bring all the critical operations teams together. At 40m long, the largest digital screen in the Southern Hemisphere has been incorporated, enabling the controllers to monitor the network and multi-channel live stream images. The high ceiling has clerestory windows directing natural light over a flexible working environment. This crucial space has been placed at the top of the building with the associated plant and support spaces located on the floors immediately below.
The glass curtain walls are recessed, and the extent of glass corresponds with the needs of the building programme. Thereby, places for people such as office spaces, stairs and foyers have a great visual connection to the surroundings and an abundance of natural light.
This building has become a local landmark by distinguishing itself from its neighbours and designing its architectural expression to its purpose.
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