BHP FutureFit Academy Forrestfield
Client | BHP
TYPE | Architecture, INTERIOR DESIGN, Documentation
Sector | Education, Commercial
STATUS | Complete (2023)
LOCATION | Forrestfield, WA
SCALE | GFA: 10,000 sqm, Site: 27,000 sqm
PhotograpHy | BHP
State-of-the-art training facility primed to address skill shortages in key trades.
With Western Australia suffering from trade skill shortages, BHP looked to expand their Perth training facility to better train emerging electricians, welders, forklift operators and mechanics. BHP had previously engaged Plus Architecture to deliver a refurbishment of their Queensland training facility and returned to us for this project.
The 27,000 sqm site BHP purchased in Perth’s Kewdale suburb comprises two large warehouses: one 7,800 sqm warehouse with a 720 sqm office and another 2,700 sqm warehouse at the rear of the site that will include workshops.
The scope of our design included installing eight modular classrooms around the warehouse perimeter, an office fit-out with reception for daily employee registration and sign out, a secure open-plan office for training team accommodation, training rooms and a computer lab, a theatre and classroom with operable separating wall. We also added additional amenities including ablution and crib rooms, completed a partially constructed building for tool storage, and carried out furniture scheduling and a dilapidation report.
Initially, no drawings or site surveys were available, so our team ran a drone survey and point cloud to construct a model of the facility. To ensure all staff feel safe and respected, we ensured our design for the entire facility was conscious of gender with all areas covered by passive surveillance. The result of our engagement is a state-of-the-art training facility that’s grounded in commercial reality and primed to answer the state’s skill shortages.
