Australian Institute of Police Management, North Head

The Australian Institute of Police Management at North Head on Sydney Harbour is the complete upgrade and redevelopment of existing Heritage listed facilities and extensive buildings on a highly sensitive site within the North Head National Park. The site is arguably one of the most significant and iconic sites on the Sydney Harbour. Historically an important remnant of the nation seafaring and ecologically providing a habitat for rare and endangered species. The redevelopment included teaching, meeting and library spaces to serve Australian Federal Police Management Training requirements as well as an arm of Charles Stuart University. The learning environments serve intensive management training requirements for live-in courses running for up to 1 month. The project includes 60 accommodation units for live-in students and staff. The large bushland site has a high degree of ecological concerns including native habitat for local populations of 2 highly endangered species of fauna, several endangered plant species, high level of foreshore protection requirements and highly significant heritage listed buildings. The project had been stalled for some time due to the complex and conflicting site requirements and the highly demanding security and teaching requirements of the client prior to BHA being engaged. BHA were engaged to review current site planning and provided an effective Masterplan solution that overcame the complex and conflicting stakeholder requirements while addressing extensive local and State Government objections to the development. The site was established early in the 1800’s, in 1960 the Seaman’s Isolation Hospital was converted to a police training centre.  It sits adjacent Arthur Phillip’s first landing place, it includes original heritage structures and an archeologically important roadway built to carry cannons to North Head. The site is home to the last North-Head Penguin rookery and Banded Bandicoot habitat. The Design reflects the Institutional, Military and Police Heritage of the site whilst minimising impact on sensitive ecological zones. Nine buildings of low significance were removed to recreate curtilage to the Hospital structures. The project included four major teaching classrooms, new library, residential cottages, common rooms and administrative offices.