Truganina Community Centre

The Truganina community’s desire for cultural literacy, competency and inclusivity formed the foundation of this project. These aspirations were shared through a collaborative co-creation process involving Wyndham City Council, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Jasmax. Over eight months, a series of community workshops shaped both the project brief and concept design, embedding shared values into every aspect of the final outcome.

The resulting vision was co-authored by the community and centred around three key principles:

• A centre for cultural learning
• A place to share my culture
• A place to learn more about my neighbour’s culture

In response, the concept of a ‘library lounge’ was developed – flexible, welcoming spaces lining a central spine, offering access to programs and a curated collection of literature to foster cross-cultural understanding. Prioritising openness and inclusivity, the facility is fully accessible and thoughtfully zoned to accommodate diverse user needs.

It includes open library lounge areas, technology and study spaces, multi-purpose community and meeting rooms, a community kitchen, kindergarten rooms, maternal and child health consulting suites, staff offices, and landscaped outdoor areas. Importantly, the design focuses on cultural inclusivity and safety, reflecting the needs of a diverse, fast-growing population with residents from many nations including India, the Pacific Islands, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Sudan.

This project demonstrates a robust design process from co-design through delivery. The result exceeds the brief by delivering a new model for culturally inclusive community infrastructure.

The Truganina Community Centre integrates functionality, inclusivity, sustainability, and cultural expression into a cohesive, user-centred facility. Achieving core principles of good design, the centre is functional, accessible, safe, durable, and sustainable. Spaces are intuitively arranged along a central spine of open library lounges, universal access is embedded throughout, and high-performance materials and passive environmental design ensure long-term quality and energy efficiency.

Sustainability and responsible resource allocation are core principles in good design. As a practice we focus on value for money to maximise community benefit, money not overspent is money available for other community infrastructure. Material, equipment and building systems specification on this project considers not only the cost of the initial outlay but also ongoing operational and maintenance cost.

The project prioritises durable, low-maintenance materials—such as brick facades, timber cladding, and linoleum flooring—to ensure longevity and cost efficiency. The project exemplifies what a co-authored design process can result in - a building that is shaped by and for the community.

It also challenges the notion that the limits of these centres stop at programs and services. Community grows in the spaces between, it’s in these unprogrammed spaces where one might meet their neighbour to play a game of chess or stay on after a Bollywood dance class to chat to a friend.

Furthermore, it demonstrates that thoughtful, durable, and low-maintenance architecture can be both cost-effective and widely accessible, resonate with the identity of the community.

The Truganina Community Centre represents a ground-breaking response to the needs of a rapidly growing, culturally diverse suburb. It is the first facility of its kind in the municipality and redefines the typology of the community centre.

The central innovation lies in the integration of learning, cultural exchange and social connection as core design drivers. At its heart is a central spine lined with open library lounges providing continuous access to a curated collected of 5,000 books and cultural literacy programming. These flexible, welcoming spaces connect three community rooms, three kindergarten rooms and family health consulting spaces, seamlessly integrating learning, support, and community life.

What sets the project apart is the depth and authenticity of its co-design process. Rather than imposing a top-down vision, the design was shaped by the people who use it. Through workshops and active engagement, residents helped define the brief and co-author the facility’s conceptual design. This user-led process empowered a diverse community – often underrepresented in design – to shape a space that reflects their needs, values, and aspirations.

The open, non-hierarchical layout encourages informal gathering and cultural exchange, while flexible programming and spatial arrangements support evolving community needs. This user-centred design approach redefines what a community centre can be.

The Truganina Community Centre delivers long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits through a thoughtful, user-led design process. It stands as a landmark for a rapidly evolving community, creating a strong sense of identity, pride, and belonging.

The design reflects deep respect for cultural identity, integrating patterns and textures inspired by textiles from both First Nations and immigrant cultures. These thoughtful and layered design elements acknowledge the complexity of trans-cultural exchange and celebrate the emerging community’s rich tapestry of identities.

Central to this is Convergence – a 60m integrated artwork by First Nations artist Lisa Waup – adorning the circulation spine between the centre’s adjoining brick-clad pavilions. It symbolises crossroads and connection, representing the shared values of those who gather beneath it.

The project prioritised the specification of materials, products and construction systems manufactured locally. Several subcontractors employed Indigenous workers, and the main contractor (CICG) sourced materials from Indigenous-owned suppliers. A minimum of 10% of the contract value was invested in local enterprises.

Environmental impact was reduced by specifying durable, low-maintenance materials such as FSC-certified timber, Greentag products, and naturally weathering brick and linoleum. Universal access is prioritised with wide corridors, gender-neutral amenities, inclusive seating, and accessible workspaces.

The design carefully considers daylight, acoustics, and furnishing choices to create sensory balance, making the centre accessible and comfortable for all users. The design process ensured cost-effectiveness without compromising quality, delivering an outcome that is culturally rich, socially inclusive, economically responsible and environmentally considered.

It shows that great design can be achieved within modest budgets. The Truganina Community Centre sets a benchmark for future community infrastructure and reinforces the value of design in shaping equitable, vibrant, and resilient places.

The Truganina Community Centre is a leading example of circular and sustainable design, delivering long-term environmental benefits. Designed to be carbon neutral in operation, the centre is 100% electric and includes a 99.875kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system. This system generates more energy annually than the building consumes, making it net zero in operation. The project achieved a 5 Star Green Star As Built rating with 68 points , to be verified by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Circular principles guided both construction and ongoing use. Rocks uncovered during excavation were reused on-site as retaining walls, landscape features or crushed and returned to a local quarry as subgrade material. Earth displaced during construction was reused onsite locally, reducing ecological disruption and emissions from transport.

Rainwater from site sheds was captured for reuse during construction, and two 5000L tanks now supply toilet flushing and landscape irrigation. Raingardens, an on-site detention tank, and stormwater filtration systems help reduce runoff pollutants.

The building’s high-performance envelope, enhanced glazing, and passive solar shading exceed National Construction Code Section J requirements, minimising heating and cooling loads. A landscaping strategy introduced 110 trees and 11,000 plants, reducing urban heat island effects and improving biodiversity. Of these, 80% of the trees and 95% of the plants are native or Indigenous. The project generated only 4.96kg/m² of landfill waste, earning an innovation credit under Green Star.